How to Determine a Cat's Age: 15 Steps

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

If you have found or adopted a kitten, or it has been given to you, it would be helpful to know its age. Kittens grow faster than humans, and the needs of a cat that is two weeks old are different from those of one that is six. While you will never be able to trace his age accurately, a rough estimate will help you take care of your new friend in the right way.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Examine Physical Characteristics

Step 1. Look for a piece of the umbilical cord

If you find it, be sure that you are facing a newborn kitten.

• Normally the mother bites the cord until it breaks. The "part" that remains will look like a small piece of fabric hanging from the kitten's belly.
• Usually in cats this piece falls off within the first 3 days of life. If your kitten still has part of the cord, it is likely that it has only been born a few days ago.

Step 2. Observe the eyes

A kitten's eyes go through several stages of development, from the moment they begin to open until they eventually change color. By paying attention to these changes, you will have the possibility to calculate his age.

• Kittens do not open their eyes until they are around 10-14 days old, but some can do so around 7-10 days. If your cat has her eyes closed, she is probably a newborn. If he has already opened them, he will have more than a week.
• If it's just starting to open its eyes, but it still looks like two small slits, it's likely in the second or third week of life. When cats start opening their eyes, they are a vivid blue, regardless of what color they will later take as they grow up.
• If the kitten is older and you notice the eyes starting to change color, it is likely to be around 6-7 weeks old. During this phase the iris begins to change permanently. Keep in mind that if your cat is destined to have blue eyes, you will probably not be able to notice any color changes to determine age.

Step 3. Check your ears

Like the eyes, cats' ears also undergo various changes in the early stages of development. It is possible to determine the age of a kitten based on the characteristics or transformations of the ears.

• If the ears are attached to the head, the cat is probably less than a week old. Newborn kittens are born with their ear canals closed, which is why their ears are flattened against their heads. They begin to hatch around 5-8 days after birth.
• Check that the ears come off. They will take longer than the eyes. Even if the ear canals begin to open after 5-8 days of birth, it will take longer for the ears to noticeably widen. Sometimes it happens between the second and third week of life.

Step 4. Examine the teeth

A great way to assess the age of newborn and young kittens is to check for the presence and development of their teeth. A toothless kitten has certainly been born recently, less than two weeks. If he has teeth, you can still calculate his age based on their number and the characteristics of his teeth.

• The first deciduous (milk) teeth should emerge from the gums at around 2 to 3 weeks of age. The first to erupt will likely be the incisors. If you can't see them, try to feel them by gently touching the kitten's gums.
• Deciduous canines begin to grow 3-4 weeks after birth. They are long, pointed teeth that grow next to the deciduous incisors.
• The deciduous premolars begin to emerge from the gums at about 4-6 weeks. They are teeth that grow between the canines and molars.

• If the baby teeth eruption has stopped but the molars, the kitten should be around four months old. In this case, it presents:

  • 6 incisors on the upper jaw and 6 on the lower jaw;
  • 2 canines on the upper jaw and 2 on the lower jaw (each next to the last incisor);
  • 3 premolars on the upper jaw;
  • 2 premolars on the lower jaw.

  

  Step 5. Check for permanent teeth eruption

  If you find that the kitten has larger adult teeth, it is likely to be four months old, if not older. The timing of teething may be a little less precise in a larger cat than in a smaller one. However, you should be able to get a better idea of the cat's age based on when their permanent teeth come out.

  • Permanent incisors are the first to erupt, around 4 months of age.
  • Between 4 and 6 months, canines, premolars and deciduous molars are replaced by permanent ones.
  • If the kitten has all of her permanent teeth and all four molars, she is probably at least 7 months old.
  • Know that these recommendations are based on the development of normal, healthy cats. Medical problems or accidents can compromise regular teething, causing some teeth to be missing or retarded.

  

  Step 6. Weigh the kitten

  A weight-based estimate can be inaccurate due to the differences between sizes and breeds, but weight can also be a factor that offers more information on your kitten's approximate age.

