Your kitten: care and attention in the first months of life

Bringing a kitten home is a thrilling journey full of happiness and inquisitiveness. Your little furball’s development is greatly aided by the first few months, so getting to know their needs can be quite helpful. As you set out on this journey together, there are many things to think about, from nutrition to playtime.

Kittens need care and attention to thrive. Not only do they depend on you for sustenance, but also for mental and social stimulation. You may help your kitten develop into a well-mannered adult cat by spending quality time with them. Easy pastimes like cuddling or toy play can strengthen a relationship.

It’s also critical to establish a secure and friendly environment. Your kitten will investigate everything, so giving them a cozy area of their own will make them feel safer. You can give your kitten the best start in life by providing it with the appropriate love and care.

Aspect	Details
Nutrition	Feed your kitten high-quality, age-appropriate food several times a day.
Socialization	Expose your kitten to different people and environments to build confidence.
Litter Training	Introduce a litter box early; keep it clean and accessible.
Health Care	Schedule vet check-ups and vaccinations to ensure a healthy start.
Playtime	Engage in play to develop physical and mental skills; use toys to keep it fun.
Safe Space	Create a cozy area for your kitten to retreat and feel secure.

Kitten development in the first months of life

Whatever the reason for the small kitten’s arrival at your house, you should find out its age, if you don’t already know. This is required to plan the pet’s nutrition, vaccinations, and other needs. It’s also a good idea to anticipate the right age to do this if you’re just going to adopt a kitten.

The first week of a kitten"s life

Kittens are unusually helpless right after birth. They have a keen sense of smell, but they are blind and deaf. After birth, kittens use their sense of smell to locate their mother’s nipple. They eat colostrum in the early hours after birth because it is nutrient-rich and aids in the development of the kittens’ immune systems. It is best to avoid disturbing the cat with her litter too much during this time, and to avoid picking up the kittens.

By erecting a little house that will shield them from drafts, cold, and noise, you can aid in their adjustment to this new environment. It’s easy to turn a cardboard box into a house by adding soft fabric bedding. The kittens can only crawl for the time being and cannot climb over the side, but the cat can easily jump out of it. You can shield them from unintentional harm in this way.

The kitten is defenseless after birth and requires its mother’s care.

The kittens’ umbilical cord dries up and falls off between the second and fourth day. Everything is OK if the kitten’s navel site is free of blood or inflammation. However, occasionally the umbilical cord gets infected or, for whatever reason, does not come loose in time. In this situation, call a veterinarian to avoid further issues for the infant.

On the fourth or sixth day of life, kittens start to hear, but they do not yet respond to sound. They’re still not opening their eyes. They give a soft squeak to get the mother cat’s attention.

A cat will frequently lick her young during the day. She doesn’t just do this to get rid of dirt and smells. In newborn kittens, the movement of the tongue stimulates the digestive system. Furthermore, they are still unable to properly wash themselves. There’s no need to clean up after the kittens because the cat licks their excrement. Kittens must mature before using the litter box; they won’t do so just yet.

Features of caring for a kitten after birth

There are situations when a cat cannot take care of her offspring herself, for example, if she is sick or has abandoned the kittens for some of her own reasons. Then, to nurse the kittens from birth, you will have to put in a lot of effort: feed them with a special mixture from a pipette or syringe and wipe them with a damp cloth instead of the cat"s tongue several times a day. If the situation is emergency, and there is no way to get to the pet store, buy a mixture for infants and dilute one and a half times weaker than according to the instructions. Kitten feeding schedule – every two to three hours, both day and night. During the day, each kitten should gain at least 5 g, and optimally – 10-15 g.

A syringe can be used to feed kittens.

In the box containing the newborn kittens, place a heat source. For this, a plastic bottle filled with warm water and covered with a cloth will work. As the bottles cool, replace them.

Try to reclaim authority over the mother’s children, if at all possible. To enable the kitten to locate the nipple, place one kitten under the cat’s stomach. Breast milk is their best food, so keep trying even if it doesn’t work right away. Besides, a mother’s care is always better than yours.

