When Do Siamese Cats Stop Growing?

If you’re new to being a cat owner, you may be curious about the ins and outs of what happens next. New cat owners ask when their cute kitten will stop growing or how big they will grow.

If you have a Siamese cat, we have a reasonably comprehensive answer for you, discussing when they stop growing or how large they become and what to expect in each stage of growth.

Read on to find out all the details about your cat’s development and growth and especially to find out when do Siamese cat stops growing.

You might enjoy reading more of my articles on Siamese Cats: Siamese Cat Personality, Types of Siamese Cats, Siamese Cats, Are Siamese Cats good mousers?, Why do Siamese Cats meow so much?, Siamese Munchkin Cat, Are Siamese Cats mean?, Do Siamese Cats shed?, Do Siamese Cats fur change color?, How big do Siamese Cats get?, Why does my Siamese Cat attack me? and Male vs Female Siamese Cats.

When Do Siamese Cats Stop Growing?

So, here is the short answer: In terms of their actual growth, Siamese cats will typically stop growing after 10 to 12 months, although some outliers do continue growth for a few months after this. This doesn’t mean that they stop developing.

They may pick up weight and grow “thicker” with age. But the core growth of the cat should be completed by around one year to 18 months, and a cat is unlikely to get much larger overall after this.

There is a lot more info to be aware of, though, if you want to truly understand your cat’s growth process. Keep reading to find out more.

How Big Do Siamese Cats Get?

A Siamese cat, much like the average American shorthair, grows to be between 13 and 16 inches long and 11 inches tall. It will weigh anything between seven and 12 pounds, with males generally heavier than females. Although these thresholds are typically considered healthy, slight variations and even one or two rare outliers may exist.

For context, a Maine Coon – considered the largest domestic cat breed, can be 48 inches long and weigh 25 pounds, and growth occurs for up to four years.

Bear in mind also that there are several variations of Siamese cats. They are not specifically that different as breeds necessarily, but enough variation exists for there to be at least some range when it comes to size and appearance.

Are Siamese Cats Large?

A Siamese cat is not considered a “large” cat. Siamese cats are typically “thin” in appearance. They are long, slender, and seldom appear to be large and smaller than a larger-set “cobby” (or typical Persian) breed. This is referred to as an “oriental build” in cats.

That said, they are not so thin as to show bones or ribs. As their coats are relatively short, it should be easy to determine whether your cat maintains a healthy physique and weight.

What to Expect Through The Growth Phases of Your Siamese

Your cat goes through several growth phases, from kitten to geriatric. Here’s what you might expect at each stage.

A Statistical Note About Siamese Cats and Lifespan

While it is worth saying that modern healthy domestic cats should live relatively long lives (15 years is very good), Siamese cats statistically have slightly shorter lives on average. A good age for a Siamese cat is 11 years old, typically. That said, there is no hard and fast reason why a healthy Siamese shouldn’t live to 15 and beyond.  

Kitten

When Siamese kittens are born, they cannot see correctly yet. Their ears are also slightly folded. Siamese kittens are born with blue eyes, like many other cats. Unlike many other cases, they will keep these blue eyes; whole other breeds’ eyes tend to change color.

A Siamese cat is most often born white, with no additional coloring, not even the typical point coloring they are known for. This will only start to appear after a week. Over time, these will become more pronounced, but they will only be complete after about one year.

After a few weeks, it will become clear to you that the Siamese is also very talkative and will enjoy trying to manipulate you with their meows and other vocalizations. Siamese love attention and will ask for a lot of yours.

The First Few Weeks

A Siamese kitten will show dramatic growth after the first few weeks. Within two weeks of being born, for example, your cat should have doubled in weight. A week after this, they will start to walk around – if a bit unsteadily.

The ears have begun to unfold, and little teeth will start to emerge, offering little pricks whenever they bite your little finger. After five weeks, your kittens may start to become interested in solid food and start to wean off their mothers’ milk.

This is also around the time that they may benefit from a little more human contact and interaction. Studies indicate that human interaction at this time will make them more comfortable around people for the rest of their lives.

Siamese at 8 Weeks

At this stage, the first vet visits are due, and feline vaccinations and shots will be the order of the day. The color points are also very clear and will give a good idea of what the adult cats will eventually look like.

It’s a good idea to continue the human interaction at this point. If you have the kittens in your home, you can expect them to be more curious about their environment, finding their way into nooks and crannies of your home you didn’t even know existed.

Siamese at Six Months

This is the time of full mobility and exploration, and while they are very capable of moving about, they are not quite yet adults. The Siamese’s colors continue to darken, and their level of activity, food, and other factors will play a role in ultimately how big your cat becomes at this point.

Although they will stop physically growing at around a year (up to 18 months), they will continue to mature up to around two years.

You might enjoy my articles on Siamese Cat Colors, Flame Point Siamese Cats, Lynx Point Siamese Cats, Lilac Point Siamese Cats, Chocolate Point Siamese Cats, Cinnamon Siamese Cats, Tortoiseshell Siamese Cats, Seal Point Siamese Cats, Silver Point Siamese Cats and Striped Siamese Cats.

