Kittens can be introduced to solid food during their fifth week, although they'll continue nursing for a few weeks after this. 9 – 12 Weeks: Weaning and Learning Cat Skills
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By four months, her adult teeth will start to come in. By twelve weeks, kittens are ready to receive their first rabies vaccination.ĭid you know kittens have two sets of teeth as they age, just like humans? Feline baby teeth start coming in during the second week, but your kitten should have all of her baby teeth by about eight weeks of age. Your veterinarian will place your kitten on a schedule for follow-up shots and boosters, and also discuss any additional shots for conditions she may be at risk for, including chlamydia and feline leukemia. The core immunizations she'll need include distemper and the respiratory diseases, feline viral rhinotracheitis and feline calicivirus. The first round of vaccinations should be done between six and eight weeks on the kitten timeline. Your kitten should be taken to her first veterinarian visit during this time. Playing and cuddling with the kittens, introducing them to other people and pets, letting them explore their surroundings (under close supervision, of course) and experience new sights, sounds and smells will not only prepare them to go to their eventual forever homes but also help them grow into emotionally healthy, well-adjusted adult cats.
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6 – 8 Weeks: Socializing and First Vaccinesīy five weeks of age, kittens are confident enough in their newfound mobility that they become curious and playful, making it an excellent time to start socializing them. Just keep in mind that they're still learning and accidents might happen from time to time. Kittens typically learn what to do from watching mom, so all you really need to do is show them the box. This is a good time to introduce them to the litter box, says Petful. This is a good time to start kitten-proofing your home if you haven't already done so.ĭuring the fourth and fifth week of the kitten timeline, kittens are able to balance enough to go to the bathroom without any help from their mother. While they start out wobbly and unsure, as balance begins to improve during the fourth week they become more confident and eager to explore their surroundings. 3 – 5 Weeks: Walking and Using the Litter BoxĪround three weeks of age is usually when kittens start to take their first shaky steps. Purring typically begins during week three, and kittens tend to become more vocal as they start being able to walk, play and explore their surroundings. Kittens have the ability to make sounds from birth, and may be heard making little mews to let their mother know they're hungry, says Catster. The blue eyes that kittens are born with may start to change color during their third week, which is also when their ears begin to open and perk up, introducing them to a whole new world filled with sound. Their eyes open during the second week, but their vision isn't very good at this point, and they'll need to be kept out of bright light, says The Spruce Pets. Kittens come into the world with their eyes and ears closed and spend the first week or so of their lives blind and deaf. 1 – 3 Weeks: Kittens Open Their Eyes and Ears Check out this kitten timeline to learn when to expect certain milestones on your kitten's journey to becoming a cat. A typical kitten growth chart shows that the most changes - and the most amazing ones - happen during the first eight weeks. It's hard to believe that a tiny, mewing baby that fits in the palm of your hand can grow into a full-fledged adult cat in the length of only twelve months.
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A lot happens during a kitten's first year.