Conference misery::feline_v1

    Well, Little Bit is, the vet guesses, about
    a year and a half old.  He is still growing.  however, he was a wild
    underfed stray, so that may make a difference. I have the vague
    impression that a cat normally reaches its adult height and length at about
    a year.
    

    It takes about two years for a cat to fully develop.  Typically
    they'll reach full height and length in about a year and spend
    the next year filling out.  (I wish Dundee would hurry up and
    fill out!  He's a skinny scottish fold)
      Now Bumpy, age 12, has been gaining small amounts of weight all
    her life.  She was about 6.5 lbs when I got her (age 2) and now 
    weighs in around 8.5 lbs.  She's not fat and the vet is pleased 
    that she's still filling out.  At some point in the aging process
    she'll start dropping weight - just like humans do.
      (Well, dropping muscle mass, anyway)
      Nancy DC
    

    It could very well be that Muff is just a tiny cat.  Our Ebony
    is at least three years old now, and weighed 5.2 pounds the
    last time she visited the vet.  She's petite all over; her
    front paws are about the size of my thumbs.  This, of course,
    means that she's small enuff to squeeze into all KINDS of tiny
    corners and get herself in trouble...
    
    -jim
    

    Little Fi is also a small cat....not named Little Fi for that reason,
    but it sure seems to fit!!!  ;-)  She's a little over 3 years old, and
    at 8 weeks pregnant weighed in at 4.5 lbs at Tufts.  She's a little
    thing, and she's so cute!!!  
    
    I'll tell you one thing though, even though she's little, she has no
    problems delivering kittens.
    
    cin...who worried about breeding this teeney kitty, so brought her to
    Tufts for research and monitoring.  She had Ultra-Sound weekly during
    her pregnancy, and just loved the vibration on her belly.  She got to
    where I'ld take her out of the carrier in the Ultra-Sound room, and she
    would immediately roll over on her back to have her tummy vibrated!!!
    
    

    Ah ha, that's why Lil is weird!  She was vibrated in Little Fi's
    tummy!  That explains it!
    
    E.T.

    .4.5
    .. Now. now, Cin, I remember Little Fi.. she is a cutie!!!I can just
    see her now saying.. yes, that feels soooooooo good.. more this way..
    tickle, tickle..
    Regards
    Kate..

    
    
    Nikki is about 8 months now and is already a moose.  I guess this means
    he still might get bigger.
    
    
    
               Donna
    

    My mom's cat, Sam, was the runt of the litter and didn't really seem to
    grow until he was 2 years old.  In his prime, he weighed 15lbs without
    an ounce of fat on him.  He's now 17 1/2 and down to 10lbs, but is
    still pretty active.
    
    I wouldn't worry about your kitty.
    Mary
    

    Does anyone know what the "average" size and weight of a cat
    should be by age 1 year?
    
    Thanks,  Jill

    
    and then there'z stanley...
    
    he was a scrawny stray when i took him in.  vet judged he was about a
    year.  i thought catz reached maturity by 1 year, but this fellow just
    kept getting bigger and bigger and--i thought i was gonna have to throw
    a saddle on the boy!  vet told me about 15 monthz before they stop
    growing.  even so, they keep filling out.
    
    stan had a slight pot belly at first (after he recovered from his
    stray-hood), but now he is very well toned.  needz must have the vet
    weigh him when i take him in for follow up on his eye problem. i would
    judge 12-13 poundz now...
    
    diane, stanley (*big* boy) and stella (little girl)
    

    Kayleigh was also the runt - she was very small for her age and
    the Vet advised us not to let her out for ages.
    Whatever Kayleigh lacked in size, however, she made up for in
    aggression. She was normally a loving cat, but would not let herself
    be pushed around.
    A friend brought her bulldog round to visit one day. You know how
    they snuffle around their surroundings? Well, Frank just happened
    to snuffle under the chair where Kayleigh was having a peaceful
    nap. Suddenly a little black paw appeared, and gave Frank a nosefull
    of claws - Frank lept back about two feet, then ran back to 'Mummy'.
    
    He never went near Kayleigh again!!

    A rough average for an adult cat is 8 to 10 pounds.  However, there
    are many breeds which are "normal" weight at 6 or 18 pounds.  If the
    cat looks good, you can feel the ribs if you try, and there's not
    too much hanging down, it's probably the correct weight for it's
    bone structure.
    
    Karen, Tristan (a perfect 10 pound cat), Max (a perfect 12 pound cat),
    and Tenzing (a FAT 12 pound cat).

    re: Little Fi - Sounds like Bumpy who loves the massager.  I'll
    never forget when the vet shaved her tummy to check some lumps and
    she drooled and purred because the shaver sounded like the massager.
    
    Just call her "Lumpy Bumpy".   
      N
    

    	I've heard that some breeds are slower to reach full size than
    others, specificly Maine Coons. At one place I read that the typical
    cat is full grown by age 2 years, but Maine Coons take 3 years. Another
    says that Maine Coons have been know to take 4 years to reach full
    size.
    	- Chris  who will want a male black with white Coon kitten next spring.
                                      

    Chris is right.  Same goes for Ragdolls.  The standard says the
    cats don't obtain full growth until 3 or 4 years of age.  Kelsey
    got all his length during the first year and is beginning to fill
    out now.  His body coat has gone from almost white to a fawn shade
    and I'm sure he will continue to darken as he gets older.
    
    I've seen Coons at shows side by side at one year of age and two
    years.  What a difference in size!
    

    Smokey is part Maine Coon and is double pawed all around.  He is
    18 months and about 19 pounds and growing.  He is all hard muscle not
    fat.  Just the other day I was thinking of having him measured for a
    saddle!  What is really funny is that his hind feet toes are longer 
    than mine by a wide margin.  On the other hand maybe he is part 
    show-shoe rabbit....
    
    Cathy