The first month of kittens" life

The babies get more energetic every day. Their eyes open on the seventh or tenth day, but they are still unable to see completely. They need to adjust to the new light. Since melanin pigment is so little in newborn kittens, all of them have light blue eyes. Kittens start to make sounds that sound like a thin meow, purring and hissing.

Kittens gain confidence when they are able to see. Babies playing games is a very funny and cute sight. They attempt to stand and walk for the first time. Since they knead their mother’s belly constantly while they are feeding, their front paws are more developed. As a result, they are already quite capable of sitting, but they will start to walk in two or three weeks. The kittens are already crammed into the box as the attempts grow more and more successful.

In two to three weeks, kittens start to walk.

They enjoy exploring their surroundings and scaling every obstacle in their path. You must exercise extreme caution during this time to avoid unintentionally stepping on inquisitive babies. Kittens are already confidently standing on all fours by the time they are one month old, and they are attempting to jump and climb furniture like couches and armchairs. A month-old kitten will typically attempt to climb up your clothing and onto your neck when you pick it up.

Tiny, happy babies are at risk during this time. They could get hurt if they fall off the sofa because their skeleton is still very brittle. Cats can also become stuck in the spaces between furniture because they love to climb in there. While all kids enjoy playing with kittens, not all of them can handle them with care. A kitten can be hurt with little effort on their part. As a result, never let kids play with tiny kittens without an adult’s supervision.

Babies start to erupt their baby teeth at three weeks. Because they are small and sharp, kittens can bite your finger quite sensitively when you play with them.

Gradually, tiny, sharp teeth are cut.

You can start giving the kitten "adult" food after three weeks. For the healthy development of kittens, you must introduce complementary foods as the cat’s milk may no longer be sufficient to feed the grown children. The kitten will begin experimenting with new foods if it is hungry. The food might go unclaimed if he has enough of it. After that, you must provide them with water. You can accomplish this by simply leaving a bowl of clean water in a location that kittens can get to.

The breed of cat will mostly dictate what to serve as the first and subsequent complementary food; while some cats are highly finicky and prone to allergies, others are not as fussy and will happily eat anything in sight. Experts concur that since a kitten’s digestive system cannot process whole cow’s milk, it should not be given to them.

For the first complementary food, 10% cream, low-fat soft cottage cheese, and baby meat puree are appropriate. You can begin giving the kitten food right away if you intend to feed it either wet or dry in the future. Soak only dry food ahead of time to prevent choking of the infant. However, bear in mind that weaning an adult cat off of specialized food is extremely challenging. It is unlikely that you will be able to give it to him on occasion; instead, the animal might just refuse to eat on a regular basis and go without food for a few days at a time.

Cream, cottage cheese, or baby food can be the first complementary food.

Even though kittens don’t yet know how to wash themselves, bathing them is not necessary. The mother gives them a very tidy lick. You can use a moist cloth to wipe the kitten if it is extremely filthy in anything.

The kitten has grown up – he is four weeks old!

The kittens aren’t quite independent after a month, of course, but they are already quite capable. For such crumbs, frisking and playing, eating and drinking—this is a lot. They can be removed from the cat at this age, though some professionals advise holding off until they are two months old.

Our daughter was expected to receive a small tenant as a gift on New Year’s Eve in our family. He turned precisely one month old on December 31, and we eagerly anticipated this day. We brought home a small grey lump, and realized we had no idea what to do with it; the baby squealed, turned away from food and water, and tried to hide in a secluded place away from us. My daughter was puzzled as to how the new friend could not want to play with the owner; how could that be possible?

We made the sensible choice to leave the animal alone and give him time to acclimate to his new surroundings after he had endured hours of suffering. For roughly sixty minutes, Marsik, the kitten, sat beneath the couch. But fear gave way to curiosity, and the whiskered muzzle politely protruded. By evening, the belt from the robe had become a favorite toy, most of the apartment had been sniffed and examined, and a puddle had formed behind the chair.

