Kittens are irresistible. Those little furballs that barely opened their eyes, playing with anything that moves, sleeping in impossible positions. But behind the cuteness exists a little being that needs specific care to grow healthy.
If you adopted a kitten or are caring for rescued kittens, this guide will help you understand what each phase requires.
Very young kittens (0-4 weeks)
Normally you shouldn't have a kitten this age, unless it was rescued without the mother. Kittens need to stay with the mother until at least 8 weeks, ideally 12.
If you're caring for an orphaned kitten at this stage, the situation is delicate. They are completely dependent and need 24-hour care.
Eyes closed, ears folded. Don't regulate body temperature, need heat source (thermal bag, electric blanket on low temperature with cloth on top). Feeding with special cat milk every 2-3 hours, including overnight. Need stimulation to urinate and defecate (mother licks, you simulate with warm moist cotton on genital area).
Eyes opening, starting to see but not very well yet. Ears lifting. Starting to try walking unsteadily. Still need external heat and bottle feeding, but intervals can increase a bit (every 3-4 hours). Around 3 weeks, start having some control over bladder and intestine.
Transition phase (4-8 weeks)
Here things start getting easier and more fun. The kitten is developing coordination, personality is showing, and it starts looking like a real cat, just miniature.
Already walk reasonably well. Baby teeth starting to appear. Time to introduce solid food: special kitten mush or wet food mashed with warm water. Offer in shallow dish. Many will walk in food, make a mess, take time to understand. Normal.
Introduce the litter box. Use unscented litter without clumping for now (kittens may eat litter out of curiosity and clumping is bad). Place them in the box after eating and when they wake up.
Extremely cute phase. Play a lot, explore everything, still sleep a lot but awake periods are full of energy. Coordination improving, already run and jump (with some funny falls).
Complete weaning usually happens around 8 weeks. Transition to kitten food (can be dry, wet or mix). Several small meals a day, stomach still small.
Socialization is critical at this phase. The more positive experiences with people, sounds, different situations, the more balanced the adult cat will be.
Socialization: the window that doesn't return
Between 2 and 7 weeks is the most sensitive period of feline socialization. What the kitten learns in this phase stays for life. If it stays with mother and siblings, learns play limits (biting hard = sibling stops playing). If it has gentle contact with humans, learns that people are cool.
If you adopt a kitten at 8-12 weeks, you can still socialize, but the work is greater. Expose it gradually to: different people (men, women, children), household sounds (vacuum, blender, doorbell), handling (touching paws, ears, mouth), and if possible other well-socialized animals.
Everything calmly, without forcing. The experience needs to be positive. If the kitten shows fear, take a step back and go slower.
Kitten feeding
Kittens need more calories and nutrients than adults because they're growing fast. That's why there's specific kitten food, with different proportions of protein, fat and minerals.
Feeding frequency:
- 6-12 weeks: 4 meals per day
- 3-6 months: 3 meals per day
- 6-12 months: 2 meals per day
- Adult: 2 meals or free feeding (if it's not greedy)
Small cats have small stomachs. Can't eat large amounts at once. That's why the several meals.
Transition to adult food usually happens around 12 months, but some large breeds (like Maine Coon) may need kitten food until 15-18 months. Talk to the veterinarian.
Vaccines and deworming
The vaccination protocol starts early:
Around 6-8 weeks: first dose of triple or quadruple feline vaccine (protects against panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis and calicivirus, and sometimes chlamydia).
21-30 days later: second dose.
Some veterinarians do a third dose, especially if the kitten was vaccinated very early.
From 12 weeks: rabies vaccine.
After that, annual booster of both.
Deworming usually starts at 2-3 weeks of life and repeats every 2 weeks until 3 months, then monthly until 6 months, then every 3-6 months depending on lifestyle (cat that goes outside needs more frequent).
Using the litter box
Cats have natural instinct to bury waste, so they usually learn to use the litter box easily. If the mother used it, kittens learn by observing her.
For kittens that never saw a litter box: place them in the box right after waking and after eating. Most understand quickly. If they do it outside, clean with enzymatic product (not ammonia) and place the waste in the box so they associate the smell.
If the kitten consistently doesn't use the box, check: is it clean? Is it accessible (low sides for small kittens)? Is the litter comfortable? Is it in a quiet place?
Neutering
Most veterinarians recommend neutering around 5-6 months, before sexual maturity. Some shelters and clinics do early neutering (from 8 weeks in healthy kittens) without problems.
Benefits of neutering:
- Prevents unwanted litters
- Eliminates heat behavior in females
- Drastically reduces urine marking in males
- Decreases escape behavior to mate
- Reduces risk of some types of cancer
It's a routine and safe procedure. Recovery is fast, especially in young animals.
Normal things in kittens
Sleeping a lot: kittens sleep 18-20 hours per day. Growth happens during sleep. If your kitten sleeps all day and only wakes to eat and do 15 minutes of craziness, everything is fine.
Round belly after eating: normal, as long as it's not too swollen or hard (this may indicate worms or digestive problem).
Teething: around 3-4 months baby teeth fall and permanent ones grow. You may find little teeth around the house. Some kittens become more bitey in this phase.
Eating strange things: explore the world with their mouth. Keep out of reach: electrical wires, toxic plants, small objects that can be swallowed, plastics.
"Night attacks": kittens have energy peaks, usually at dawn and dusk. Active play sessions before you sleep help tire them.
When to worry
Kittens are fragile. Things that in adults can wait, in kittens are urgent:
Not eating for more than 12-24 hours. Kittens don't have reserves, dehydration and hypoglycemia happen fast.
Persistent diarrhea or repeated vomiting. Dehydration is dangerous.
Extreme lethargy, kitten that doesn't want to play when awake.
Difficulty breathing, very closed eyes with discharge, constant sneezing.
Very swollen and hard belly (may be serious worms or obstruction).
When in doubt, call the veterinarian. Better an unnecessary visit than losing a kitten by waiting too long.
The kitten phase passes quickly
Around 6 months your kitten will already look almost adult. At 12 months, officially adult. The first months are intense, but fly by.
Enjoy the cuteness, take many photos, and invest time in socialization and bond building. What you build now defines much of the relationship you'll have for the rest of life, about 15-20 years if everything goes well.
Good luck with your little furry tornado.