at what age...

do cats starting being more cats and less kittens? Mine is over 2 now and still has very kitten like qualities, but I remember my past cats would mellow out a lot later in life.

When did you note yours becoming more adult?

My 8 year old still acts like a kitten when it comes to playing. He plays with toys and bags and everything he can find. I think it really just depends on the individual cat and what sort of entertainment you provide for it. Also how it is treated and stuff could affect it too.

Buffy's going to be 2 next month, and while she's finally mellowed out a bit in the past few months, she's still very much like a kitten. Every single day, at least twice, she'll zoom throughout the house, abusing a poor little red catnip mouse, smacking it into the walls like a soccer ball. If she ever becomes that cat that just lies in a sunbeam for hours on end, I'll cry myself to sleep

I'd say when Rosie had turned two, and that was when i brought Sophie home, so she had something else to focus on.

But although she's 3 now she can still bat things around the kitchen, plus her and Sophie are always chasing each other up and down the stairs.

Haha Sorry to be off topic but i just had to say I love your cats names!!!

Originally Posted by Aussie_Dog

Buffy's going to be 2 next month, and while she's finally mellowed out a bit in the past few months, she's still very much like a kitten. Every single day, at least twice, she'll zoom throughout the house, abusing a poor little red catnip mouse, smacking it into the walls like a soccer ball. If she ever becomes that cat that just lies in a sunbeam for hours on end, I'll cry myself to sleep

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Biologially speaking wnet the first heat or the ability to repoduce is when kittenhood ends... if you read pet foods they go to a year... many vets have told me 12 months

Princess still acts like a kitten most of the time unless she isn't feeling well. She will be 10 years old on May 1. Patsy is the complete opposite she just turned 9 and has been really laid back since I got her when she was 18 months. She will act crazy once in a while when she plays but most of the time she's a lap cat.

When it boils down to it, it's their personality and what we term kitten behaviour.

Some kitten bahaviour are actually quite normal in adult years. Cats by nature will still stalk and hunt, so don't expect them to not enjoy play time just because they reach a particular age. Just have to catch them in the right mood.

I think it depends upon the personality of the cat and I would think also their living circumstances, other pets, people to play with, etc. It seems that in my reading about cats, breed may even have some influence. My Wallace, who is almost 2, is totally still very active and kitten- like and Marcellus, who is the same age, although much more sedate, still has his kitten moments and that would be when he plays with the other cats. I think if he didn't have other cats to play with he would be a total couch potato; he'd be much fatter too! And then Lewis, who is 7 months....well, he's still a kitten and EVERYTHING is still a toy!!

It really depends on the cat. If it was a feral or a stray and not allowed to be a kitten- kittenhood can last for years! I have one 8 year old that periodically decides to be a kitten again and runs up and down the drapes or chases his tail till he drops-

marsh is about a year and 4 months and still he's more adolescent in nature - a little prankster, is what he is!!!

I'm hoping by 2-3 years old, he'll mellow out

i agree with hissy i have seen cats at age 5 climbing drapes and no a cat at age 2 that still runs around the house and climbs up the doorways.

Originally Posted by hissy

It really depends on the cat. If it was a feral or a stray and not allowed to be a kitten- kittenhood can last for years! I have one 8 year old that periodically decides to be a kitten again and runs up and down the drapes or chases his tail till he drops-

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That explains a lot, mine was a stray for several months.
So he may now feel safe and able to test things again.

Sierra is 10, and sometimes she still acts like a kitten playing with her toys or when she takes a notion to streak back and forth through the house!

I think that depends on the cat. Limerick is 11 and is starting to act less like a kitten and more like a cat. My boyfriend has to cats. Kiki (9) acts very much like a kitten when she wants to, Sara(10) has never acted like a kitten.

Originally Posted by Marge

That explains a lot, mine was a stray for several months.
So he may now feel safe and able to test things again.

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I'm glad this thread got posted, I had the same question about little Saba...she didn't know "how" to play after the rescue and re-home to me, but now she plays ALL the time, and she's very petite, so it only enhances her early kitten-ness. She is now about 11+mos.