How Big Do Tabby Cats Get? Average Size and Growth Chart

Tabby cats are often mistaken for a specific breed of cat. However, the word “tabby” refers to the cat’s fur pattern, and most cat breeds have tabby patterns. That being said, tabby cats grow to a range of sizes. The best way to accurately predict how big your tabby cat will grow is to identify the breed and follow its rate of growth and development.

Tabby Cat Growth Chart

There are great benefits to tracking your kitten’s growth during the first year of their life. Because the growth rate and size of tabby cats varies by breed, we’ve created charts of average growth rates for different sized cat breeds. These charts can help you get a better idea of ​​how your tabby cat will grow.

Small cat breeds (such as Cornish Rex)

Medium-sized cat breeds (such as American Shorthairs)

Large cat breeds (such as Maine Coons)

What influences the growth of tabby cats?

Besides breed, several other factors influence how big a tabby cat will grow. Genetics play a big role, and it’s common for tabby cats to grow to a similar size to their parents. Female tabby cats also tend to be smaller than male tabby cats.

Environmental factors also play a key role in your kitten’s growth and development. Kittens have specific nutritional needs that differ from the nutrients required by adult cats. If these nutritional needs are not met, your kitten will experience abnormal growth and become malnourished. Malnourished kittens tend to be small and are at risk of long-term health problems, including slow growth and development, kidney disease, muscle weakness, and skin and fur problems.

Kittens need plenty of exercise every day. Exercise promotes healthy muscle, bone and joint development. Healthy play also helps your cat develop eye-paw coordination, balance and agility.

The importance of tracking the growth of your tabby cat

Tracking your tabby’s growth during the first year of his life can go a long way in making sure your kitten is on a trajectory of healthy growth and development. Regular weighing will let you know if your kitten is underweight and needs more food, or if he’s overweight and needs less food.

Sudden changes or fluctuations in weight can also indicate an underlying health problem, and keeping a record of your kitten’s weight will help you record and notice these changes sooner – greatly increasing the chances of getting your cat to the vet as soon as possible so they can be examined and treated.

How to track your tabby cat’s growth

You can easily track your tabby’s growth by using a pet scale and keeping all your records in a notebook. Kittens often have a hard time sitting still, so it’s easier to weigh them with the help of another person who can guide the kitten onto the scale and record the weight.

Kittens tend to grow rapidly during the first 6 months of their life, so it’s best to record their weight every day or every other day during this period. As growth slows, you can record their weight every few days or weekly until they reach adulthood.

Conclusion

Knowing the breed of your tabby cat can be extremely helpful in tracking its growth, as all cat breeds have tabby fur patterns. Keeping a regular record of your tabby cat’s weight will help you notice any abnormal weight changes and seek medical attention sooner. The records will provide useful information for your veterinarian to ensure your tabby cat goes through healthy growth and development stages.

Featured Image Credit: Burhan Oral GUDU, Shutterstock