Bengal Cats are rapidly increasing in popularity since they came on the domesticated cat scene in the 1970s. These friendly felines are popular not just because they look unique — most look very similar to their Asian Leopard Cat kin (learn more here about the history of Bengal cats) — but because they have a distinct personality that can shine through.
When Will Your Bengal Cat Stop Growing?
Bengal Cats tend to stop growing at around 1 to 2 years of age, so you can consider that your cat has finished growing by the time it is two years old.
Bengal Cats tend to be slow growers as they develop into a medium to large sized cat. It is important to know when these cats will stop growing so you have some idea about how big they will get. Even though they may still be developing, most people consider Bengal Cats to not be kittens any longer by the time they are one year old.
Female cats at maturity tend to be between 7 and 10 pounds, slightly smaller than their male counterparts. Male Bengal Cats at maturity are generally between 10 and 15 pounds.
There have been some reports about male Bengal Cats reaching upwards of 20 to 22 pounds, but this is rather rare.
The Size of a Bengal Cat
The size of a Bengal Cat is largely determined by its genetic make-up. In addition to being related to Asian Leopard Cats, which are small-ish wild cats, Bengal Cats are bred from one or more of five separate cat breeds, including the Ocicat, the Abyssinian, the Egyptian mau, the Bombay, and the British Shorthair. Cats descended from British Shorthair cats tend to be larger than those related to a line of Abyssinians, as the British Shorthair tends to be a much larger cat in general.
Bengal Cats tend to be rather active kitties, so they are not prone to becoming overweight like many specimens of domesticated felines who would rather sleep in a patch of sunlight all day.
The approximate sizes of a Bengal Cat are generally the lean body weight, which is ideal to keep your Bengal Cat at, minimizing the risk of certain diseases such as diabetes mellitus.
Because Bengal Cats tend to be rather active, you can’t rely on determining that a cat is full grown by seeing when its personality wanes and they slow down. If you wait on that distinction, you might be waiting for the duration of your Bengal Cat’s lifetime.
Many of these kitties remain very active, playful, and curious throughout their lives, only slowing down when issues such as arthritis set in. Most Bengal Cats even retain their kitten-like meow and chirps throughout their lifetime.
Why Does a Bengal Cat’s Growth Matter?
Knowing when a Bengal Cat is done growing is important because some health conditions are linked to how old the cat is. For example, some Bengal Cats are prone to a health problem known as flat chested kitten syndrome. Affected cats tend to outgrow the problem once they are adults, but it can be a problem when they are younger, with the chest, or thorax, becoming flattened and being associated with lung collapse.
It is also important to know how big your Bengal Cat is going to be because it can affect if the cat is a good fit for your house and lifestyle. Homes or apartments that are small tend to not be ideal for these curious cats. If your home is not large enough to allow your Bengal Cat to roam and explore, then you may find that your Bengal becomes destructive and troublesome, finding all sorts of things to get into to make up for the fact that he or she has less room to roam.
If you are concerned about your Bengal misbehaving, then a good solution is to ensure you have a selection of toys for your cat. Check out our guide here to the best toys for Bengal cats for more information on toys that will keep your Bengal entertained and reduce the risk of damage to your property!
Some people consider houses that are too large to be a potential hazard for a Bengal Cat, but as long as your cat can’t get lost or fall off of high places, it is hard for a house to be too large for your friendly feline.
Do Bengal Cats Grow Slower Than Other Breeds Of Cat?
One interesting question we’ve seen asked a few times is whether Bengal cats grow slower than other breeds of cat.
As far as we are aware, there does seem to be some evidence that Bengals sit on the “slower growing” end of the feline growth spectrum compared to some other breeds.
Therefore, if you are comparing say a 6 month old Bengal to a 6 month old cat of a different breed, don’t be alarmed or disheartened if your cat looks smaller – it may well be that your cat is going to take longer to grow fully.
In Summary – When Do Bengal Cats Stop Growing?
Bengal Cats tend to grow until they are up to 2 years old, filling out into a muscular body frame.
Males tend to be larger than females and the exact size of your Bengal Cat generally relates to their genetic make-up. It is important to consider when Bengal Cats are fully grown so that you know how big your cat might get, as some homes are too small to be an ideal location for the curiosity-minded Bengal.
Don’t forget to check out our most popular article – a guide on how to tell if your cat is a Bengal mix.
Hello my Bengal just made a year old in March. He is slender but his face.is full. Is it normal for Bengals to have a full face, shall i say chubby cheeks?
Hi Yvette, thanks for commenting. If he is not overweight elsewhere, that is probably totally fine. You might want to check with a vet that there is nothing untoward going on (e.g. tooth problems that might be causing facial swelling) but likely he is fine.
I have what I believe is either a very rare domestic or a black ghost Bengal. When she gets in the sun she changes from appearing a basic black cat to being a very dark brown with black stripes and blotches. She is very active and generally sleeps from 10am till 3pm with smaller cat naps the rest of the day. Her ears are shorter and wider at the base. At 7 months she seems full grown compared to a domestic cat but she is still growing just slower. She constantly scares me by climbing way up trees I’m talking 50’to 60′ high. Sorry I’m not getting a tape measure and climbing up to see how high.