Feeding a Growing Siamese Cat

Siamese cats are notoriously fussy when it comes to eating – it comes with the Siamese personality. They quickly learn that humans supply the food and will be happy to bother you for it whenever they are hungry. To make matters worse, they tend to like what they like, and they will refuse to eat or complain when they don’t get the food they like.

They may also tend to overeat if their portions aren’t controlled. It’s easy to tell when a Siamese has overeaten. They have naturally lean and long bodies, and their bellies will bloat when they eat too much. This isn’t good for them, as they are not really built to carry that excess weight.

It’s highly recommended that you feed a Siamese scientifically formulated cat food appropriate to its age. Adhering to the proper portion sizes is also essential. Cats can develop additional weight issues if overfed (or underfed).

Adult Phase

When referring to Siamese cats, the adult phase is considered anything from two years up to ten years. As young adults, they maintain a vibrant, busy, and active life, and they will enjoy good interactive cat toys. 

As they get older, they will seem to calm down somewhat. Their rambunctious kitten nature will subside, and they will gradually prefer to sit quietly and observe the going on around them. That said, they will absolutely still be up for a play, and so toys will always be welcome.

If they had a decent amount of interaction with humans as kittens, they will be fairly sociable with humans now. In fact, when it comes to their own humans, they may become needy in so far as wanting to sit on, close to, or beside you all the time. They like people.

Senior or Elderly Cat

After ten years, your cat can be considered a senior or elderly cat. They may not show outward signs of age or illness, but rest assured, this kitty feels like it’s lived a good life. Many healthy cats live way beyond 10-15 years, so if your cat seems healthy and active, it’s a positive sign.

They may, however, seem to be a lot more relaxed than they were at, say, five years old. Higher objects may be more difficult to jump on, and as such, the kitty may prefer to stay in soft places like the sofa or bed.

Typically, an older cat will also seem to nap more and be less agitated by activities and noises around the house. Yes, it may simply stare at you more, making you feel like you’ve done something wrong.

Elderly cats also dislike new things. Crotchety things that they are, they will loathe the idea of moving house or furniture for that matter. But Siamese, in particular, become a lot more vocal in their “dotage.” So don’t expect any relief from being yelled at when it’s dinner time.

Geriatric Cats

After 15 years, a cat should be considered geriatric. It’s into the bonus years for a standard cat, and though they may be generally comfortable, they will be less energetic and prone to more ailments and age-related illnesses.

Like humans, cat hearing deteriorates with age. Eyesight is also adversely affected, and the internal organs will begin to show signs of disease or failure. To this end, it’s a good idea to make sure your cat is comfortable, as it will be spending more time indoors and likely sleeping.

A cat’s mental functions may also be adversely affected with age. Bear this in mind if you find the cat is less well-groomed or its litter box habits seem lacking. This is normal for any cat beyond 15 years old.

3 Other Factors That May Affect Your Siamese Cat’s Size

A few other factors influence how large or small your Siamese cat might grow.

In general, cats will grow within the stated range of length and height. But aside from genetics, these factors have been found to have so impact on their eventual size.

1. Gender

An average Siamese male cat can weigh up to 14 pounds. On the other hand, a female generally weighs up to 11 pounds. This is the most significant size difference between genders, and the male and female lengths and heights are only marginally different – think less than a half-inch on average.

2. Healthy Food and Clean Water

Nutritious cat food and clean, fresh water significantly impact the body and its organs. It should be no surprise that kittens who eat well will grow stronger and probably slightly larger than underfed or malnourished ones.

If you see more aggressive kittens dominate the food and water, they will grow more potent than others, who may become smaller as a result. This is also partly why feral kitties are more diminutive than domestic cats. Feral cats will not eat as well as their housed cousins, especially when it comes to balanced or high protein diets.

Cats also need plenty of water for biological functioning. As with humans and other mammals, water is essential for the proper functioning of all the organs and body functions.

3. Parental Presence

Some experts believe that the first few weeks of proper parental presence (mom cat) are critical for good early development. This could mean the nutrients acquired from mother’s milk or simply the biological impact of having a mother cat caring for her kittens. Early separation might contribute to underdevelopment and smaller size as a result.

Remember that Siamese cats are generally quite slender and not meant to be particularly large or heavy-set despite the above.

Final Thoughts on When Siamese Cats Stop Growing

The Siamese cat is beautiful, and now you know that it will continue to grow – physically speaking – for at least the first full year of its life. After that, it may develop slightly more muscle and bone, making it heavier – but not too much, as it is a naturally lean cat.

But for the most part, it shouldn’t actually grow much more in terms of length and height. Provided you have maintained a healthy exercise and diet regimen; there should be no issues involving under- or oversized kitties, setting up a potentially long life of love and friendship in your home. Just answer the questions your cat is asking you – and a Siamese definitely will ask.