However, feeding was not succeeding because the infant refused to eat from a bowl. Our pet disliked the mixture we had pre-purchased for kittens from a veterinary pharmacy. Next, we experimented with reserve methods, such as wet food for kittens, boiled eggs, soft-boiled potatoes, rolled oats with chicken, and baby meat puree. After the latter was politely accepted, the contented little animal drifted off to sleep.

Over the next few days, we discovered a great deal about young kittens:

1. They don’t sleep at night, they run and play.
2. They can bite quite hard during play.
3. They can’t wash themselves completely, they need to be bathed.
4. Kittens eat very small portions, literally a teaspoon.
5. They can starve if they don’t like the food.
6. They like it when the litter in the tray is poured, you can dig it. The mesh is not suitable.
7. They are wonderfully good.

We later felt bad for not being more firm and giving the kitten store-bought food. Retraining an adult cat to eat homemade food required nearly a year. Even after five years, the cat is still extremely particular about what he eats; if he is not happy with what is in the bowl, he won’t eat anything for two or three days.

Video: kittens are a month old

At what age It"s better to take a kitten into the house

Having a small cat or kitten at such a young age has advantages and disadvantages. The first and most important benefit is that you can raise the kitten however it suits you best, acclimating it to the food and filler that you can afford. The silica gel toilet may not seem like a latrine to animals used to using the wood filler tray. Second, kittens grow quickly; by the time they are a month old, their appearance and behavior have completely changed.

Even at one month old, a kitten can be raised on its own.

One of the drawbacks is having to spend a lot of time with the pet. On the other hand, this brings joy to many. Kittens under the age of four should be fed four or more times a day. A month-old kitten should not be left alone at home all day because it will become bored, misplace its food bowl, and create a puddle in the wrong spot. Try to protect the territory if you must leave the baby for an extended period of time due to unforeseen circumstances.

When no one is home, it is best to initially restrict the kitten’s movement within the apartment to just one room. Leave only water, food, and toys; remove sharp objects, live wires, and chemicals. The litter box should be available to the kitten at all times.

Purchase an older kitten, ideally between two and four months old, if you aren’t ready to give your pet as much attention as you would like.

Two-month-old kittens

By the time they are two months old, kittens have developed all of the abilities and evidently displayed every adult cat instinct—with the exception of sexuality. They are used to the litter box, fully independent, and do not require their mother’s breast milk. Young cats are able to leap from the sofa to the floor, climb freely onto furniture, and have developed coordination.

Since the immune system is already functioning at this age, vaccinations are recommended. Vaccines against bacterial and viral illnesses are given to cats. The vaccination must include a rabies shot if you intend to let your pet outside.

Kittens must receive their first vaccinations at two months of age.

An anthelmintic medication must be given to the kitten 10–14 days prior to the vaccination. The veterinarian checks the animal for illnesses and flea infestations at the appointment prior to the injection. The kitten may squeak in pain during the intramuscular vaccination, which is administered into the thigh. Typically, the vet advises you to keep an eye on your pet’s health and note if it refuses food or water. The injection site may experience a small amount of swelling, nothing too strong or noticeable. Cats typically tolerate vaccinations well and don’t exhibit any pain.

Every year, animals should receive their vaccinations, ideally in the same month. The vaccination takes around 30 days for the body to start showing effects. After that, you can take your little companion for a stroll outside.

A kitten of three months and older

Kittens that are growing get very playful. They are energized for the entire day, and occasionally even the entire night! Because they are nocturnal predators by nature, cats have no problem with darkness. Most of the time, your pet can sleep if it is left alone during the day and no one is home. But your pet will have fun when night falls and you lie down to sleep.

Kittens enjoy playing with their sleeping companions’ hands, feet, and hair! The baby’s energy and desire to play is not his fault, so try not to get upset with him. When you get back home, he needs your attention at least in the evenings.

Cats start to replace their milk teeth with permanent ones during this time. The animal will experience discomfort and itching in its oral cavity until this process is finished, which usually happens by the time the animal is seven months old.

