How to take care of a kitten? – The first 8 weeks of a kitten’s life (II)

A pet needs constant attention. There are different phases from the point of view of biological development and each requires particular care. Integrating an adopted cat well or purchased, you must be prepared to meet certain needs, depending on his age.

The first 8 weeks are particularly important, as the kitten is extremely vulnerable and sensitive. The animal needs an excellent start to develop harmoniously from all points of view. Normally a kitten stays with its mother for about 3-4 months during which it receives protection and education. There are also situations in which the kitten is forced to grow up away from the mother for various reasons. How then to recognize the age of a kitten and above all its needs?

Subsequently we will analyze the psycho-emotional and physical characteristics of a kitten aged between 5 and 8 weeks.

Week 5

It’s time to get ready for fun and games. The kitten begins to mature, is full of energy and interacts more and more with the animals and people around him. During this period the development of the personality also begins, so it is a phase with many physical and psycho-emotional transformations. The kitten plays a lot, runs and also explores large areas of the environment. It is completely stable and can use its tail to keep itself balanced.

You will notice that he will run and play until he falls asleep literally anywhere. As the musculature develops, the kitten will begin to follow, hide or dig, all instinctive behaviors regardless of whether you relieve him indoors or outdoors. Furthermore, he will learn to control the retraction movement of the scrotum.

Furthermore, during this period his hunting instinct begins to activate, which is why it is advisable to offer him small toys or a fishing rod with bait. The kitten will be happy to chase away its toys and bite them.

The color of the eyes is blue and the dilation and contraction of the pupils can be seen: the kitten has a greater ability to focus on an object and follow it. You need to continue feeding him milk several times a day, but you can also add wet food to his diet: you can also prepare a small bowl of fresh water. A 5 week old kitten will be more independent and able to feed itself.

It has a weight of 550-650 grams and the body temperature is approx 38 degrees Celsius.

Week 6

At this age kittens can groom themselves (and will take care of each other to strengthen bonds with other siblings) and should use the litter box. If you are raising a motherless kitten, it is important to interact with it and imitate the process of going to the toilet – this way you will be sure that the kitten learns this habit correctly and completely.

A healthy, well-developed 6-week-old kitten runs, is very active and playful. The kitten is becoming more and more independent and it is the right time to be weaned. However, he still has a tendency to seek his mother’s protection. Allow the pet to explore different parts of the house, objects, learn about new things and become familiar with different areas such as the “scratching corner” to sharpen the claws. This will help him adapt to unexpected situations.

Between 6 and 7 weeks the color of the eyes also changes, developing the natural pigment, specific to the adult cat and the breed to which it belongs. Socialization is very important, so it is recommended to stimulate the kitten’s curiosity and desire to play, but also to accustom him to routine activities such as cutting his nails.

It has a weight of 650-750 grams and the body temperature is approx 38 degrees Celsius.

Week 7

This phase has advantages and disadvantages: the kitten is becoming more and more active and will no longer be fed with the bottle and, at the same time, he is very curious and very agile. Constant monitoring and supervision of activities will be necessary.

At around 60 days, the kitten enjoys good mobility and good eye-paw coordination he will be tempted to try more daring and complex actions such as climbing or jumping. Make sure the play area is safe and eliminate any dangers (plants poisonous to cats, sharp objects, etc.)

Play is an important activity in a kitten’s daily schedule, so it would be desirable to play for about 2 hours a day (the time can be spread over multiple play sessions). You can also offer him more toy options.

It has a weight of 800-900 grams and the body temperature is approx 38 degrees Celsius. You can feed wet food 3 times a day and it is time to administer the first vaccine.

Week 8

It is the period that makes the transition to maturity. The diet can contain both wet and dry food: it will be administered in 2-3 portions per day. At this time the kitten can be sterilized and the rest of the vaccine doses can be administered.

In the first 8 weeks of life, a kitten experiences numerous physical and psychological changes. If he is separated from his mother prematurely, the maturation process becomes difficult because there is no maternal model and guidance, but everything boils down to one simple aspect: care and love. Every animal that is born can be fully healthy and integrate successfully if it is treated with care and lots of love.