Feline Life Stages - How a Cat Grows and Matures

Newborn kittens are amazingly tiny. There skin is pink with no hair and their eyes are completely closed. Upon seeing these tiny miracles for the very first time, it is hard to believe that within only a year they will become powerful, graceful, majestic creatures ready for the prowl of the hunt.

In the beginning, all newborn kittens are dependant upon their mothers as they require lots of food and sleep as they spend this time growing. Once the eyes start to open, these tiny little miracles start to become adventurous and curious, exploring the world around them.

At four weeks, these kittens will start to move more sporadically and begin to play with their siblings even though their tiny legs are still a little unsure. Kittens at this age are also able to be trained to use a litter box. This is also a prime opportunity to start to socialize these kittens with other humans and animals. Supplementing the kittens food with soft or watered down dry cat food is essential at this time to promote growth as well as beginning the process of weaning. Non-domesticated cats will start to provide their kittens with dead mice or other small prey at this time.

At the age of six to eight weeks, kittens become more curious and a lot more daring. Kittens that live indoors will start to venture off to explore new rooms and areas in the home. A feral kitten or a wild kitten will begin to venture off with his mother while she socializes with other felines in the colony. Instead of a feral mother bringing her kitten dead mice, she will now provide them with live mice so that the kittens can begin learning the hunting process. During this time, kittens are usually completely weaned from their mothers and are usually mature enough to begin living in their new prospective homes. .

After this point, the rate at which kittens grow becomes rather rapid. A visit to the veterinarian is required at this time, so your kitten can receive a series of vaccinations in order to prevent feline diseases as well as get a thorough check up on his current development. Also during this time, kittens begin to learn how to co-exist with their fellow family members as well as gaining the ability to learn their name and even a few simple commands. Kittens are very smart and are quick to pick up on which behaviors are acceptable and which are not. In addition, if you have a long haired kitten, now is the best time to start introducing him to a grooming regiment with a brush or comb. This way, they have plenty of time to get comfortable and relaxed with the process.

Amazingly enough, kittens, just as humans go through transitional periods where their behavior can be affected as they get older. This first stage of irritability and misbehavior is called quite perfectly, the Adolescent stage. Unfortunately, this is the stage where kittens are now transitioning into adulthood and can start at around five to six months of age and last until they are a year old. There will still be plenty of playtimes, though at times, this once cute and docile kitten may tend to get a little overly aggressive. One way to help calm this stage is to have your cat neutered.

At six months of age, your kitten can reproduce, so the decision to have this procedure done will have to be made based on your own personal preference. By this age, your kitten’s appearance is pretty much exactly what he will look like for the rest of his days, except for the additional bulk and size he will gain with maturity.

Just as your cat goes through an adolescent stage, he too will go through another series of stages such as middle age and senior just as humans do. Although each stage has its quirks, it is delightful to note, that your cute and cuddly kitten will not come home during his middle aged years, wearing a toupee and driving a new Ferrari.

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