why are some cats very infantile and juvenile in their characteristics?

[Sammy-San]

My cat Charlie is fully grown, yet she still makes noises like a kitten, is very playful, doesn't meow or purr (at least not as much as a typical cat-maybe kittens meow and purr-im not than expert), and still playfully annoys my older cat Izzy just like a baby would.

It's not bad or anything. I think it makes her unique and cute. I'm just curious. Is this rare? Is there a cause of it?

 

[Dave-W]

Was Charlie neutered before full adult age?

 

[Soma Seer]

My cat Charlie is fully grown, yet she still makes noises like a kitten, is very playful, doesn't meow or purr (at least not as much as a typical cat-maybe kittens meow and purr-im not than expert), and still playfully annoys my older cat Izzy just like a baby would.

How old is Charlie?

 

[Sammy-San]

Was Charlie neutered before full adult age?

Define full adult age.

 

[Sammy-San]

How old is Charlie?

About a year and a half

 

[Soma Seer]

About a year and a half

That's still quite young, all things considered. I wouldn't expect her to slow down some until around age three.

 

[Dave-W]

Define full adult age.

Minimum one year. Year and a half is better.

Unless allowed to reach full maturity before neutering/spaying, many cats seem to get stuck in eternal adolescence.

 

[Sammy-San]

Minimum one year. Year and a half is better.

Unless allowed to reach full maturity before neutering/spaying, many cats seem to get stuck in eternal adolescence.

Define full maturity.

 

[Dave-W]

For female dogs and cats it is after their first time in heat.

Harder to determine in males; but usually considered to be the same age as females.

Talk to your vet for anything more than that.

 

[Sammy-San]

For female dogs and cats it is after their first time in heat.

Harder to determine in males; but usually considered to be the same age as females.

Talk to your vet for anything more than that.

The cat was in heat, which is why we got her fixed. She wasnt neutered before that.

 

[rhawk]

My cat Charlie is fully grown, yet she still makes noises like a kitten, is very playful, doesn't meow or purr (at least not as much as a typical cat-maybe kittens meow and purr-im not than expert), and still playfully annoys my older cat Izzy just like a baby would.

It's not bad or anything. I think it makes her unique and cute. I'm just curious. Is this rare? Is there a cause of it?

Hello Superhero Sam,
Most people do not realize, but cats do not talk to each other except to growl and hiss (as a rule). Mewing communication is reserved for a kitten to mother and cat to human. Yup, cats as a rule do not talk to each other. Meowing to people is a learned behavior that is mostly unique and found in a human/person interaction. You can teach a cat to "talk" more if you talk to your cat and/or reward them when they mew.
My cat Apollo is one who learned to communicate with us. He started it, but we continued it with him. We would encourage him to say "hello" to us all the time. Here is a video of him:

I have to say that there are times I regret teaching him this. Why? Sometimes he just will not stop. Many is the night (more so than not) I am in bed and he comes up to my face and just keeps saying "hello" for 20 minutes. He wants me to talk back to him and reward him for it. But as annoying as it can be, I would not trade it for the world.

Age and energy.... That can depend on the cat. Apollo is now 12 and no he does not play like he used to, but he does still love a good play session. Most of our cats do. He was wildly energetic till he was about 8 though. Our cat Nova was also packed with power till he was about 8. I am attaching 4 images of Apollo and Nova in a play session when they were about 6. Nova is the ginger long hair and Apollo is the tabby.

 

[SloriB]

LOL oh, Rhawk, I can imagine how much you hate the word "hello" now

He doesn't actually know what the word means, he just knows when he said it, you gave him attention. Now, any time he wants attention -- mostly food -- he thinks that's how to get it. Animals learn from us, but mostly what action will get us to do what they want. Another example is my mum's dog. Dad used to pat his back just in front of his tail and he liked it. He started trying to work out how to get people to scratch his back there, then realised that if he backs his butt up to us, that's what he gets. Now he wakes me up all the time if I fall asleep on the couch. He lines up, backs up his butt near my feet and rubs his back against my foot. Of course, in my asleep state my feet twitch with him tickling them like this, but this just adds to the patting for him so he continues to rub against my foot. Not the best for comfortable sleep! So these days, I have to shut the door if I want to have a nap on the couch, or be accosted by an itchy back!

PS - I used to mimick my cat, only now she thinks that's how we communicate so some nights, she'll meow the house down, waiting for me to respond if she's hungry or wanting attention.

 

[rhawk]

LOL oh, Rhawk, I can imagine how much you hate the word "hello" now

He doesn't actually know what the word means, he just knows when he said it, you gave him attention.

Hi SloriB,
I realize that. That was the point I was trying to make, though I may not have said it right. Apollo just wants attentions at all hours now. He is not always looking for food, just attention, hands on his body, eyes watching him... Though I may complain from time to time, I would not have it any other way.

I noted that you are a counsellor in pet grief and trauma, that is so great. I would have a hard time doing that myself, I tend to feel with the stories of loss too much and would be a basket case in a matter of sessions. Believe me, I am no stranger to these losses. Still, many people need help understanding and working with/through those horrible times and I am glad there are those who help. So thank you for what you do.

Cheers,

David

 

[SloriB]

Thank you very much. Yes, it is hard to see people in pain, but it's an area I just felt so connected to. It's also the least recognised form of grief and has very few in the area that specialise in it, because so many think "oh, it's just an animal" or "you can always get another one." They have completely missed the point. Animals are often friends to isolated people, children to those who cannot have their own, assistants in medical situations, an anti-anxiety medication (an addictive one!), and the best pillow you can ever cuddle. They aren't merely presences in our lives, like a table or chair, they are often family members and treated as such. I know my pets love their share of food at the Christmas table (although they are fed in their own bowls, not from the table), and we always plan for what they're going to have to celebrate with us.

My cat is a big talker too, and although I'll tell her "quiet, Mini" every so often, I don't want her to ever stop. She's 16 this year, but still old enough to demand things her way. So I consider it a victory that she's still healthy and happy. She bites my dad every so often, but that's mostly when he wont' pat her how she wants. I tell him to just let her be, but it's a love-hate relationship.

PS - Apollo is SO CUTE! He really has been practicing his phrasing

 

[FreeSpirit74]

Was Charlie neutered before full adult age?

Charlie is a female according to the OP, so she would have been spayed, not neutered. And female cats can have litters when they are only several months old, so the earlier they get spayed the better. My own cat was spayed at 3 months.