| Age after birth | Event – state of affairs etc.62 |
| Birth | kittens weigh 3% of adult body weight at 100 – 110 grams. Poor auditory systems & eyes closed. Need mother’s warmth as can’t regulate temperature. |
| Early days | Kittens display “rooting reflex” – successfully searching for mother’s nipple. Kitten kneads to aid milk production. Kitten has preference for a certain nipple based on scent and texture which remains until weaned. |
| 9 -14 days | Increase in mobility |
| 2 – 16 days | Eyes open – when largely depends on genetics |
| Kitten hood | Kitten goes limp when picked up by scruff of neck by mother. This is a reflex action. It allows mother to move kittens about. |
| First 2 weeks | Kittens nurse 4 hours daily. |
| 2 weeks | Deciduous teeth erupt. Mother starts to bring solid food to kittens |
| After week 2 | Kittens nurse 2 – 3 hours daily. |
| First 28 days (neonatal period) | Contented kittens purr and emit high pitched call when needy – mother responds. |
| 2 – 3 weeks old | Change occurs due to “maturation of sense organs”. |
| End of 3rd week | Kittens recognise mother by sight. |
| 26 – 32 days old | Free-living mothers bring kittens solid food (e.g. mice) |
| 4th week | Locating direction of sound well developed. Kittens begin to run. |
| 4.5 – 5th week | Mother brings live prey to kittens. The beginning of the weaning process. |
| 7 – 8 weeks | Kittens change play and show changes in “locomotor patterns”. At 7 weeks adult movement is achieved. |
| Weeks 2 – 7 | Important time to socialise the domestic cat. Early handling by human caretaker critical for socialisation as kittens are highly sensitive to olfactory cues and stimulation through touch. There are long term benefits for the kitten in early human handling. They develop into more confident cats with emotional stability and greater learning abilities63. Handling by humans should happen early on during this period (before 4th week) and last for 30 mins daily. Interaction between other other kittens also important. |
