The five most important stages in a kitten's growth
Throughout a cat's life, you will notice that they go through numerous changes in behaviour, body type, and nutritional needs. The first few months of a kitten's life are crucial as it learns about the world around it and grows into a healthy adult cat. By understanding what's important during these stages, you can do your best to give him what he needs and give it the best possible start in life.
Kittens first week of life
As soon as the kitten is born, it begins to suckle - in the first three days of life, each kitten develops a preference for a particular teat on which it is suckled by its mother. This remains the preferred one throughout the nursing period. Suckling in the early days is very important because kittens absorb colostrum, a special milk that helps the kitten build up immune protection.
At five days old it opens its eyes and after about a week the umbilical cord falls off. It gains between 10g and 30g of weight every day. It is therefore important to weigh them daily and monitor the mother's behaviour if she prevents it from nursing.
Kittens second week of life
By then the kitten will have made its first attempts to stand on its legs, but will also spend 90% of its time sleeping as its body grows rapidly. Its first baby teeth will come - 26 of them - and these will not be replaced by adult teeth until it is around five to seven months old.
A four week old kitten
Meanwhile, the kitten will be actively playing and running around and will begin to socialize with its siblings. It will begin to show interest in its mother's solid food so you can begin to transition its milk-only diet to one that is now more suitable. This is done gradually.
Eight week in the kittens life
At the age of two months, the kittens should have stopped nursing from their mother and should meet their needs primarily through supplementary food. They will be switched to a nutritionally appropriate, energy-rich food that is of right consistency and size. We proceed step by step so as not to overwhelm the digestive system.
The kitten at twelve weeks
The kittens are growing very quickly now. Although their energy input needs have decreased, they still require three times as much energy as an adult cat to begin their most intense weight gain period at four to five months, during which they will gain weight by approx. 100g per week. Their sleeping habits are more similar to those of an adult cat - between 13 and 16 hours per day - and their behaviour is fully socialized, allowing them to play with the rest of the littermates and people.
Kittens first week of life
As soon as the kitten is born, it begins to suckle - in the first three days of life, each kitten develops a preference for a particular teat on which it is suckled by its mother. This remains the preferred one throughout the nursing period. Suckling in the early days is very important because kittens absorb colostrum, a special milk that helps the kitten build up immune protection.
At five days old it opens its eyes and after about a week the umbilical cord falls off. It gains between 10g and 30g of weight every day. It is therefore important to weigh them daily and monitor the mother's behaviour if she prevents it from nursing.
Kittens second week of life
By then the kitten will have made its first attempts to stand on its legs, but will also spend 90% of its time sleeping as its body grows rapidly. Its first baby teeth will come - 26 of them - and these will not be replaced by adult teeth until it is around five to seven months old.
A four week old kitten
Meanwhile, the kitten will be actively playing and running around and will begin to socialize with its siblings. It will begin to show interest in its mother's solid food so you can begin to transition its milk-only diet to one that is now more suitable. This is done gradually.
Eight week in the kittens life
At the age of two months, the kittens should have stopped nursing from their mother and should meet their needs primarily through supplementary food. They will be switched to a nutritionally appropriate, energy-rich food that is of right consistency and size. We proceed step by step so as not to overwhelm the digestive system.
The kitten at twelve weeks
The kittens are growing very quickly now. Although their energy input needs have decreased, they still require three times as much energy as an adult cat to begin their most intense weight gain period at four to five months, during which they will gain weight by approx. 100g per week. Their sleeping habits are more similar to those of an adult cat - between 13 and 16 hours per day - and their behaviour is fully socialized, allowing them to play with the rest of the littermates and people.