cute kitten

Just as human babies have developmental milestones, so do baby cats. Kittens grow rapidly both mentally and physically during their first year. Find out the stages of kitten development,

During the first week of kitty’s life, the main task is sleeping and drinking the mother’s milk. The animal is completely dependent on others including getting rid of waste products. The eyes and ear canals have not even opened yet.

By the end of the second week, the eyes will open completely. Over the next couple of weeks, other senses will develop such as hearing and smell so that the young animal is able to completely experience the world.

At week three, kittens learn how to walk and purr. Weaning may begin at this time as their bodies are now able to tolerate moistened kitten food.  Ask your vet for recommendations for good foods. Definitely, kittens should be eating food specially formulated for them as adult foods may cause digestive disturbances or not contain appropriate nutrients.

By week five, the mother cat will be deep into the weaning process. Kittens need to get some milk from mom until the age of eight weeks even with eating solid foods. Also, litter box training can begin now along with more socialization with other litter members and humans. Young cats make the best pets if they are handled regularly by humans at this age and beyond.  Also, they will be more accommodating of veterinary exams if they are used to being handled.

A seven to twelve week old kitten is continuing to grow and play with both humans and other kittens in the litter. The play that a kitten does prepares a kitten for the skills they will need to be the predator in the cat and mouse game of life. Motor skills are improving, and the kitten will begin to sleep like an adult cat. Kittens are more likely to just drop where they are and sleep.  An adult cat will intentionally seek out a favorite napping place.

A kitten that is 3 to 6 months of age looks more like an adult cat than a kitten. The round, furball will look more long and lithe and will put on weight as it nears an adult age. At around four months, the adult teeth will replace the baby kitten teeth. Begin a massaging program of dental care now because the kitten won’t mind you massaging gums that are sore from the baby teeth falling out. Remember that although your kitten will start to look like an adult cat, kitten food should still be fed to make sure kitty gets the proper nutrients.

Your kitten should be spayed or neutered between the ages of 3 and 6 months. Your vet can give you information about this procedure and the importance of having your cat spayed or neutered.

Just like human teens, your kitten from ages six months to a year old will test the boundaries and challenge his or her position in the household with other pets and with humans.

Depending on your breed, most kittens will look like they are full grown by age one. Most breeds will still see growth until age two with some breeds not being full-grown until age four.

If you take care of your feline properly during the stages of kitten development, you will be rewarded with a loving friend for many years. Visit cat behavior for more information on kitten behavioral development.