The Stages Of Kitten Development

The stages of kitten development show the remarkable growth of kittens in their first weeks of life. All kittens pass through typical stages of development.

It is hard to believe that the helpless, tiny newborn kittens experience so much growth during their first several weeks. Sleeping and nursing are the primary activities of newborn kittens during the first week. The newborn kittens umbilical cord falls off within the first two or three days.

Newborn kittens will often double their weight within the first week. Newborn kittens spend all of their time nursing and sleeping. It is considered detrimental to the newborn kitten’s ability to learn and socialization skills for the kitten to be separated from the mother at this time.

Though the kittens eyes open in the second week, their sense of sight is not fully developed until the fifth week. Kittens have blue eyes until their true eye color emerges after several weeks.

Beginning in the third week, kittens become aware of their environments. By the end of the third week, the kitten’s begin to be able to hear and their sense of smell has developed. The kid and socialization skills developed between the kitten second and seventh weeks.

During the kittens fourth week, they begin to explore their environment. They may begin to take their first shaky steps during the third or fourth week. Their interest and curiosity in their environments increases.

During the fifth week, social interaction begins. Kittens become more aware of and interactive with their siblings and people. Kittens begin to learn to use the litter box during this week.

After about eight weeks of nursing, many kittens are weaned from their mothers. The height of the kittens active play occurs from the seventh to the fourteenth week.

Once kittens are about six months of age, they begin to attempts to establish their rank within the household. Kittens gain a sense of status among their siblings, other pets in the household, and people. Kittens often test their ranking in status until they are about eighteen months old.

Even though all kittens have a similar process of development, some cat breeds mature slower than others. Kittens of most cat breeds are full size by the time the kitten is eighteen months to two years old. Kittens of some cat breeds can take up to five years to fully mature.