Most people’s first choice for a pet is a dog, but cats are also viral. They can be found in various breeds, forms, and sizes.

What is the typical size of an adult cat? Most miniature newborn kittens weigh less than a pound, while the enormous lions and tigers can tip the scales at more than 600 pounds. Cats come in a wide range of sizes, from the tiniest newborn kittens to enormous lions and tigers. 

Thankfully, domestic cats do not grow to be anywhere near as enormous as the big cats found in the wild, yet the size of some domestic cats can still be somewhat surprising. It’s not only about weight; height and length can differ from one individual to the next, and each factor plays a role in determining the others.

Let’s study more about the growth trends of felines and figure out how to predict how large your cat will get!

Cat Size Chart

Although the characteristics of the many breeds of cats are widely documented, the sizes and dimensions of these cats should be discussed in more detail. Bear in mind that these are estimates of the averages, as cats all have unique personalities and characteristics. The size of each cat is different, so choose the category closest to your pet’s specifications. Ensure that your cat is standing correctly and not sitting or lying down when you take its measurements to get an accurate picture.

Size Guide for Cats by Breed

The following table provides a general overview of how the various cat breeds compare. It includes the average height or tallness of the cat, length (excluding the tail), and weight for the most well-known cat breeds. Remember that they are calculated based on the averages. There is no question that outliers exist within the same breed. These outliers can be created by various circumstances, which will be discussed in more detail below.

How To Find A Cat Breed?

Not all cats are purchased in verified places, with the release of all the necessary documents containing pedigrees and breeds of pets. In this regard, breeders are wondering “how to determine the breed of a cat for themselves?”. Without documentation, it isn’t easy to recognize the cat breed, and the results may not always be correct. Breeds are identified in several ways.

Appearance

The outward characteristics of a cat can be used to quickly and accurately determine its breed. Every cat has its unique color and grade of wool, size, and construction, even though some cats are remarkably similar. The bodies of exotic cats are around the same size, and their heads are rounded rather than pointed.

Body Size

This property in cats is less effective when you apply it to kittens that are not fully developed. But for adult cats (domestic or farm cats), their size can be a telltale feature of the cat’s breed. Be aware that many cat breeds can grow to almost any size. And if your cat likes to eat dinner several times a night, obesity may be masking its actual size.

You should consult our Cat size chart by breed to identify your cat’s breed if you own an adult cat and you suddenly notice that it is too small for its age or too big for you.

Various hues and patterns of fur

Even though there is a lot of variation in the color of the fur, the patterns it has, and the markings it has, there are specific breeds that some of these features can identify. On the other hand, patterns can be seen in more than one breed, and they can also be found in mixed and pure breeds.

The color of your cat will not be an immediate indicator of its breed; however, some hues, patterns, & markings are particular to certain breeds. This adds one more piece of evidence to the clues you can use to figure out what breed your cat is.

Hair length & patterns

In addition to having a wide variety of coat colors and patterns, cats also have various lengths and textures of fur hair. The texture of your cat’s fur is yet another factor that can help determine its breed. Cats can have a wide variety of coats, including long hair, short hair, no hair at all, curly hair, and no hair at all. 

There are a significant number of breeds, each of which is recognized for having a distinctive coat; some breeds get their names from the coats they have. The type of coat that your cat has is one of the most common characteristics that can be used to determine its breed.

Face shape

Not all cats will have distinguishable breed characteristics in the shape of their faces. However, cats that exhibit particular face shapes may be segmented into particular categories, making it much simpler to ascribe them to a specific cat breed. 

Flat-Faced Cats

Some varieties of cats have round features, while other cats have flat faces that appear to have been compressed from the front. These breeds are referred to as brachycephalic breeds, and their skulls are significantly smaller than those of other cats. Brachycephalic breeds do not come without their share of drawbacks, however. Because of the distinctive characteristics of their anatomical makeup, they are predisposed to a wide variety of health issues.

Narrow-Faced Cats

Cats with narrow and triangular faces are almost the exact opposite of cats with flat faces because of the shape of their faces. There are even fewer breeds of cats with narrow faces than those with broad faces.

