How to take care of a kitten? – The first 8 weeks of a kitten’s life – tips and recommendations (I)

Have you ever been tempted to adopt a kitten from the street? There are many abandoned animals around us and sometimes we want to help them by offering them food, water and shelter. The number of animals living on the streets could decrease if people were more attentive to their needs and there were more sterilization and awareness campaigns.

Cats living in the natural environment usually have two mating cycles, and a female can give birth to 1 to 8 kittens.

The cat has certain needs depending on its age. Kittens usually live with their mother until they are 3-4 months old, during which time they are taught to socialize, hunt and care for them. The cat becomes an adult around 10-12 months and some breeds such as the Main Coon or the Persian need 15-18 months to be considered mature.

It is important to correctly identify a cat’s age as this work can help you create a schedule that suits their needs.

If you meet a kitten and want to adopt it or if your cat is pregnant, it would be advisable to recognize some physical and behavioral traits in order to provide the animals with a safe environment:

1. The newborn

Before giving birth, the cat prepares a bed to offer comfort and security to the kittens. On the street, however, this becomes difficult for the mother cat so much so that we can find kittens practically everywhere. A newborn kitten has its eyes closed and ears attached to its head. At this age the kitten has no teeth and if we open its mouth we will only notice the gum line, which must be pink. It can also be observed the umbilical cord that comes off naturally on the 5th or 6th day after birth. At this stage, the kitten’s body is extremely vulnerable and needs a comfortable and warm space.

He will have to be fed with great attention and delicacy: his daily program will consist of sleep and food. An important aspect to consider is weight: at this stage the kitten will weigh between 75 and 150 g. At this stage the kitten must stay as close as possible to the mother, as it will receive foods that have the function of supporting the immune system.

2. Week 1

A week after birth, you can see how the kitten’s body gains strength and its movements are more lively. On average, the weight will be around 150-250 g. If the chick is separated from the mother, it must be fed every 2-3 hours, even at night. The kitten’s eyes will be closed, but the facial features will begin to be easier to notice.

3. Week 2

At this age, the kitten will begin to open its eyes: it will be able to distinguish some sounds, but its perception is limited. A kitten will be able open your eyes in the range 8-14 days after birth and this process can be extremely funny because he can open one eye halfway or he can have one eye open and the other closed.

All kittens are born with blue eyes, but over time the color will change. The gherutes will also be present. They will move more and take their first steps even in the space where they sleep. A normal body weight is between 250 and 350 g and should be administered every 3-4 hours.

4. Week 3

At this stage the kitten will begin to explore the world around him because the ears are in the normal anatomical position and the sight becomes increasingly alert. He will be able to interact and become active and his body coordination will be increasingly better. It will weigh 350-450 grams and its body temperature is between 32 and 37 degrees Celsius, so it still needs a warm space. It is recommended to feed them 4-5 hours apart and to use a special bottle.

At this age the first teeth also appear: they will be used in the grooming process. If the kitten is separated from the mother, the process of going to the toilet must be taught and stimulated in this regard with a brush. Furthermore, at this stage you can offer him a mini-litter to get used to the place intended for elimination.

5. Week 4

The kitten is able to perceive more external stimuli because the most important senses – sight, hearing and smell – are more developed. At this stage the incisors will become more visible and the canines will also appear. At this age he will still be fed milk: the digestive tract is not fully formed to digest meat. A 4 week old kitten will have more confidence in its movements and coordination of movements will be better defined. You will notice that he grazes more confidently and moves longer distances, being curious to discover the environment.

It is also more agile and responsive when you communicate with it. He will be able to perceive more distant sounds and smells and will want to explore them. Socialization is a particularly important component for a kitten and helps its healthy development from a psycho-emotional point of view. That’s why you need to offer him games and other activities that capture his attention and stimulate his thinking. He will learn through observation, interaction and verbal encouragement. A normal weight is between 450 and 550 grams.

This information is necessary if you want to save an animal from the streets or if your cat will give birth to kittens. This way you will be able to understand the normal characteristics and needs of food and care for each stage of a kitten’s life.