How long is a kitten a kitten?

[Kirsten]

I mean, what exactly is the definition of "kitten"? Is it three months, 6 months or a year?

The cat food producers recommend to feed kitten food for 12 months, so I assume this is how long you can call a young cat a kitten?

Kirsten

[sirrahbed]

Our vet says one year but I know some breeds (like Ragdolls) keep growing for up to two or more years. I am sure no expert though!!

[Kirsten]

Two years!?! Well, I think Luna was still growing when she was more than a year old.

Kirsten

[Barbara]

Most cats stop growing between 1 year and 1,5 years. Tigris has about the same weight he had at one year (am glad he didn't put up more ), Filou did not grow anymore after he was 1,5 years old. I would be careful with the kitten food.
As far as I know it is fatter than the normal cat food and most of our rotten spoiled Pet Talk kitties have rather a weight problem than the problem of starving whatever they tell you when you come home

[catmandu]

My vets always use the one year mark , as at that age they are sexually mature. But the threads are right , and Ragdolls and Scottish fold mature later.Scrappy matured early , and tied to mount Pouncer , and then I had to have him neuterd, Before Pouncer did it for me!

[Kirsten]

Speaking of being sexually mature, there are cats being pregnant at the age of 6 or seven months, and Luna has been spayed at the age of 5 months and was already close to ovolation.

BTW, I don't feed much kitten food anymore, I'm not sure if this is good or not. But I can't completely avoid that Luna is also eating from Lily's bowl, and since Luna has weight problems, there's no way I can allow her to eat kitten food.

Kirsten

[Ramona]

How long is a kitten a kitten you ask?

Well, if they are anything like my Benjamin Eddy aka the Little Shitsky, then it would be forever, or, er, so far a year and a half. But I got my suspicions it will be longer, LOL!

[RedHedd]

We think Mishi is a little over 2 years old, but he's still very kitten-like; albeit a HUGE 16 lb. "kitten" He has grown since I got him so I suspect he was probably younger than they thought. I think (hope?) he's done growing - my apartment is not that big, although I love having the huge dude cavorting around - it keeps me entertained!

Enjoy their kitten-ness while it lasts. My Goldie was very kitten-like until she hit somewhere around 10-12 years old.