Tail length

Most cats have pretty typical tails, which do not provide much information about the cat’s heredity. However, a specific sort of tail can be an important hint in determining the breed of your cat, and that is a short tail. 

Because short tails are relatively uncommon among cat breeds, many breeds with them are called after this distinguishing characteristic. These tails frequently give the impression that they have been cut off, but in reality, they occur naturally.

Ear shape

If your cat possesses several specific characteristics, the form of the cat’s ears may provide conclusive evidence of its ancestry. For instance, only a select few breeds have ears that can be folded or curled, making recognizing them simple. These ear shapes are frequently the result of genetic mutations, even though they have become the identifying feature of a significant number of breeds that exhibit them.

Eye color

Even though a cat’s eye color isn’t always a reliable sign of breed—and therefore probably isn’t the best place to start when trying to figure out what breed your cat is—still, it’s enjoyable to look at cats’ eyes!

Your cat may suffer from a disorder known as heterochromia, in which each eye has a unique pigmentation. This disorder, which causes cats to have eyes of different colors, is called heterochromia. It is caused by a genetic abnormality linked to the dominant white gene and the white spotting gene; thus, only certain breeds of cats can have it.

Behavior & personality

Even while every cat is an individual & will have its distinct personality, certain cat breeds tend to have specific behavioral characteristics and temperaments typical of cats of that breed. If your cat exhibits particular personality characteristics, this may help determine which breed of cat they are descended from.

In a laboratory setting, a study published in 2019 in Scientific Reports found that cats of different breeds exhibited different social and non-social behaviors. The study compared 19 different breeds and breed groups. The findings include observations such as the fact that Korats and Devon Rex are the most likely to seek contact from people, while British Shorthair, Ragdoll, Persian, Norwegian Forest Cat, and Saint Birman cats are the least aggressive. 

When Is The Kitten Fully Grown?

When it comes to humans, the age of 18 is typically regarded as the point at which individuals enter adulthood. You might be wondering, though, what about cats? When will they reach their full maturity? When should you start giving them food meant for adult cats?

Your cat will hit various developmental milestones as she matures into an adult throughout her life, but there is no set age beyond which cats will no longer continue to grow and mature. There is a specific age range in which cats will cease growing and maturing, even if there is no specific age at which this occurs. 

The information you can turn to learn about that change is presented below.

When do kittens stop growing?

Kittens usually stop growing at about 12 months of age. A 12-month-old cat is equivalent to a 15-year-old person. They are considered mature at 18 months – the equivalent of a 21-year-old.

Although many cats stop growing by 12 months of age, not all of them stop completely by this age. However, if they are still growing, the odds are pretty small; usually, between 12-18 months of age, you will also find your cat has reached the size of an adult cat. But some can take up to 2 years of age to fully develop.

Especially with large cat breeds, it will take longer. For example, Maine Coons may not reach full size until they are two years old or older.

Cat developmental milestones

Here are a few critical milestones for kittens as they become big cats:

• Months 3 – 4: Baby teeth begin to fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth; this process will last up to 6 months of age.
• Months 4-9: Kittens are sexually mature
• Months 9-12: Cats fully develop
• 1 year+: The kitten has just reached adulthood.
• 2+ years: Kittens are socially and behaviorally mature.

When should I feed my kittens adult cat food? How should kittens be fed?

Due to their high energy levels, most kittens should have their food freely available for the first six months of their lives. Between six months and one year, owners are permitted to feed their pets thrice daily. After one year, feeding cats two meals a day should work for most cats, but some cats may benefit from having their meals broken up and continued more frequently.

What Are The Criteria For Choosing A Cat?

Many of you will be interested in which breed of cat should be raised. Cats are pets and also great companions for your family. Raising cats is not too expensive; they only need you to be with them sometimes.

However, you must consider a few factors to choose the right friend for your life, health, and work. Here is a simple and easy-to-understand guide to choosing a cat for those still wondering what breed/type to adopt.

Based on the cat’s age

Regarding the age of cats, we look at three main stages. To answer the question of what kind of cat you should have, see what stage you feel comfortable and attuned to.

