5 Development Stages You Should Know When You Get a Kitten

Kittens can provide an endless supply of entertainment, snuggles, and social media-worthy silliness. But they can also be a source of bewilderment and confusion (How the heck did they jump up to the top shelf?! or Wait, when do I need a litter box?).

If you’re considering adopting a kitten, or you’ve just brought one home (once they can safely be away from their mom), you are likely wondering, What now? Here are some kitten-health-development guidelines to help you out.

The colostrum window: Birth to 48 hours

Kittens enter the world with a complete lack of natural defenses and their immune systems are not prepared to fight common infections. This is where colostrum comes into play. 

Colostrum, the initial milk produced by mothers after giving birth, is rich in both nutrients and antibodies, which aid in combating infections. When kittens consume colostrum, they gain passive immunity and temporary protection from pathogens that their mom’s body has already learned to fight off.

Colostrum levels are highest during the first 12 hours after birth, and then slowly decrease over a few days. Kittens who miss out on colostrum are at a disadvantage early in life compared to kittens who do. 

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1. Neonate Stage: Zero to two weeks

What to expect at the neonate stage

Newborn kittens are born toothless, with closed eyes and ears. They use scent and touch to navigate the space around them and are like little heat-seeking wrigglers. An umbilical cord remnant is present at birth but goes away within the first week. Newborn kittens depend on their mom for everything: food, hygiene, and warmth. Most of their time is spent nursing or sleeping. 

What to do at the neonate stage

During this time, the queen (cat mom) is doing the heavy lifting. Cat parents should pay close attention to both mom and kittens to ensure that all are thriving during this time. Contact your vet if one or more kittens are not willing or able to nurse, or if mom shows no interest in caring for them.

Daily body weights may be recommended to make sure kittens are growing at the proper pace. A kitten’s body weight should double within the first two weeks of life. Although neonate kittens can fit in your palm, handling should be kept to a minimum. 

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2. Transition Stage: Two to four weeks

What to expect during the transitional stage

By this time, kittens’ eyes have opened, but their vision is still far from the impressive sharpness of adult cats. Their ear canals open and ear pinnae unfold. Kittens will get their first baby teeth — teeny tiny incisors and razor-sharp canines. Kittens will also start to walk and explore their surroundings, though they’re unlikely to go far. Expect to see a wide stance, uncoordinated steps, and a few kitten stumbles. 

What to do during the transitional stage

Kitten parents can provide love and gentle cuddles. Interactions during this period can have long-lasting effects on a cat’s behavior and response to people — so make a good impression. Getting kittens used to a human touch during this phase is also rewarding, because it’s when most kittens start to purr. 

Lots of introductions should be made during this stage. Introduce a small litter box that’s easy for kittens to get in and out of. Introduce toys to provide enrichment outside of littermates. If they haven’t met already, introduce your kitten to their vet so they can get a thorough check up and their first dewormer. At three to four weeks, consider introducing soft, mushy food to get the weaning process started. 

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3. Socialization Stage: Four to 12 weeks

What to expect during socialization

Kittens start to develop more mature traits at this stage. Their eye color changes from typical “kitten gray” to whatever color is coded within their genes. At eight weeks of age, kittens will have a full set of teeth. Weaning should be complete around this time. Male kittens’ testicles will start to descend around eight weeks, making it easier to determine sex within a litter. Kittens should also start grooming themselves. With their senses of smell, sight, and hearing more developed, kittens are more sure of themselves and more curious about their surroundings. 

This is also when kittens form social bonds with their littermates, their human parents, and any other pets in the home. A kitten’s personality may start to mimic their parents, which has its pros and cons. Kittens may learn to use the litter box and look forward to meal time, just like mom. But there is a genetic component to kitten personality, so if either parent is fearful or aggressive, it can start to show up (even if that parent isn’t around). 

Note: Kittens can be adopted (or fostered) as early as eight weeks, which is after they are weaned. However, many organizations recommend waiting until 10 to 12 weeks when kittens are fully weaned, better socialized, and have received vaccinations.

What to do during socialization

Kitten parents should make new experiences as positive as possible. Go slow with new experiences that may be overwhelming for young kittens, such as loud noises, car rides, and grooming. But don’t skimp on intentional handling — touch those ears and paws and open those mouths to get them used to the sensation. Focus on positive reinforcement. Give them treats after nail trims, for coming when called, and for tolerating being picked up and cuddled (even if they asked for it). 

At the start of this stage, their immune system is in flux; some antibodies from mom might still be around, but it's too soon to guarantee that a vaccine will be effective. So keep them protected from unvaccinated animals and safe from places like pet stores that may harbor a lot of pathogens. 

Keep up with those vet check-ups. This is a period of frequent deworming and when flea and tick prevention should be started. Kittens should also receive their first FVRCP vaccine. This is a core vaccine that protects against viral rhinotracheitis (feline herpes), calicivirus, and panleukopenia (feline distemper).

At 12 weeks of age, most kittens will be ready to receive their first rabies vaccine. This is also the time to talk to your vet about a spay/neuter plan. If healthy, many kittens can undergo spay/neuter surgery as young as six to eight weeks of age. 

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4. Juvenile Stage: Three to six months

What to expect during the juvenile stage

During the juvenile stage, kittens are growing like weeds and are full of playful energy. They are prone to exploring, climbing, and wiggling in and out of small spaces. They also become adept hunters of toys and toes (don’t encourage toe-hunting, you’ll regret it). This is also when kittens will become more independent and develop an understanding of the hierarchy within their home, leading them to display more submissive or dominant behaviors.

What to do during the juvenile stage

Kitten-proof everything. This is when curious kittens are scaling screen doors, chewing on electrical cords, swatting at breakables, and climbing your tallest pieces of furniture. Minimize the chaos and destruction by keeping hazards out of reach. Make sure house plants are non-toxic to cats. Provide lots of go-to activities and positive reinforcement for desired behaviors. 

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5. Adolescent Stage: Six to 16 months

What to expect during adolescence

Most cat parents won’t find a single stray baby tooth, but kittens will have lost their baby teeth and gained a full set of adult chompers around six to seven months of age. Because they’re still growing and developing, kittens will reach 80 percent of their adult weight by eight months of age and their full size by 12 months. After that, they will gain some muscle and many will gain some fat if attention is not paid to diet and exercise. 

If not spayed or neutered, kittens will start to go through puberty. Females will have their first heat cycle and males may be tempted to wander in search of a mating partner. Territorial behaviors will begin: scent marking through urine spraying and rubbing the glands on their cheeks against objects and members of the household. 

What to do during adolescence

Now is the time for kitten parents to set the stage for life-long good habits. Create a routine that promotes health and encourages good behavior.

• Be predictable: Pets love predictability. Create a routine around meal time, grooming, and even cuddle time to give your cat some confidence. 

• Be clean: Scoop regularly and keep the litter boxes clean so your kitten is less likely to look elsewhere for places to eliminate.

• Be proactive about dental health: Introduce gentle toothbrushing to get kittens used to the sensation. Be sure to use cat-safe toothpaste.

• Be food conscious: Kittens should be transitioned from a growth diet to a maintenance diet at 12 months. Tailor the amount fed to your cat’s needs and monitor for weight fluctuations. 

• Be playful: Cats are natural hunters. Provide lots of physical activity and mental stimulation to keep your cat happy and out of trouble. 

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References:

• Developmental Stages of Kittens

• 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines

• Association of Shelter Veterinarians Position Statement: Early Age Spay Neuter

• Feline Pediatrics: The First Four Weeks — 38th Annual OAVT Conference & Trade Show

• Visual Development in Cats