How old do outbred cats grow? Development of kittens by weeks and months. The age of the kitten and its characteristics

Knowledge of the norms of growth and development of an animal will help owners choose the right diet for the cat, choose the right time for mating, assess the animal’s behavioral characteristics, and provide for the pet complete care. Each breed has its own growth rates. Usually cats grow up to 1.5-2 years.

Factors affecting the growth of a cat

The growth of animals is influenced by two groups of factors: hereditary and external.

Hereditary factors:

1. The breed to which the animal belongs. It affects the size of the cat primarily. How bigger cat must be according to the breed, the longer it takes to grow up.
2. Hormones have a great influence on the growth and development of cats.
3. They influence the growth of animals and the size of their mother. If the mother is big cat, then her kittens will grow faster.

External factors have no less influence:

1. Nutrition. Depending on what cats eat, their growth slows down or speeds up.
2. Cleanliness sleeping place also affects the development of animals.
3. If your pet is constantly experiencing nervous tension, this disrupts the production of hormones, as a result of which maturation will stop.
4. Late sterilization means that the pet’s growth will stop very late.

Honoring the cat Ancient Egypt - interesting facts

Age to which kittens grow

This age is usually determined by the breed of the cat. Medium-weight cats stop growing by the age of one and a half years, and kittens of large breeds, such as Maine Coons, continue to grow after two years of age.

The period of intensive growth for a kitten is five months of age.

Until this age, developmental periods are divided into 4 parts:

1. Neonatal. The first four days from the moment the kitten is born. During this period, its mass may increase or decrease. It depends on what kind of birth you had.
2. Suction. The first month of a pet's life. At this time, weight gain is observed.
3. Transitional. From a month to a month and a half of a kitten’s life. It is called transitional because kittens switch from liquid food to solid food. At this point, growth almost completely stops. Once the diet has stabilized, growth resumes again.
4. Post-suction. It starts at two months and lasts until growth stops. Kitten goes out independent life. Stops needing his mother. It is at the beginning of this period that kittens are distributed to new owners.

If you observe your pet, you will notice that after two years its growth and size do not change.

Reasons for slow growth

Sometimes you may notice that some members of the cat family differ in size from the rest. There are several reasons for this.

The first is the lack of vitamins in the diet. Often observed in cats living outside. So if you take a barn cat into your home, there is no need to rush to feed it meat and various delicacies. It is necessary to introduce vitamin supplements into his menu, and he will quickly catch up with his brothers who grew up at home.

The reason for the slowdown in development is hormonal imbalance. The animal stops growing and then suddenly begins to grow again. This is often observed in neutered cats.

Growth and development of cats of different breeds

Kittens develop exactly to the parameters dictated by their breed:

1. British. Kittens grow big. British adults continue to grow up until they are three years old. Puberty occurs at the age of 9 months. The weight reaches up to eight kilograms, and for castrati it is even more.
2. Scottish. One of the most popular and sought after breeds in the world. Representatives of this breed are either lop-eared or straight-eared. Scots reach their final size by the age of three.
3. Bengal. One of the large cat breeds. It reaches its peak growth by one year. It grows to its final size by two years. IN childhood characterized by slow growth.
4. Maine Coons. Kittens are already born large. Birth weight ranges from 120 to 170 grams. By five months there is a significant increase in growth. During this period, the Maine Coon develops inharmoniously. That is, one part of the body grows larger than the other. Growth stops by age three. Such a cat can grow up to one meter.
5. Siberian. They grow to medium size. They usually reach a weight of 4 to 5 kg. Growth continues for up to one and a half years.
6. Sphinxes. Hairless breed of medium size. Normal weight is about 4 kg. Sexual maturity occurs at 12 months. Growth continues for up to two years.
7. Not purebred. Outbred cats do not have specific development standards, since they have a mixed genotype. Some grow by one year, others will grow up to three years.

Each pet has its own specific period of growth and development. The owner's task is to provide for the pet proper diet and protect from nervous shocks.

For proper care and development of the body of domestic cats, the owner needs to know the answers to questions such as: how old do cats grow and how the animal’s skeleton is formed. The answer to these questions will help you choose proper nutrition and regime, as well as navigate the timing of the mating of the cat.

Cats and male cats grow and develop differently. Final growth of cats (including set muscle mass) ends by 2-3 years of life, and in cats - by 1-2.

