Kittens quickly transform into cats during the second half of their first year of life, and a number of observable changes occur. Even though the major developmental milestones may have been accomplished by the time your kitty is six months old, she is still capable of growing both physically and mentally.
When to neuter or spay a cat at six months old
At six months old, your kitten could resemble a little adult, but that doesn’t imply it has reached adult size. According to the general rule of thumb, an average-sized cat will gain around 1 pound per month, so at the age of six to eight months, your kitten should weigh about 6 pounds and have a slender torso and legs. Although it may seem a little out of proportion now, your cat will soon grow into its long legs and physique, much like a human preteen does.
Tortoiseshell kittens and cats
At this age, your kitten should also have received all recommended vaccinations, and you should be preparing to have it spayed or neutered. Even though the infant is not yet fully grown in size, sexual maturity can begin as early as six months of age. To avoid having a male kitten that sprays pee to mark its territory or a female kitten that goes into heat, you should get your male kitten neutered or your female kitten spayed as soon as you can. These common procedures will be carried out by your veterinarian.
By the time they are six months old, some kittens will have lost all of their baby teeth, while others may still have some. Some veterinarians may suggest having any baby teeth that are still present extracted when your kitten is spayed or neutered.
In month 7: Your kitten will sleep more during
Even while it is still very much a kitten and only a young teenager, your kitten will start to sleep more throughout the day like an adult cat does. Put a cozy cat bed in the spot your kitten likes best because you can anticipate your cat sleeping for more than half of the day. Major food brands all include attributes like high-quality ingredients, quality control, customer service, and on-staff veterinarians. It will also be more coordinated and demonstrate how social it wants to be with you as a young adolescent. You may see your cat starting to cuddle up to you freely at this point. Your maturing kitten has always cherished socializing and bonding time, but at this point, your diligence will have finally paid off.
If you haven’t had your female kitten spayed yet and she has spent time with an intact male cat, there is a chance that she is pregnant. Since female kittens can get pregnant as early as six months of age, having your female kitten spayed is essential if you don’t want any more.
In month 8: Your kitten is confident.
Your kitten may begin to engage with other pets in your home more frequently now that it has gained confidence. The fact that larger creatures like dogs have the ability to harm an eight-month-old kitten, however, necessitates continued observation.
You should be aware that your kitten is now old enough to attempt counter-surfing, may push objects around or off tables out of curiosity, and may push both inanimate and living things to their breaking points. Setting and upholding boundaries is essential while teaching your kitten. Kittens don’t respond well to punishment, so you’ll need to be patient and use positive reinforcement if you want to teach one to do or not do something. Verbal praise and alluring cat treats can be very helpful in cat training.
In month 9 of Kitten Teeth Development
By the time your teenage kitten is nine months old, it should be virtually fully formed and have lost all of its baby teeth. Even though the teething should be over, your cat can still find it funny to nip at things. To ensure that your kitten’s biting and chewing behaviors don’t get out of hand, keep a close check on them. Never let your kitten to unprovokedly bite a person or another animal. When aggressive instincts start to show, make sure to put a stop to them right away and start training your cat not to bite.
In month 10, switch your kitten to adult cat food.
A change from kitten to adult diet could happen at any moment. Making this transition, though, should be done carefully, and any adult food you give your kitten should be chosen with care.
Make sure to provide your kitten adult cat food made with the best possible meat. If your doctor hasn’t given you any brand suggestions, look for a reputable manufacturer who makes cat food exclusively for adult cats and has the AAFCO seal on the package. These factors all point to the food as a sensible choice.
Your kitten will still be playing and exploring when it is awake, but it will be more assured than when it was a newborn. Generic or store-brand food may contain ingredients of lower quality and fail to provide your kitty with the necessary nutrition. Cats are carnivores, thus the food you choose should have meat listed as the first ingredient as well.
Combine the unused kitten food you have on hand gradually with the new adult cat food. Permit there to be enough food for both adult cats and kittens at last. This change should take place over the course of at least a week to lessen the possibility of dietary-induced diarrhea. You should also monitor your cat’s appetite during this time to make sure it is still consuming the adult food and not just picking out the kitten food.
In month 11: Your kitten is almost an adult cat
Your kitten is now almost completely grown after growing significantly over the last nearly year. It is sexually mature, has had the majority of its vaccinations, eats adult cat food, and routinely attends socialization and training sessions. It is similar to a teenage human at this point and seems to be an adult cat, but it still has more brain development to go.
In month 12, your kitten has grown into a cat.
Most people now consider your kitten to be an adult cat at age one. The majority of cats reach full maturity by the time they are a year old, so from this point on, your cat will continue to grow mentally. Nobody ever stops growing or developing. Your cat will always explore, make decisions, play, and develop both positive and negative habits, so you must guide it in the direction you want. Always remember to use positive reinforcement during training, and even a quick scratch behind the ears will work wonders!
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