Kitty

Kittens are irresistible. The clumsy little balls of fur that meow are the cutest creatures in the world! They love to cuddle and play.

But the downside when raising kittens is that you have to train your kitty to go to the toilet, train behavior so they don’t scratch things, support them during teething and let them socialize with children or other pets in your household.

While all these things take a lot of your time and energy, training them will make them more docile and obedient.

Adult cats

Adult cats may be easier to take care of than kittens because they are sturdier. Adult cats are also almost trained to defecate in the right places! However, because they did not live with you, they may have developed bad habits or attitudes.

It is not uncommon for big cats to become aggressive, scratching furniture or spraying urine. But if you persevere and patiently train them again, they will gradually come into order.

Elderly cats

Although the lifespan of older cats is shorter than that of kittens or adult cats, and they are also less demanding, less active, and less demanding. They may experience the same behavioral or psychological problems as adult cats, but they have less energy to do them.

However, elderly cats will have more health problems, so the cost of medical treatment for them also increases. But from another angle, you are the one who brings a happy home for them in their late years.

Based on the cat breed

Have you decided what kind of cat you should buy? If not, read on to make the right decision!

Purebred cats

There are currently 42 recognized cat breeds in the United States, and each breed has specific characteristics. If you are looking to breed cats with specific traits or personalities, purebred cats may be better than hybrid cats.

They also have charming personalities. Families with young children can keep a Ragdoll, a Maine Coon, or an American Shorthair. All these cat breeds are affectionate and energetic and love to play.

Hybrid cats

Although mixed-breed cats do not have distinct characteristics, they are in better health than purebred cats. They will be less prone to genetic defects and healthier due to a larger genetic pool. Mixed-breed cats come in all sizes, coat lengths, and colors, and they will often combine the best traits of several purebred cats!

Depends on your space and lifestyle

This is the last factor to consider before adopting a cat.

House space

Do you live in an apartment? Or do you live in a hostel with limited space, with no room for cats to roam?

If that’s the case, you should buy yourself a small, low-energy cat. Kittens will never overdo it or tire you out!

Roommates/Family/Children

The size and composition of your family are also important. If you live alone, you should keep cats that need little attention because you are the only one to take care of them.

You should also consider their needs if you live with a roommate, lover, or spouse. Can they live with long-haired cats? Are they allergic to cats?

And if you have children, you should keep gentle or child-friendly cats. Let’s face these problems because children often treat their pets like dolls, carry them around, put them in a stroller, or try to dress them up.

There are even children who are more mischievous and accidentally injure cats. Therefore, it is essential that you also educate your children so that they know how to treat animals humanely.

Your job

If you are often away from home because of work but still want to have a cat, you need to find an independent cat that can be alone when you are not around. You can also keep two or more cats simultaneously so they don’t get bored.

FAQs

How can I determine the size of my cat?

Try this: when your cat is 16 weeks old, weigh it on a food scale or another tiny scale to acquire a more precise assessment of its weight, and then multiply that number by 2. An estimate for the final size within roughly 10% of this value in either direction is pretty accurate.

Do the number of paws on a cat indicate its size?

In contrast to puppies, the size of a kitten’s paw does not indicate the size it will reach as an adult. On the other hand, elongated hind legs are frequently indicative of a feline with a larger-than-average body size. It’s important to remember that a cat’s eventual adult weight will depend on factors such as breed, gender, and upbringing, making an exact estimate difficult.

Which feline is the loneliest of the bunch?

The American Wirehair, the Korat, the Singapura, and the Cymric are among the breeds of cats known for having the slightest affection. The American Wirehair has a disposition that is typically somewhat reserved & quiet, which some people could believe to be lacking in affection. The Korat is a relatively docile creature readily startled by unexpectedly loud noises.

Are cats able to recognize their names?

Cats can recognize their names even if they choose to ignore them. Cats are notoriously known for their apathy toward humans; virtually every cat owner can attest to the ease with which their feline companions ignore them when we call their names. But according to the findings of a new study, domestic cats can remember their names even though they flee when they do.