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Overview:
It is always reassuring to know
what to expect in regards to your kitten's development. If is
reaching it's milestones on time & progressing well. Obviously
not all kittens will develop at the same time, but hopefully
this timeline will give you a rough idea of what to expect &
alert you to any possible problems.
Week 1
Kittens are born blind & deaf.
There eyes are closed & their ears folded down.
In the first week of life kittens
basically sleep & eat. When they are awake, they stay close to
the mother.
Newborn kittens are unable to
regulate their body temperature & rely on mum to keep warm. The
kitten's environment must be kept at a constant temperature to
avoid either hypothermia or hyperthermia.
The umbilical cord remains
attached for the first 3 days. At birth they usually weigh
between 90 - 100 grams.
Toileting is stimulated by the
mother. After her kittens have fed, she will lick their belly &
genital area, eating any feces & urine.
Week 2
By the second week their eyes are
beginning to open although their vision is not very good at this
stage. Do not force their eyes open as it could result in
damage. Young kittens are vulnerable to eye infections, so keep
a watch for any signs of infection such as crustiness or
white/yellow secretion. All kittens have blue eyes at this
stage.
Weight gain is around 7-10 grams a
day, and by the end of the second week the kitten should have
doubled it's weight.
The sense of smell is developing.
They will often have a preference for a particular nipple.
Week 3
By three weeks the kitten is
becoming more aware of his littermates. His sense of smell is
continuing to develop. It is around the three week mark that
kittens begin to shakily move about. Some kittens will try to
walk & explore.
By three weeks their ears will be
erect. Their baby teeth begin to show.
The sense of smell is well developed.
They can now purr.
Week 4
The sense of smell is fully
mature.
The kittens are becoming more &
more active & be interacting with their littermates. They may
attempt to explore outside the confines of their kittening box.
The mother is still grooming her
offspring, but they are also able to groom themselves.
Their eyesight is improving,
although it will be a few more weeks before it is fully
developed. The sense of hearing is now well developed.
It is at this time that the mother
will begin to leave her kittens for short periods of time.
At this stage, you can provide a
small bowl of water for kittens to drink from.
Week 5
The sight is fully developed at 5
weeks.
The weaning process can begin around 5
weeks of age. Start out slowly by mixing baby food (check the
ingredients to make sure the food contains no onion as this is
toxic to cats) canned or dry cat food in with some kitten
formula. Not all kittens will take to food immediately, so
patience is important. Introduce a small amount initially. You
can introduce solids either by placing a small amount of food on
your finger or in a cat bowl.
Kittens are much more graceful on
their feet at this stage & are exploring a lot more. Stalking &
pouncing their littermates.
They may start to use the litter
tray, although you will likely find some accidents still. Make
sure that the bedding is easily washable so you can ensure the
area remains clean. Provide them with a small litter tray, make
sure it has litter which is safe for young kittens to use (and
possibly eat).
Weeks 6 - 8
Kittens receive their first
vaccinations at 6 weeks of age.
The kittens are extremely active.
The mother will have longer periods on her own.
The role of the human is to take
an active part in the socialisation process without intruding,
especially in the very early days. Take the time to not only
play with your kitten, but also offer plenty of cuddles &
familiarise it with being handled in general. This includes the
paws, ears & mouth...which will make basic health inspections,
medicating & claw trimming easier as the kitten has been brought
up to accept this.
At this stage, kittens should be
eating four small meals a day & by 8 weeks should be eating
mostly solids. They should have almost all of their baby teeth
by now.
Summary:
Obviously, cats remain kittens for
longer than 8 weeks, the aim of this article was to cover the
early stages of kitten development.
This is a guide only, all animals
work to their own schedule, but it does provide you with a rough
idea as to what should be happening when.
It is important to keep records of
weight, kittens should gain weight steadily. If they are not,
then veterinary attention should be sought, and quickly. Also be
on the look out for signs of sickness in your kitten. These
could include; loss of appetite, sleeping alone (at a very young
age), rejection from the mother, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness,
discharge from the mouth, eyes, anus etc. If you are at all
worried, seek veterinary advice.
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