At What Age Do Kittens Start to Calm Down? Vet-Verified Info
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Kittens are wonderful. They’re cute, cuddly, and fun to play with. And, once they get past the phase of sleeping most of the day, they’re insane little bundles of energy! Kittens are known for their hyperactive natures, and while it can be amusing to watch them jump in and out of boxes for hours at a time, at a certain point, you’ll likely start wondering if they’ll ever start to calm down.
The good news is they will. There’s no specific age when kittens start to calm down, but cats become more mellow as they age. By the time your kitten begins transitioning from “teenager” (starting around 6 months) to full adult (1 year and up), they should start becoming calmer. Leaving adolescence behind doesn’t mean your cat won’t still be playful; they’ll just have more periods of calmness than they did before.
Every cat is different, though, so your cat might start calming down a bit earlier or later. Plus, some cat breeds are just more active than others. Here, we’ll take an in-depth look at the kind of energy levels you’re looking at as your kitten ages, which breeds are more active than others, and ways you can help calm your kitten down.
At What Age Are Kittens Most Hyper?
Kittens start their hyperactive phase at around 10 weeks old but don’t truly get into the stage of seemingly endless energy until about 2–3 months old. Your kitten will likely be very playful when they are around 4–5 weeks old, and they often practice “hunting” by pouncing on their littermates or their mother’s tails. By 3 months of age, their senses are pretty well developed, and they are often described as hyperactive bundles of energy.
This is entirely normal, and a part of their growth process.
A young, healthy weaned kitten has very high energy (and perhaps not surprisingly, higher requirements for certain nutrients compared to their adult counterparts). They will play with you and other animals and start playing with toys (particularly ones they can “hunt”). Cats are naturally curious, and your little one will get into anything and everything they can get their tiny paws on!
Once they’ve reached the adolescent stage (approximately 6 months), you might see a slight dip in energy levels, but you’re also likely to see some “rebellion”, perhaps in the form of incessant meowing for a treat or cuddles. Much like human teenagers, cats may want to push boundaries and see what they can get away with, and they’ll do it with you repeatedly, especially if it works once.
Once kittens are adults (at around a year of age), they tend to be calmer, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t still play or have bursts of energy.
What Are the Most Active Kitten Breeds?
Does your kitten seem more hyper than others? You may just have a breed of cat that is, by nature, more active and playful than most. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some breeds are more active than others. These breeds include:
If you own one of these, chances are that your kitten’s “crazy cat” phase may be a little longer. However, it is important to note that your kitten’s individual personality may play a major role in their activity levels as well. Therefore, kittens of any breed may be exceptionally active depending on their individual idiosyncrasies. Likewise, you may also end up with a kitten of one of these breeds that isn’t as active as you’d assume!
The 5 Ways You Can Calm Down an Energetic Kitten
It probably seems like an impossible feat when your kitten has the zoomies and is literally climbing the walls, but there are ways you can help your overactive kitten chill out just a bit. Try utilizing one (or more!) of these methods to help your tiny feline temporarily calm down.
1. Play With Your Cat but Do It Correctly
Not only does spending time playing with your kitten help you guys to bond, but it also helps wear them out. However, you shouldn’t use your hands or feet to play with your kitten, as that will make them think that parts of the human body are toys, leading to inappropriate play in the future. It may be adorable when they attack your ankles while tiny, but a full-grown cat doing that will be much less fun.
2. Tap Into Your Kitten’s Instincts
If your kitten is causing chaos, redirect their energy into something more suitable by letting their hunting instincts out. Use a toy they can chase and “hunt,” whether that’s you tossing a toy mouse around or a toy that operates on its own.
3. Provide Plenty of Cat Trees and Scratching Posts
Cats love to scratch, and if you don’t provide them with an appropriate scratching surface, they’ll find one to suit their needs (hint: your expensive furniture may no longer be safe!). So, make sure your kitten has at least one scratching post all to themselves (this can also help curb destructive behavior). Cats enjoy climbing as well, and having the ability to do so inside the home gives them more room to be active, making cat trees a highly recommended item.
4. Up the Ante When It Comes to Treats
Engage your kitten during treat time with a puzzle toy. Don’t go overboard with treats though, as the calories in treats definitely add up!
5. Optional: Consider Adopting Another Kitten
This may not always work, but it may prove very effective in certain circumstances. An energetic kitten might find the perfect solution for their energy in another kitten they get along with, and the two may spend time playing together and keeping each other occupied. Littermates are the safest bet when it comes to compatibility.
That being said, not all cats are appreciative of a boisterous conspecific bothering them incessantly. As such, this suggestion needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis. It goes without saying that two kittens will at least double your expenses, which is something that you’ll have to consider before adopting a friend for your kitten.
Final Thoughts
It may feel as though your kitten is purposely trying to drive you mad with its constant energetic behavior, but never fear! Eventually, your kitten will mature into an adult and calm down to a certain extent.
Exactly when that occurs can vary depending on the breed of cat you have and their individual personality, but kittens should begin calming down a few months into their adolescent stage (between 8 and 12 months). Once that happens, you can hopefully start enjoying more time snuggling with your feline baby and less time cleaning up after the chaos they’ve caused. Until that happens, though, you can try the techniques mentioned above to help tame their hyperactive natures just a bit.
- You might also be interested in: At What Age Will My Cat Stop Growing?