How to Know if Your Cat Is Still a Kitten Co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Last Updated: July 27, 2025
Using Physical Appearance
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Using Other Methods
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Expert Q&A
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Tips
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Warnings
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This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. In addition, Dr. Elliott is a freelance veterinary copywriter specializing in taking dense topics and making them easy to digest. Her clients include The Webinar Vet, PetPlan US, TIME, and other top-ranked blogs. She also works with Improve International as a developmental editor for veterinary textbooks. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. This article has been viewed 70,051 times.
If you adopt a cat or take in a stray, it may be hard to know how old he or she really is. Some cats may appear to be full grown but have mannerisms and behaviors of a kitten. It is important to try to pinpoint an approximate age so you can feed and care for your cat properly. To determine the age of your cat, you can look at your cat’s physical appearance for clues, inspect your cat’s teeth, and pay attention to your cat’s energy levels. If you cannot figure out how old your cat is, you can always ask your veterinarian for an estimate.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Using Physical Appearance
1 Feel your cat’s fur. There are obvious differences between an adult cat’s fur and a kitten’s fur. Kittens have more of a fluffy, downy coat, while adult cats have a more sleek and shiny look to them. Older cats can have less sleek and shiny coat due to age and inability to groom themselves. Older cats may sometimes have matted fur as well.
Pet your cat and pay attention to the feeling of the fur as well as its appearance.
2 Notice your cat’s size. Kittens are usually smaller-boned and may appear to have unusual proportions. For example, some kittens may have paws that seem too large for their bodies. Pay attention to your cat’s size and proportions for another clue about his or her age.[1]XResearch source Advertisement
3 Consider your cat’s facial features. Facial features provide a strong indication of how old a cat is as well. Kittens tend to have more of a round face with feathery cheeks and large, round eyes. As they grow older, their facial features become more pronounced. An adult cat’s face tends to look longer and the nose stands out more.
4 Look at your cat’s eyes. All kittens have blue eyes when they are born. At around 6 weeks, a cat’s eyes will change from blue to their permanent eye color. Check your cat’s eyes. If they are still blue, then your cat may still be a kitten.[2]XResearch source Advertisement
Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Using Other Methods
1 Inspect your cat’s teeth. Another way to tell a kitten from a cat is to look at your cat’s teeth. Up to the age of 6 months the kitten is losing its baby (deciduous) teeth and gaining its adult (permanent teeth). At the age of 3 weeks until the age of six weeks the kitten’s primary (baby or deciduous) teeth are erupting (coming through) the gums. These sharp, thin teeth remain in place until around 3 months of age when the adult (permanent) teeth start to come through the gums. Up to the age of 6 months a kitten will lose its primary teeth and gain its adult teeth.
If your cat is willing, try to open up her mouth a bit and look to see if she has all of her teeth. Note the appearance of the teeth as well. If they appear small and thin, then your cat may still be a kitten. A young adult cat will have very white adult teeth. As the cat ages the teeth will become brown stained and may start accumulating tartar and plaque.
2 Note your cat’s energy levels. When cats are growing and changing, their attitude does too. Kittens are known for being very playful, naive, clumsy, and adventurous. While all cats sleep a lot, kittens are often more energetic and alert than adult cats.[3]XResearch source
Keep in mind that some breeds of cat still contain those kitten characteristics in adulthood, while others don't. Many adult cats will be more laid back and calm, or they may not care for as much energetic exercise.
3 Ask your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may be able to determine your cat’s age based on several features and other indicators such as whether or not your cat has been spayed or neutered. Cats reach puberty between the ages of 4 to 10 months of age.[4]XResearch source Veterinarians usually advise cat owners to get their cats spayed (females) or neutered (males) at around 5-6 months of age in order to keep them from breeding or becoming pregnant.
Make sure that you make a veterinary appointment for your new cat (or kitten) as soon as possible. No matter what your new pet’s age, he or she will need a check-up to ensure good health.
