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Cat
Growth Stages
When a kitten is born, it is hard to
believe that one of these helpless little pink things will become a
graceful and powerful hunter. However, within a year, that tiny kitten
will be a mature cat.
Since kittens are born blind and are completely dependent on their
mothers, it is no surprise that their first stage involves little
more than eating and growing. However, once your kitten's eyes
open, he will begin to explore the world around him. By the time he is
four weeks old, he will be romping shakily about with his siblings. He
can begin to learn to use the litter box and should start to become
socialized. In the wild, a kitten's mother will start to supplement his
diet with dead mice or other small prey. You may prefer to give him some
soft kitten food or some dry food softened in water.
By the time your kitten is six to eight weeks old, he is ready to begin
exploring a bit further from home. If he is indoors, he will venture
into other rooms, while a feral kitten will begin to follow his mother
when she goes to hang out with the rest of the local cat colony. While
the kitten's mother may still bring him mice, they are no longer already
dead. The kitten begins to develop his hunting abilities. Eight week old
kittens are usually completely weaned and ready to go to a new home.
Over the next several months, kittens will continue to grow fairly
quickly. They need to receive a series of vaccinations so that they stay
strong and healthy. They will begin to learn how to coexist with their
families and will learn which behaviors are allowed. Your kitten should
learn his name and a few simple commands. Also, if you have a long
haired cat, it is important to get him used to the grooming process now,
even if he doesn't actually have a coat that needs to be brushed yet.
Has your sweet little kitten suddenly developed a bad attitude? Cats go
through an adolescent stage to transition from being a kitten to being a
mature cat, just as human children do. This stage usually begins
at around five to six months and may last until your cat reaches his
first year. He will still be very playful, but may occasionally get
carried away and play too aggressively. If you do not neuter your cat at
six months of age, he will actually be mature enough to reproduce.
Neutering your cat will help him get through this stage
much more smoothly. At six months of age, your cat will look pretty much
like he will look as an adult. However, he will fill out and bulk up as
he continues to mature.
Of course, once he is an adult, your cat will go through additional
growth stages, such as middle age, just as humans do. The good news
is that you won't have to worry that little Fluffy will run out and buy
a sports car if he has a bit of a mid-life crisis.
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