 |
THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE FOR BABY CATS
What is cuter than baby cats? If you adopt a new kitten, the way you bond with her in the first few weeks will shape your relationship for years to come. A kitten’s first year is very important both to her physical health and to her relationship with her human companions. While baby cats in the wild will generally stay with their mothers for a full year, domestic kittens are often weaned some time between five and seven weeks of age. Ideally, a kitten is best left with its mother for at least 12 weeks and optimally for 16 weeks, but in many cases this is not feasible and many pet owners find themselves with a baby cat that is barely two months old. Kittens grow very quickly during the first six weeks. They are also very susceptible to illness and other threats such fleas. At about seven weeks of age,
baby cats start to interact
with other kittens, cats and humans. They develop social skills by watching their moms, and they begin to imitate what they see by running, jumping, and pouncing. At this age, kittens love to climb into boxes or paper bags and play “hide and seek.” They also practice their hunting skills by “stalking prey,” so toys are very important for young kittens.
If you have other cats in the house, you will probably notice that your kitten will begin to establish her place in the social order at around four months of age. She may “challenge” the dominant cat with playful behavior that may earn them a swat on the ears if they aren’t careful. Usually, things work out and kittens find their place in the order of things. Nutrition is also very important during the first year of life. Kittens need extra nutrients and should be fed kitten food. This is especially important in the first six months and when your kitten is teething. Kittens lose their baby teeth just like human babies. For baby cats, this happens at about four months of age. They may experience pain or discomfort when they are teething, and massaging their gums with gauze at this stage can help ensure good dental health from the start. By the time your kitten is a year old, she will have reached the physical development stage of a fifteen year old human! In true teenager fashion, she may start to be less playful and more aloof at this age. Don’t take it personally, though. Your baby cat is just growing up! After the first year, cats continue to grow develop for another twelve months or so, depending on the breed. Some breeds, like Maine Coon cats, are not fully developed until they are about four years old.
Back to All About Cats Home Page
|
If you have a new kitten, be sure that he has had his first set of shots by eight weeks of age. At about 12 weeks, he’ll need another set. He should also be examined by a vet and tested for worms and fleas. If you want to use a preventative flea remedy, you can start this at about eight weeks of age. Between three and six months, your kitten should be spayed or neutered. This is extremely important even if you think she will never come in contact with other cats. Spaying and neutering helps to prevent reproductive cancers and will very likely extend your pet’s life.