And even though we will only be four months old tomorrow, our two lower fangs have already grown in. There were eight of them prior to this. Since our girl is a fighter, it was easy to spot four more fangs, which we gnawed on very well. She calmed down when the lower fangs grew in, but she still enjoys honing her teeth. May You can find the thread "T24710" at https://forums.zooclub.ru.

This could lead to your pet chewing on the most inappropriate (at least to you) items. Additionally, it is best to shield it from unintentional electrical shock or poisoning in case it unexpectedly comes into contact with wires or a packet of dishwashing powder.

Due to the teething, the kitten gnaws on everything in succession.

An indication of a pet’s maturity is a change in eye color. They will transition from blue to green, brown, or amber in color. However, the iris color of some cat breeds continues to be light blue. It takes time to change the color of your eyes. Each breed experiences it for a different length of time, starting at four weeks of age. Typically, you can already tell the color of your kitten’s eyes by three months; any more color changes won’t really make a difference. In other words, if the eyes turn green, they won’t turn brown or blue.

All of my kittens had color changes in their eyes by the time they were 4 months old; the changes started at about 2 months. I can see now that things can differ. Live and discover! Chinchillas are a different matter entirely. However, the blueness of the eyes fades in young kittens, and subsequently, each animal’s unique eye color develops. The http://mauforum.ru/Natafka Viewtopic.php?p=1256458

In cats, puberty lasts from four to seven months after the animal reaches this stage. Female cats undergo behavioral changes during this time; they become friendlier and meow more invitingly. On the other hand, cats respond to irritants more violently and develop a stronger odor in their urine. When animals start marking their territory, it irritates their owners. The best time to get your pet sterilized is between 8 and 9 months old if you do not intend to have children from them.

Kitten development rates by month

The mother cat’s living circumstances had a significant impact on the weight and height of the kittens. Throughout her pregnancy, the mother’s diet and general health are crucial. However, the kittens’ breed is the main influence. It goes without saying that a Maine Coon kitten will weigh more at birth than a Bobtail Kurilian. The average growth and weight indicators for kittens are shown in the table below.

Table: average growth and weight indicators for kittens

Age of kitten	0	1 week	1 month	2 months	3 months	4 months	5 months	6 months
Weight, g	70–110	140–240	260–500	600–700	1100–1500	1500–1800	2000–2200	2300–2600
Body length, cm	6–10	10–12	12–15	16–18	18–20	21–23	23–25	25–27

It should be remembered that males typically gain weight more quickly than females and are larger at birth. The weight and growth rate of kittens in a litter can also be influenced by their number. The truth is that a cat will feed its kittens less the more of them it has.

According to the graph, male cats mature a little quicker than female cats.

The initial months of a kitten’s life are critical for their development and necessitate careful attention to detail and nurturing in order to ensure that they develop into happy, healthy cats. In order to help you develop a close relationship with your new furry friend, this article will cover important advice on feeding, socializing, and setting up a safe environment. You can eventually create the foundation for a lifetime of love by concentrating on these early experiences.

For your kitten’s growth and well-being, the first few months of their life are extremely important. As they are exploring and learning a lot at this time, attending to their needs will help you and your new pet form a strong bond.

It’s crucial to give your kitten the right food. For them to maintain healthy growth and energy levels, they require a balanced diet. Make sure your kittens have access to fresh water and only ever choose food of the highest caliber. As they develop, this will support their continued health and activity.

Another important factor is socialization. Introduce your kitten to a range of individuals, animals, and settings. They gain confidence and become more well-adjusted as a result. Playtime is also essential because it helps them develop their hunting instincts and keeps their minds active.

Remember to schedule routine veterinary visits. In terms of immunizations and general health, these examinations are crucial. Paying attention to health issues early on can help avoid more serious issues later on. Your veterinarian can also offer helpful guidance on training and maintenance.

Lastly, show your kitten patience and love. They’re picking up knowledge about their new home and how to trust you. They will feel more at ease and content the more good things they do with you. Cherish these formative years as a couple—they grow up quickly!

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