  • On average, a healthy kitten weighs around 100g at birth and gains around 25g per day. Hence, it will normally weigh between 100 and 150g in the first week of life. Note that a kitten weighing less than 100g can be sick or undernourished. Take him to the vet for a visit.
  • Around 1 to 2 weeks of age, a normal kitten will weigh 110-170g and be smaller than an adult's hand.
  • At 2-3 weeks of age, most kittens weigh 170-225g.
  • A kitten weighing 225-450g is likely to be around 4-5 weeks old.
  • One weighing 680-900g is probably 7-8 weeks old.
  • On average, a cat of three months or more gains 500g per month until the weight stabilizes at around 4.5kg. So, a 1.30 kg cat will likely be 3 months old, while a 1.80 kg cat will be 4 months old. While this is a generalization, it is a useful rule of thumb for cats over 12 weeks of age until they reach their adult weight, which is roughly 4.5kg for most of them.

  Part 2 of 4: Evaluating Behavior

  

  Step 1. Monitor the kitten for signs of weaning

  This step only applies to kittens that are still being cared for by their mother. The latter, in fact, stops breastfeeding about 4-6 weeks after birth, or when milk begins to run low.

  • If the mother has completely weaned the kitten, the kitten is likely to be around 7 weeks old. After this period, in fact, the mother no longer allows her children to take milk. In these cases, you may notice that the kitten tries to get close to the udder, while the mother vehemently chases it away.
  • A 7-8 week old kitten begins to drift away from its mother more frequently and for longer periods of time to explore the places that intrigue him.

  

  Step 2. Observe the gait

  A kitten's ability to walk can indicate its age in relation to the normal development of these animals. Kittens are unable to stand or walk until they are around 2-4 weeks old. Until that time, they spend their time snuggled between their mother and siblings, sleeping or nursing. If a kitten tries to move in the first few weeks, it crawls on its belly.

  • If he wobbles and walks uncertainly, he is about 2 weeks old.
  • If he starts to look confident when he walks, he is probably over 3 weeks old.
  • Between 3 and 4 weeks of age, a kitten begins to show the straightening reflex, which is the ability to roll over in mid-air to land on its feet.
  • Around 4 weeks of age, the kitten will be able to walk more firmly and explore the environment around it. His natural curiosity and playfulness will emerge along with an increasing mastery of movements. At this age, kittens start jumping.
  • A kitten that can run is at least 5 weeks old.

  

  Step 3. Observe the cat's reaction to noises and moving objects

  Even if the eyes and ear canals begin to open in the second or third week of life, sight and hearing develop from an early age. Reactions to external stimuli indicate that the cat is about 3.5 weeks old.

  

  Step 4. Assess self-confidence and enthusiasm

  A healthy kitten becomes more confident around the fifth and sixth week of life. This is largely due to continued progress in coordination of movements and walking. A kitten of this age begins to explore the environment around it with less fear than a smaller and hesitant one.

  When he is 7-8 weeks old, he should be well coordinated and physically active. He loves running, playing and socializing with people and other pets, but also exploring the highest points, training to jump

  Part 3 of 4: Identifying Sexual Maturity

  

  Step 1. Look out for signs of puberty

  At about four months, behavior begins to change as a result of hormonal changes. At this age, kittens meow loudly at night or try to run away from home to be outdoors. These behaviors could indicate that the cat is starting to enter puberty.

  

  Step 2. Look for signs of sexual maturity

  At 4-6 months, the cat goes through the adolescent period. At this age he begins to lose his round shapes (the fat he was when he was small) and to develop a slimmer body, even as he gains weight.

  • Males over 4 months old may start marking their territory (spraying urine) to attract females and mate.
  • Females begin to go into heat between 4 and 6 months. They also mark territory, as well as meow loudly and squirm.

  

  Step 3. Identify the "youth" phase

  Kittens of 7 months or older are considered adolescents: they become physically larger and reach sexual maturity. Realize that a female of this age can become pregnant if she has not been operated on. Along with sexual maturity, aggression also increases.

  • From about 6 months, they begin to challenge other cats for domination of the territory. They tend to bite more often than smaller cats or adults.
  • These animals tend to bite more during their youth stage, so be careful when touching cats of this age group.

  Part 4 of 4: Confirming the Age Calculations

  

  Step 1. Ask the facility or person from whom you are adopting the kitten for information

  If professional, facilities and breeders keep a record of their puppies and are able to at least give you a better idea. If they don't have witnesses who attended the birth, they can at least offer you an estimate. Even if an animal shelter welcomes a kitten well after its birth, there are experienced staff and veterinarians who can provide valid calculations.

  

  Step 2. Ask a veterinarian

  When you bring your kitten for its first visit, ask the vet to estimate its age. During the check-up, he or she will also be able to recommend tests and vaccines necessary for you to lead a healthy life.