Phases of a Kitten's Life

Dignified, independent and affectionate, cats have been loved and cherished by humans for centuries. Legend has it that the Muslim prophet Mohamed once found a cat sleeping on his robe, so he cut a hole in the robe rather than disturb the sleeping animal. The most dramatic changes in a feline's life happen in its first year. This period is divided into phases. The timing of these phases can vary among individual kittens.

  1. Birth to 21 days

    • Kittens are born blind and sleep for the first two days after birth. Its eyes do not open until it is at least 10 days old. Kittens' ear canals are not patent for a few days after birth, but they can still hear some sounds. The newborns also have a "rooting reflex," which enables them to find the source of their food -- which is either the mother cat or a bottle of feline milk fed by a human caregiver. Kittens need to nurse from the mother or with feline milk within 24 hours of being born. It is vital to keep kittens warm when they are so young and the area where they are kept should be between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Weeks Three and Four

    • The mother cares completely for its kittens until they are 3 weeks old. After 25 days, kittens can be weaned onto solid food. Weaning is usually done by 7 weeks. Kittens also progress from walking to running during this phase. They begin to dig or rake in loose matter or dirt. The kittens start to show their first signs of predatory behavior. The mother gradually nurses the kittens for shorter periods and encourages them to learn to walk and venture out of the nest. As the kittens run around more, mother cats will use a "call sign" to signal those which they have strayed too far.

    Weeks Four to 12

    • This is the socialization phase and kittens should have many positive experiences with humans, other cats and other species. Many people think kittens are ready to be adopted at 6 weeks. This is a fallacy as kittens need plenty of socialization time with their mothers and siblings. The best time to adopt a new kitten is at around 3 months. By this age, they have had enough sibling play and have learned vital lessons from the mother. Good human relationships can develop. At 3 months, kittens should have received some vaccinations and will have stronger immune systems.

    Six to 12 Months

    • Young cats become sexual mature at around 6 months. Secondary sex characteristics appear, like thicker hair coats around males' necks, territorial behavior, and behavior associated with courtship and mating. Spaying females or neutering males occurs at about six months. A spayed kitten will mean a lower incidence of mammary cancer and behavioral issues associated with a cat being in heat. The benefits of neutering are reduced male aggression and urine spraying.