Kitten growth stages:

Neonatal(several days from the start of the kitten’s birth). The first week of life for kittens is neonatal. The body weight of a newborn kitten ranges from 60 to 130 grams, and its length is no more than 13 - 15 centimeters. As with humans, a kitten's weight may decrease after birth.
Sucking(duration about 3 - 3.5 weeks). The kitten is quickly gaining weight and growing.
Transition(4 to 6 weeks). At the end of the first month of life, the kittens begin to develop their first teeth and it is time to feed themselves.
Teenage(from 2 months to completion of development (depending on the breed). The phase of active growth and adjustment begins endocrine system. The animal requires large number calcium for formation and growth bone tissue. At 2 months, the kitten’s growth accelerates due to a nutritious diet.

The most active period for bone growth is from 3 months to six months. The endocrine system produces a significant amount of hormones responsible for the growth of skeletal bones and internal organs.

The growth of cats stops after the activation of the ovaries. A cat can bear offspring from 9 months. This period becomes the final and final period in the growth of the skeleton. In this case, the growth of muscle mass is completed by the end of the year of life.

Cats grow during the first year of life and gain muscle mass by the end of the second. By the end of the cat's third year of life, the size of the muzzle and the width of the shoulders reach their maximum size and remain so throughout the rest of their life.

What affects the growth of kittens

The following factors influence the growth of kittens:

Nutrition. Not enough balanced diet may cause various diseases in cats. As a kitten grows, it needs large amounts of calories, vitamins, protein, magnesium and calcium. As growth and skeletal formation slow, the number of calories needed decreases. If the diet is not changed, the animal may develop obesity and, as a result, diabetes mellitus. Also, excess calcium after completion of formation skeletal system may cause urolithiasis in the future.
Temperature conditions. Air temperatures above 20°C stimulate active growth of the kitten.
Air humidity from 55%.
Treatment for worms when the kitten reaches the age of 8 months, and preventative treatment from fleas and ticks.
Breed. Depending on the breed and size of the kitten’s “parents,” growth rates and development periods vary.
Gender. Cats are usually smaller than cats.
Lifestyle. Active kittens grow faster than their passive peers.

Features of growth and development of some breeds

Some cat breeds have special rates of growth and development of the body. For example, adults bengal cats, Maine Coons and British cats have larger dimensions than ordinary cats. They grow slowly, but gain significant muscle mass towards the end of adulthood.

Active growth of Bengal kittens begins at 3 months and ends at 9 months. Cats usually complete their growth by 9 months, and cats continue to gain weight and develop a skeleton up to 24 months.

The rapid growth of Maine Coons begins at 5 months and continues up to 3 years. In the period from six months to 3 years, the cat develops disproportionately, different parts of the body grow unequally.

Kittens of the British and Siberian breeds, as well as Scots and Servals, grow up to 2.5 - 3 years. Sphynxes grow up to 2 years old. Non-pedigreed cats, due to their mixed genotype, do not have standardized development norms; some may stop growing in a year, others continue to increase in size up to 3 years.

Causes of Slow Growth in Cats

The cat may gain weight and height beyond normal standards. The reasons for a cat's slow growth may be:

Ways to stimulate cat growth

If, while creating satisfactory living conditions for the cat, it continues to lag behind in development, it is necessary:

Contact a qualified veterinarian for medical advice.
Use injections that stimulate animal growth by normalizing metabolic processes. Injections must be prescribed by a veterinarian, who will select the optimal dose.
Ensure intake of vitamin-mineral complexes containing calcium and magnesium to strengthen immunity and protective functions kitten
Vaccinate your cat against common diseases in a timely manner viral diseases to ensure strong immunity.

The lag in the development of the animal, as well as slow growth, can be corrected by the owner. It is necessary to closely monitor the development of your pet and promptly visit a veterinarian. Then the question: to what age do domestic cats grow will not cause negative consequences for the life of the animal.

Height in cats is a relative concept. With age, they may become larger in both length and width, depending on the breed. And not only this affects the growth rate of a pet. This plays a role physical activity, and diet, and general condition health. Of course, there are average indicators by which you can roughly determine what age your pet will reach. maximum size. But they are different for each breed.

Scots

Among the Scots, one can distinguish lop-eared and straight-eared representatives. If you turn to common features breed, it is clear that by the age of three, cats’ muscle mass, skeleton, as well as eye color and coat color are finally formed.

Scots

Fold

Scottish Fold kittens are born weighing from 60 to 140 grams. It all depends on the number of brothers and sisters. In the first two weeks, the weight gain will be small and will not exceed 20 grams. Subsequent growth will go faster, the main thing is to make sure that the kitten receives a sufficient amount mother's milk. By two months his weight should reach 1.5 kg, and by six months - up to 3 kg.

Fold

Scottish Folds develop to their maximum by the age of three. The weight of an adult male can reach 6.5 kg, and females 4.5 kg. By that time, they are already fully physically developed and ready to reproduce.

