by  abcrumley 

Kitten Development Stages

When kittens are born, they are completely cute and vulnerable. Their adorable little eyes are closed, their ears are flattened, and they can barely crawl an inch. They are so tiny and in need of constant care.

How Many Kittens Can a Cat Have?

A cat can give birth to 1-8 kittens at a time. This is known as a litter of kittens. On average, cats will have 6 kittens at a time and can have 2-3 litters a year. Therefore, if you do not want to be overrun by kittens, spay and neuter your cats.

Week 1: The Kittens are Born

Kittens are born weighing about 3.5 ounces. They are completely dependent on the mother. In the first 24-48 hours, the kittens will get all the needed immunities from the colostrum. This is why it is even more important the mother has all her necessary shots.

At this point, leave the mother and her kittens alone so she can take care of the kittens. If you interfere, the mother is likely to move the newborn kittens. If you find kittens abandoned or orphaned and wish to learn how to care for kittens, then read the article How to Take Care of a Kitten Without a Mother.

Week 2: Kittens Open Their Eyes

During week 2, the big question is “when do kittens open their eyes?” Incredibly, it will depend on if the kittens are long hair cats or short hair cats. Short hair cats will begin opening their eyes around day 5 – 8. Long hair cats will start opening their eyes between day 10 -14. By the end of this week, all the kittens should have their little eyes open.

All kittens are born with blue eyes, just like children, Except, kittens will get their natural eye color around the third week. So you only get to see this precious blue color for one to two weeks.

During this week, the kitten’s sense of smell begins to develop. They will start to look for the mother’s teat by scent. The kitten will also start recognizing the litter mates.

Week 3: Development Continues

Week 3 is a week full of surprises. The kitten’s ear canals are fully developed. They can smell everything and they may even begin to purr.

While the mother still grooms the kittens, the kittens will start eliminating on purpose along with growing some teeth. Due to the teeth, the mother might start weaning the cats.

Week 4: The Kittens are Standing

This cute an adorable stage is marked by standing and walking. The kittens may be wobbly but they will want to explore. You will find the kittens “escape” their nest and will form alliances with their littermates. Playing, wobbling and falling are to be expected throughout the week.

Week 5: The Weaning Begins

When to wean kittens is always the biggest concern. This is the week where the whole weaning process begins. It is marked by increased movement of the kittens and a general sense of playfulness among the kittens.

Week 5 is the time to start introducing canned cat food to the kittens. While they will be able to eat the food, the kittens still need their mom to get most of the nutrition. The entire weaning process will continue on until week 10. Therefore, continue giving the mom plenty of high quality cat food.

Finally, this is the week to introduce the tiny litterbox. The kittens will be able to use the litterbox if it is small enough for them to climb in and out of properly.

Week 6: Socializing the Kittens

The kittens are finally big enough to start playing. It is during this time you will start playing with the kittens. During this week, teach the kittens hands are not for biting. Straws make this time easier. The plastic allows you play with the kittens and allows the kittens to teeth.

If you want a lap cat later, then start handling the cat now. Pet, play and love the kittens so they can get used to human interaction.

Learn more about how to take care of kittens in our cat care section.