The cat's life cycle involves different phases of the animal: infancy (when it is a kitten), maturity (with the adult cat) and seniority (which is the elderly or geriatric cat). In each of these age groups, felines may exhibit behaviors typical of the phase and may also require differentiated care. To understand up to what age the cat grows and what to expect from the life cycle ofa cat, check out below the infographic that the Paws of the House has prepared!

Phases of the kitten cat: understand what the first year of life of the pet is like

After all, what age does a cat grow up to? This is a very common question among first-time pet parents, and, in general, felines grow up to one year of age. That is, even before entering the "adult" phase, cats already acquire the final stature and stop growing, as they are already fully developed physically.

At this early stage, kittens are known to be quite fragile and dependent on the care of their guardians. At the same time, it is the time when they start to become more curious and become great adventurers with a great thirst for knowing the world! This is even the ideal stage to learn how to socialize cats, making them more receptive to other peopleand animals.

As with dogs, cats change their teeth in the first year of life, replacing the milk teeth with permanent teeth. This process of change is usually very uncomfortable, causing the kittens to have the habit of biting everything they find in front of them. For this reason, the cat biter ends up becoming one of the best toys and main allies of pets.

As for health, one of the most important precautions is to apply all cat vaccines in the first months of the pet's life. If it is a kitten adopted from the streets, testing for FIV and FeLV is also essential. At this early stage, these are the most dangerous diseases for kittens, as well as feline rhinotracheitis.

In the life cycle of cats, the adult phase is marked by a lot of energy and companionship

An adult cat usually has a firmer demeanor, which has probably been shaped during their upbringing. Some may be more outgoing, others may be quieter. However, a common denominator for all these cats is their energy level, which is usually quite high during adulthood. So, from 1 to 7 years old, you can expect a very mischievous, playful and good-natured kitten.level of physical activity.

To contribute to this "energetic" side of the pet and stimulate the wild instincts that accompany the breed, a tip is to bet on the catification of the environment. By enriching the space that the kitten lives with shelves, niches, scratchers and water sources, you contribute to a better quality of life for the animal. In addition, toys are also excellent for causing different stimuli in the cat.In this case, cat wands, catnip toys and interactive toys are the main recommendations.

In the life cycle of cats, the adult phase is also marked by specific health issues. By keeping the vaccination schedule up to date, it is possible to prevent a number of dangerous diseases, but not all. Therefore, it is important to pay special attention to feline calicivirosis and poisoning. Cats are very curious and can be easily poisoned when they come into contact with foodtoxic and other harmful substances, so always keep an eye out.

Third age is one of the last stages of the cat's life cycle

As cats get older, they become elderly or geriatric cats. Elderly cats are usually considered to be over 7 years of age, and geriatric cats are those that have exceeded the life expectancy of the breed (usually over 12 years). Feline behavior at this stage is marked mainly by being less willing and much sleepier. It is possible to see the cat sleeping most of the time.time, and it is a natural thing of age.

Even so, we remember that, even with some age limitations, it is always good to stimulate the animal with physical and / or mental exercises. Play can - and should - continue to be part of the pet's routine, and some ways to put this into practice are through "lighter" activities, such as throwing the ball for the cat to fetch, giving a little rope mouse for him to "chase" or even usetablet apps to keep your kitty entertained without moving around too much.

Elderly cats also need special attention to their health. One of the most common conditions in this age group is chronic renal failure, also known as chronic kidney disease. Gradually, the pet's kidneys become weakened and may stop functioning completely without proper treatment. Therefore, check-ups are even more important to monitor the health status of the cat.animal and the food should be appropriate for the kitten - if it is a renal cat, it needs to eat a renal cat food.