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Expert Q&A
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Question How can I tell if my cat is still growing? Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. In addition, Dr. Elliott is a freelance veterinary copywriter specializing in taking dense topics and making them easy to digest. Her clients include The Webinar Vet, PetPlan US, TIME, and other top-ranked blogs. She also works with Improve International as a developmental editor for veterinary textbooks. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Expert Answer Take photos once a week and compare them to see if the cat is still growing. Kittens have rapid growth up to around 6 months, and then grow more slowly up to about 12 months of age. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 10 Helpful 14
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Tips
Combining all the physical and behavioral information you can tell within reasonable accuracy if your cat is still a kitten. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Cats under the age of one years old should be feed a kitten food. Over the age of one they can be fed an adult cat food. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
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Warnings
Kittens can be very curious and inquisitive so if you have a kitten always keep in mind they like to hid in small spots and can lurk in dangerous places like recliners, in cabinets containing caustic cleaning chemicals or sneak outside when you least expect them to do so. Thanks Helpful 19 Not Helpful 1
Weight is not necessarily an accurate way to tell an adult cats age. Some full grown healthy adult female cats are very tiny while some adolescent male cats can be quite big. Thanks Helpful 12 Not Helpful 2
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Co-authored by: Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. In addition, Dr. Elliott is a freelance veterinary copywriter specializing in taking dense topics and making them easy to digest. Her clients include The Webinar Vet, PetPlan US, TIME, and other top-ranked blogs. She also works with Improve International as a developmental editor for veterinary textbooks. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. This article has been viewed 70,051 times. 75 votes - 94% Co-authors: 17Updated: July 27, 2025 Views: 70,051Article SummaryX
If you're not sure if your cat is still a kitten, start by feeling the texture of its fur. Kittens have soft, downy fur, whereas adults have sleeker, thicker fur. Next, evaluate its facial features, since adult cats have longer snouts than kittens, which usually have rounded, less pronounced faces. You can also check your kitty's teeth to see if it still has its sharp, thin baby teeth. A lot of energy and playfulness can indicate youth, as well. For more tips from our Veterinary co-author, like how to evaluate physical size and proportion, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Co-authored by: Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. In addition, Dr. Elliott is a freelance veterinary copywriter specializing in taking dense topics and making them easy to digest. Her clients include The Webinar Vet, PetPlan US, TIME, and other top-ranked blogs. She also works with Improve International as a developmental editor for veterinary textbooks. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. This article has been viewed 70,051 times. 75 votes - 94% Co-authors: 17 Updated: July 27, 2025 Views: 70,051 Article SummaryX
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366 
1 Feel your cat’s fur. There are obvious differences between an adult cat’s fur and a kitten’s fur. Kittens have more of a fluffy, downy coat, while adult cats have a more sleek and shiny look to them. Older cats can have less sleek and shiny coat due to age and inability to groom themselves. Older cats may sometimes have matted fur as well. 
2 Notice your cat’s size. Kittens are usually smaller-boned and may appear to have unusual proportions. For example, some kittens may have paws that seem too large for their bodies. Pay attention to your cat’s size and proportions for another clue about his or her age.[1] Advertisement 
3 Consider your cat’s facial features. Facial features provide a strong indication of how old a cat is as well. Kittens tend to have more of a round face with feathery cheeks and large, round eyes. As they grow older, their facial features become more pronounced. An adult cat’s face tends to look longer and the nose stands out more. 
4 Look at your cat’s eyes. All kittens have blue eyes when they are born. At around 6 weeks, a cat’s eyes will change from blue to their permanent eye color. Check your cat’s eyes. If they are still blue, then your cat may still be a kitten.[2] Advertisement 
1 Inspect your cat’s teeth. Another way to tell a kitten from a cat is to look at your cat’s teeth. Up to the age of 6 months the kitten is losing its baby (deciduous) teeth and gaining its adult (permanent teeth). At the age of 3 weeks until the age of six weeks the kitten’s primary (baby or deciduous) teeth are erupting (coming through) the gums. These sharp, thin teeth remain in place until around 3 months of age when the adult (permanent) teeth start to come through the gums. Up to the age of 6 months a kitten will lose its primary teeth and gain its adult teeth. 
2 Note your cat’s energy levels. When cats are growing and changing, their attitude does too. Kittens are known for being very playful, naive, clumsy, and adventurous. While all cats sleep a lot, kittens are often more energetic and alert than adult cats.[3] 
3 Ask your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may be able to determine your cat’s age based on several features and other indicators such as whether or not your cat has been spayed or neutered. Cats reach puberty between the ages of 4 to 10 months of age.[4] Veterinarians usually advise cat owners to get their cats spayed (females) or neutered (males) at around 5-6 months of age in order to keep them from breeding or becoming pregnant. 
Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. In addition, Dr. Elliott is a freelance veterinary copywriter specializing in taking dense topics and making them easy to digest. Her clients include The Webinar Vet, PetPlan US, TIME, and other top-ranked blogs. She also works with Improve International as a developmental editor for veterinary textbooks. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery.