Here's why:
* Early Development: The development of teats is part of a larger process called sexual differentiation, which happens during fetal development. This process determines whether the fetus will develop into a male or female.
* Common Ancestor: All mammals share a common ancestor that had teats. This ancestor would have needed teats to nurse their offspring.
* Evolution: While males don't need teats for their own biological function, the genes for developing them are present in all mammals, regardless of sex. The process of evolving a new body part is complex and takes a long time. It's much easier for nature to keep an existing structure, even if it becomes less essential in one sex.
Think of it this way: it's like a recipe for baking a cake. The recipe includes ingredients that are used for both the cake and the frosting, even though you might only want one or the other. The same applies to the development of teats in male mammals. The genetic instructions are present in all mammals, but their function is only utilized in females.
So, while male kittens might not have a use for their teats, they are a natural part of their development and a reminder of our shared ancestry.