Straight-eared

Representatives of straight-eared Scots are somewhat larger than their fold-eared counterparts. Their growth rates are not much different, but their final weight is yes. Males by the time of their final development reach 7 kg in weight, while females can weigh 6 kg. This is due not only to nutrition. Genetics plays a big role here. Straight-eared Scots rarely have deviations in terms of height. And if the cat is also a purebred, then we can safely say that he will grow into a fat teddy.

Straight-eared

British

The British begin to actively grow already at the age of one month. By then, their teeth have formed and they can eat on their own. Since, due to the characteristics of the breed, these felines are prone to obesity, their diet should be given increased attention.

British

Their musculoskeletal mass is finally formed by 2-2.5 years of life. But even after this they can continue to develop, until they reach the age of three. The weight of an adult male can reach 8 kg, and a female 6 kg. If you add two kilograms to each indicator, you can get the weight that these representatives of the feline family can gain after castration or sterilization.

Regular cats

Cats and male cats without claims to purebred also have their own developmental characteristics. As a rule, they reach the bulk and growth by two years. As mentioned earlier, a lot depends on heredity, nutrition and lifestyle. Sedentary animals that prefer to spend most of their time lying on the sofa can reach a weight of up to 9 kg. Moreover, these can be both males and females. Especially if we're talking about about castrated or sterilized cats.

Regular cats

In the latter case, nutrition must be given special attention. It will be better if you feed the animal with special dietary foods that have a balanced combination of nutritional components and are easily absorbed by the body.

Maine Coon

Exists erroneous opinion that adult Maine Coons can reach up to 15 and even 25 kg in weight. However, despite great growth(up to 100 cm in length) animal, the weight of an adult male does not exceed 12 kg, and females are even less - 8 kg. They are born larger than kittens of other breeds: babies can weigh from 120 to 140 grams. And this only happens if there are several kittens in the litter. If the baby was born alone, his weight may be 160 grams.

Maine Coon

Maine Coons grow up to three years old, like most purebred cats. Closer to this age, their muscles actively develop: rib cage becomes wider, and shoulders and paws stronger.

Bengal

Bengal babies weigh from 70 to 120 grams at birth. They grow actively until 9 months, after which the rate of their development decreases. In females at this age it can generally stop, while males can grow up to two years.

Bengal

The maximum weight of females does not exceed 5 kg, males - 8 kg. And the body length can vary from 50 cm to 1 meter.

Sphinxes

Sphynx kittens are born tiny and helpless. Their birth weight is only 85 grams. But at the same time, after three days they are able to independently find their mother’s nipple and, with the movement of their paws, cause the release of milk. Sphynx cats are considered one of the smartest cats.

Sphinxes

They reach sexual maturity by 6 months of age. But if the first mating occurs at this age, the development reproductive system the body stops. Therefore, it is not recommended to mate a Sphynx until at least a year old. In general, sphinxes can grow up to 2-2.5 years. This can be seen especially well by the increase in the shape of the head and the expansion of the skeleton.

Abyssinian

Abyssinian cats are not much different in size and weight from ordinary ones. This in no way concerns their appearance, but only their general parameters. In general, male cats grow until they are about two years old. Their weight, like most felines, depends on diet, genetics and whether the cat is spayed or neutered.

Abyssinian

The weight of an adult female is 5-6 kg, a male is 6-7 kg. But under certain conditions it can be 8 kg. There is no need to worry about this: breed standards allow this option.

Physiological growth is the process of increasing body size and gaining muscle mass through continuous cell division. The answer to the question of how old cats grow is very ambiguous. The animal grows to the size required by its genetics and breed. For each age, there are certain norms for body size and weight, but there are also individual characteristics. The growth of animals is also influenced by some physiological and external factors.

In parallel with growth, the development of the cat’s body occurs, the formation and formation of all organs and systems. It is believed that furry pets grow and develop until puberty. Then, this process continues, but not so actively.

Causes of slow growth in cats

You can often see that cats of the same breed look different. Due to slow growth, one of the pets may be smaller than its peers. This can happen for many reasons. Animals need vitamins, the lack of which affects the size of the cat and the formation of its organs.

Habitat and conditions of detention.

These factors play a big role in the growth and development of cats and kittens. In comparison with their domestic peers, street animals look very contrasting. Their parameters immediately catch your eye. Due to a lack of vitamins, their immunity is weak, which affects the growth of the animal.

Having decided to take a pet into your home from the street, you do not need to immediately switch it to dry food and stuff it with delicacies. It is best to add vitamins to his diet, and then the cat’s growth will catch up with its peers.

Hormonal imbalance.

For this reason, the animal’s body may slow down its development for some period of time, and after a while the pet sharply grows. This is especially true for cats that have undergone castration.

