At What Age Do Kittens Start Calming Down? 7 Facts Revealed
As the new owner of a small, scary bundle of energy, you may be wondering if cats calm down as they get older.
Don’t worry; almost always, the answer is yes. Even though it can be tiring at times, it’s good for your kitten to run around the house with the “zoomies” and get into trouble.
Did you know that kittens can sleep up to 20 hours a day? This helps to explain why they can’t seem to sit still when they’re awake and why they’re usually too active at night.
They make so much noise at night because they have always lived at night and haven’t changed to fit a human way of life.
Do Kittens Calm Down With Age?
Around this time, it will start to act strangely. Around 3 months, when they are at their most active, things will start to get really interesting.
As a pet owner, it may be upsetting that a kitten this age can go from cuddling you to biting your hands in a matter of seconds, but you just have to remember that this is a normal part of their growth. Don’t worry, they’re just going through a phase that they’ll grow out of.
Are You Kitten-Me Behavior
Kittens are animals that are one of a kind. Even full-grown cats are different from kittens, so if you’ve never had one, you might be surprised.
Because cats are predators in the wild, they have a few habits that might seem like they are acting badly. In reality, they are marking their territory and getting used to your home.
Some of these common habits are:
- Scratching
- Pouncing
- Jumping
- Playing
Surroundings to Enrich Your Kitten
This is normal kitten behaviour that you can’t change (and shouldn’t), but you can guide it in more useful ways. When you get a kitten, you should buy it some toys and things to do that will let it be young and free.
These let your kitten act like a cat without making a mess of your house. The sooner your cat gets used to your home, the sooner you may form a strong bond with it that will last for a long time.
At what age do kittens calm down?
By the time a baby is 9 to 12 months old, its huge amount of energy has started to calm down and a personality has started to form.
Every cat is different, and some are more fun than others. But these are some of the most common things you’ll notice as your active cat gets older.
Birth to 1 year old
The most changes happen to a cat in its first year. From the time it is born until it is about 2 months old, a kitten eats and moves around, but it doesn’t have the strength or coordination to move somewhere else on purpose. When exploring, it is normal for it to move in strange ways, stumble, and fall.
They have a strong need to hunt, and they will usually chase and catch anything that looks like it could be food.
Most likely, a cat’s balance and motor skills will improve right before your eyes. This is usually the most social and active time of its life. It has a lot of energy to play and act crazy.
At this age, your dog may also be very curious, so now is a great time to start activities like walking on a leash, making friends, and learning skills.
The cat is in its “teen years,” between the ages of 6 months and 1 year, when it is getting ready to start mating.
You might see a male or female marking their territory or acting aggressively, such as by biting, clawing, or being aggressive. A cat can be neutered now, which has been shown to make it much calmer.
After year 1
Between the ages of one and two, most kids start to act like adults. Even after being neutered, a cat may still be very active at this age, but it should be much calmer when it reaches full maturity at age 2.
Between the ages of 3 and 10, a cat is mostly calm but still active. It is usually happy after getting used to its environment and settling into a routine of eating, sleeping, socializing, and doing things. Anxiety gets less as you get older.
Cats, on the other hand, tend to become much more resistant to changes in their environment, like new additions or moving. As kids become less active, they may want to play less and less.
Senior years
When a cat is 11 years old, it is considered a senior, and its activity level drops by a lot. At this age, it’s very important to keep track of your health, what you eat, and any changes in the way you act.
When Do Kittens Calm Down at Night?
Some pet scientists think this is their “teenage” stage, when they start to use their natural hunting and predation skills more.
Even though this might keep you up a few nights, you have nothing to worry about because it will be over by the time they are 9 months old.
Reasons for hyperactivity beyond age
A kitten that acts wild might not always outgrow it. If a baby is abandoned or taken away from its mother too soon, it may start to eat on its own too soon. This can lead to hyperactive behavior.
There is also a role for genes, which can be good or bad depending on the breed. Lastly, a cat may act out because it is bored or because it hasn’t been given enough attention.
Tips for managing hyperactive cats
The first step is to enrich your pet’s environment to improve his or her mental, physical, and emotional health. This keeps them from acting in bad ways by giving them a good way to use their energy.
Cat towers, also called cat condos or cat trees, give cats places to scratch, hide, and get up high to look around and climb. Interactive toys can give your cat something to think about. Simple toys like teasers and wands help you play with each other and get closer.
Toy mice and bells can be used to act out the hunt, just like a cat does when it hunts, chases, and catches its prey.
Management Techniques
So, when do kittens stop being so excited? Time will tell, but if you need to keep your house clean or for some other reason need to control a kitten’s hyperactivity, there are ways to do so.
We’ve given you some fun ideas to help you get your kitten to sleep at this age.
- Create Hunt-Like Situations: This stage of hyperactivity is linked to a cat’s basic urge to hunt, so you can create situations that feel like hunting to satisfy these feelings. This can be done by giving kids toys that they can chase around the room.
- Give them their own tools and toys. Playing with the kitten is a great way for them to get rid of some of their energy, but it’s just as important to give them their own tools and toys. Scratching posts and playing with balls that bounce around are great ways to keep them busy.
- Don’t Just Play With Your Body: If you play with your cat without a barrier, it’s likely to think your body parts are toys. This can make them want to scratch and bite you, which isn’t dangerous but might hurt, so use toys when you can.
Finding peace and harmony
Sooner than you think, your kitten will become an adult cat with a unique personality. Knowing what to expect as it grows up and giving it interesting things to do can help keep it calm and happy.
Final Thoughts
There is nothing to worry about if you have a kitten that moves around a lot. It’s a normal part of growing up, and soon enough, they’ll be an adult cat with whom you might have a real connection.
Talking to your vet is always a good idea if you are worried about your kitten or cat. This is true for everything, from hyperactivity to cat toys. How well you get along with your veterinarian will affect many of your cat’s health outcomes.
I have been working in animal shelter for the past six years and I have been raising the puppies of different breeds. I have had experience in training the puppies in obedience, agility, and other dog sports.
My main objective is to train the puppies to become good family pets. They should be well-behaved and trained to be loving, loyal, and obedient.
Contact me:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (912) 634-3631
Address: 102 Village Way Crk Saint Simons Island, Georgia(GA), 31522
- When Do Blue Heeler Puppies Stop Biting? 12 Ways To Stop It - February 22, 2023
- Do Yorkies Change Color? 14 Interesting Things To Know - February 21, 2023
- Why Does My Cockapoo Smell So Bad? 5 Reasons & Solutions - February 21, 2023
