According to the kitten growth chart at Raising Happy Kittens, your kitty may become less affectionate during this time. But not to worry. Usually, cats start to mature and settle down after the eighteen-month mark, and by their second birthday your cat will have fully grown into their adult personality.
9-14 months: Congratulations! Your kitten is now an adult. By this time they will have adjusted to their human family's routine. You can expect more restful nights of sleep and a generally calmer more docile cat.
At what age do kittens calm down? Generally, by 9 to 12 months old, the massive amount of enthusiasm has begun to settle, and a personality has become more apparent. Each cat differs individually with some being more playful and some lazier. However, these are some typical stages you'll see as your frisky feline ages.
Of course while some cats get more affectionate as they age, this is not true for all cats and can depend on a number of different factors such as personality, environment, breed and more. Age also comes with physical effects that often cause cats to decrease activity and become less playful.
If your cat doesn't like to cuddle, don't take it personally. Some cats just don't like being picked up, or aren't physically affectionate. That doesn't mean he doesn't love you! Nevertheless, it's frustrating when you want to hug and squeeze him and he's just not interested.
Remember, every cat's personality is different. Some kittens will be naturally cuddly and always want to snuggle in your lap and follow you from room to room. Others may be more independent but still desire pets when they're not adventuring.
Single kitten syndrome is the idea that young kittens, when raised with other young kittens and cats and then adopted into a home by themselves, can become aggressive, anxious, stressed, and even develop behavioral issues like inappropriate chewing/scratching and inappropriately using the litterbox.
The problem is, when a kitten is separated from their mother and siblings too early, they might develop too much dependence on their owners as their human moms, which they may bring to adulthood. An example of this is when they may show signs of separation anxiety when their owners are away during the day.
No, not all kitten's are clingy, and those that are may end up as independent adults..., or not. Cats, just like people, go through different stages, they could start off wanting lots of attention, grow independent, and then return to enjoying your attention..., or not. ;-} You'll just have to wait and see.
Intensive growth 2-4 months
This is the naughty stage of the kitten development chart when your kittens start to show their true colours!
They will grow out of being a pure bundle of energy but, like human teenagers, they will be learning and exploring more of the world around them. They will probably only want to play on their terms - but try to settle into a routine and put aside certain times of the day to play, socialise and train your kitten.
Social play usually peaks at about 3 months of age. As they get to 4-9 months, they hit their teenage years. They may start to feel their natural predatory selves and the need to begin “hunt” and scavenge. They may start bringing toys, sleeping more during the day, and playing more in the evenings.
A cat's temperament, training, and personality are the result of genetics and upbringing, and are generally unaffected by the presence or absence of male hormones. Castration is unlikely to calm an overactive cat or decrease aggression toward people.
A simple training method involves praising and petting your kitten when it leaps onto acceptable surfaces while scolding and removing it from unacceptable surfaces. The spray bottle can help train your kitten to stay off specific surfaces.
Some cats are naturally more cautious than others; startling easily at loud noises or sudden movements, quick to hide if anything changes or upsets them. Being picked up and held can make some cats nervous, as they are being restrained in your arms. This limits their options for escape if anything were to startle them.
Cats do love their humans, even if sometimes they have a funny way of showing it. In fact, they form strong attachments to their owners and display their emotions very similar to humans.
This means they hiss, spit, swat and smack trying to get the other cat to back off. Alternatively, these cats are often extremely overzealous players to the point of being obnoxious. They do not learn how to interpret body language, how to physically play and when to stop the game of play (i.e. when enough is enough).
Kittens who are raised as only cats have an increased chance of developing various behavioral problems later in life. This includes biting people as they walk away, avoiding the litter box, and destructive behavior like scratching furniture.
Fading Kitten Syndrome refers to a kitten's failure to thrive during the period between birth and when they wean from their mother or from a bottle for hand-fed kittens. This period lasts about four to five weeks (when a kitten is most vulnerable to sickness).
Cats are often thought of as being independent creatures who are happy in their own company. But your cat can get lonely. Interacting with the human they love helps to enrich their lives (and yours). If your cat sleeps with you this indicates that they enjoy your company and want to spend time with you.
Redirect, don't punish – If your kitten or young cat does something they shouldn't, redirect them by moving them to a neutral spot and encourage the behavior you want. Reward your cat when they do the right things with verbal praise and small treats.
All of the experts agreed that if your cat is hissing at you, then they're definitely upset. If a full-grown cat is hissing, it's a surefire sign they're unhappy and potentially feeling threatened. But Nagelschneider noted that hissing, growling, and swatting are all normal behaviors in kittens as they try to develop.