Here we can see, “The First Six Weeks of Your Kitten’s Development”
The first six weeks of a cat’s existence are crucial in defining the personality and character of the cat for the rest of his life. This stage is critical for the kitten’s development and health.
Very young kittens are vulnerable to various significant dangers, including parasites and upper respiratory infections (URI), which, when combined with other issues, can result in fading kitten syndrome (FKS), a devastating and frequently deadly illness. FKS is more commonly seen in litters of stray and feral cats, so if you’re fostering kittens, keep them separate from the rest of the house until they’ve all been examined for infectious disease.
Kittens will never grow at the extraordinary rate they do at this time, and seeing them expand from week to week is an incredible experience.
Week 1
Your newborn kitten is a tiny food processing factory for the first week. Here’s what to anticipate:
- The kitten will be focused on eating and growing. This week, it will have doubled its birth weight.
- Other physical changes will become more evident shortly.
Week 2
Your kitten is still growing at an incredible rate of at least 10 grams every day. These modifications take place as well:
- At 9 to 14 days old, its eyes will begin to open and fully open. The eyes of all kittens are blue and will stay that way for several weeks. At first, your vision will be hazy. Because a kitten’s pupils do not quickly dilate and constrict, keep your cat away from strong lights.
- The kitten’s sense of smell is growing, and it will hiss if it smells something it doesn’t recognize.
- By this time, you may have figured out the kittens’ gender. But don’t be too sure; even veterinarians make blunders this early on.
Week 3
Many changes have occurred in the kitten:
- The ear canals will be fully open.
- Kittens may now voluntarily excrete due to the development of their digestive systems.
- They will begin to socialize with each other and with strangers, and they will desire to learn more about their environment.
Week 4
Coming up on a month, the kitten exhibits the following traits:
- Perception of depth has improved.
- The sense of smell has reached its full potential.
- Teeth will begin to erupt.
- Kittens are gaining confidence in their ability to move without stumbling.
- They’ll spend more time with their littermates, perhaps developing “alliances” that might or might not be gender-based.
Week 5
After a month, the kitty is ready for new challenges.
- At this point, kittens may be given to canned kitten chow. Choose a high-quality canned kitten food that includes a listed meat source as the first component (chicken is good). Many breeders and rescuers will have fed the mother cat this food, and the kittens will rapidly adapt to eating what mom eats.
- Kittens can now be taught to use the litter box. They require a smaller, separate box with only an inch or two of litter that is easy to reach and exit.
- Kittens will experiment the same way human newborns do by sampling everything. If your cat is eating the litter during their training phase, switch to a different type of litter and watch them see if the behavior persists. If your kitten insists on eating any form of waste, consult your veterinarian to see if any underlying health issues need to be addressed.
Week 6
As an adult cat, socializing with a kitten at this age will make all the difference in his personality and interaction with humans. The following are significant milestones in the sixth week:
- Kittens have unlimited energy to run, pounce, leap, and entertain themselves and their human watchers. They can fall asleep at the drop of a hat (growing up is hard work), so give them as much rest as required.
- Kittens will imitate their mother cat’s behavior when associating with people. Her kittens will be happy if she has a good relationship with the humans in her life. However, if kittens are not used to being handled by humans by the age of six weeks, it will be a long, laborious process to train them later, and such a cat may never be a “lap cat” as an adult.
- For best outcomes in socializing the kittens for new homes, feral cat rescuers should consider having the litter spend time with humans (apart from the mother) before six weeks of age.
Important Socialization Advice for Kittens During Their Development
Kittens must learn that their hands are not for playing with at a young age. The discomfort of young kitten teeth on a finger surprises many novice pet parents.
Biting
Encourage your kitty to play with toys rather than his hands to help prevent this tendency.
Encourage your kitten to scratch on a scratch post. We’ve all had our hands (or feet) attacked by a playful kitten’s claws, but channeling their energy helps prevent it.
Scratching
Take the cat over to the scratching post and gently manipulate its front paws on the fabric in a scratching motion. This action will educate them on how to use the post and help them avoid future attacks.
Make use of your voice. Often, all it takes is a stern voice to stop harmful behavior.
If your kitten is biting or scratching you, a loud “ouch” or “ah-ah” will usually halt the behavior.
Playtime
Make sure your cat has plenty of playtimes every day.
Catnip toys, bells, and noisy toys are fantastic sources of entertainment to keep him occupied. You’ll be less likely to become a target if you make sure he has somewhere to play.
If your kitten is roughhousing with your hands or feet, put a halt to it. Ignore the conduct, rise, and leave.
By ending the playtime, you’ll teach the kitten that certain behaviors are acceptable, while others will result in no engagement at all.
Bonding
Every day, spend time with the kitty. While we all have busy lives, it’s critical to spend time everyday bonding and developing a relationship with your cat.
If you’ve had to work during the day, you’ll want to snuggle, cuddle, pet, and play with your cat.
Similarly, all children in the house must be aware of proper physical contact with the cat.
If you notice a youngster engaging roughly with your kitten, intervene immediately and remove the kitten from the situation.
User Questions
What do you do at night with a six-week-old kitten?
You can sleep with your kitten at night, but don’t expect her to be a good bedmate. Your kitten should be kept warm, soft, and silent at night. This may be a plush cat bed with high edges, a laundry basket full of your favorite worn shirts, or a soft blanket for her to snuggle up in.
Do kittens enjoy being held?
Not every kitty enjoys being held. It’s good to train a kitten to be calm and cooperative when held for brief periods. Not all kittens, though, will purr or snuggle in your arms. If a kitten does not want to be had, do not force it to do so.
Can kittens leave mom at 6 weeks?
Kittens should be kept with their mothers until they are 12-14 weeks old. Contrary to popular belief, kittens can be separated from their mothers as early as 8 weeks old. On the other hand, Separated kittens are still in danger of developmental, social, and health problems.
When do kittens get the craziest?
Kittens are most energetic until they reach the age of six months. The social play reaches its apex at the period of three months. At the age of 4 to 9 months, they begin their adolescent years.
Is it true that cats have a favorite person?
In a multi-human household, cats appear to choose one family member with whom they desire to spend more time. According to a study conducted by Canada’s nutrition business, the person who puts up the most effort gets favored.
Conclusion
I hope you found this helpful guide. If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to use the form below.