Regardless of whether your cat is purebred or not, sometimes he can look significantly smaller than his peers. This may happen by various kinds reasons.

To answer the question: how long do male cats grow, it’s worth taking a closer look at the animal’s parents. The way you see your parents is the way your children will be. All changes in appearance will directly depend on nutrition and other factors. If a cat grows, then he eats a lot.

Another option when you can find out about the growth of an animal is a consultation at veterinary clinic. A specialist who examines your pet from birth will be able to accurately indicate the peak of its development. Conditions for keeping animals are important factor animal development. The doctor will be able to accurately tell you how and what to feed your animal, based on its breed and other indicators.

In order to raise a healthy animal and the moment of its puberty does not deviate from the standard development pattern, you must always keep in touch with a veterinarian. Only a doctor can help with advice on nutrition, care and maintenance of the animal. You shouldn’t rely only on your own strengths, because without knowing anatomical features The breed of a cat is difficult to accurately understand how quickly it will grow.

A cat that has finally grown up can be allowed to reproduce at the age of one year. Early mating is not always beneficial for the animal. Early labor can lead not only to the death of the animal, but also to the birth of dead offspring. Before breeding an animal, it is best to consult a doctor.

The last important point in the development of your pet. Kittens are the same as children. As many sources confirm, those animals that do not receive enough attention from their parents - owners grow and mature more slowly, and then quickly age. The more attention it gets pet, the larger it will grow. pet should receive not only breakfast and dinner, but also moderate games, affection from the owner and as much attention as possible.

There are several reasons why the active growth and development of kittens in the first important year of life can be significantly slowed down. Here are the main ones:

We often observe that animals of the same breed look different. The most common cause of slow growth is a deficiency of microelements and vitamins.

Living conditions also play a big role in the development of animals. Street ones look very contrasting compared to their domestic counterparts. They are smaller. Their immunity is weaker, which affects their growth. Therefore, when you appear in the house street cat You should not immediately switch him to dry food. You just need to add vitamins to his diet first. This way the pet will catch up with its peers in physical indicators.

Hormonal imbalances are another reason for the slow physical maturation of animals. This applies to pets who have undergone castration. Later they will catch up with their peers in height.

So, each animal has its own, individual growth period. And the owner’s task at this time is to create optimal conditions for food and living, surround him with attention, and protect him from stress.

Sometimes you may notice that some members of the cat family differ in size from the rest. There are several reasons for this.

The reason for the slowdown in development is hormonal imbalance. The animal stops growing and then suddenly begins to grow again. This is often observed in neutered cats.

Signs of proper animal development

Bengals

Growing up, animals become large and imposing. These real beauties, upon reaching age, begin to demonstrate their masculine properties.

Bengal kittens grow and mature relatively slowly.

The pet begins to gain beauty only after eleven weeks. Until this age, the cub looks inconspicuous.

An adult domestic Bengal cat is of quite decent size. His average weight can reach eight kilograms. The body length of Bengals is about ninety centimeters, height up to forty-one centimeters.

Kittens are born weighing from seventy to one hundred and twenty grams. By the age of a week, their weight doubles, and by a month they weigh almost half a kilogram.

WITH one month old Bengals begin to grow less actively. Their intensive growth ends by nine months. At this age, cats stop growing completely, and cats grow for more than a year.

Male Bengals reach their maximum size by the age of two.

Maine Coons

Kittens of this breed are born much larger than those of other breeds.

When choosing a kitten of this breed, you should pay attention to its paws. Your pet's thick paws mean he has good bone structure and will have room to build muscle. In a couple of years, such a kitten will turn into a huge cat.

British

Cats of this breed have an easy-going, unpretentious character and a beautiful plush face. They have amber eyes, short legs and many color variations.

The British become sexually mature at nine months.

The width of the “shoulders” and the length of the animal’s body grows up to two to two and a half years.

The weight of an adult male can be up to eight kilograms. If the pet is neutered, then it can weigh ten kilograms. Weight is influenced by many conditions and individual characteristics.

The general formation of the animal ends by the age of three.

To find out to what age your pet will grow, you need to carefully observe it, learn about the characteristics of the breed and consult a veterinarian.

The main role in regulating body functions (including growth function) belongs to the endocrine system, namely the pituitary gland. The anterior lobe of the pituitary gland produces the growth hormone somatotropin. It's biological active substance ensures the growth of bones and cartilage, takes part in the formation of muscle mass. No less important is the general hormonal background, which is created by work thyroid gland, reproductive system and adrenal cortex.

There are several more physiological factors, forming the body’s ability to actively grow:

Breed characteristics. Small breed cats walk the path physical development somewhat faster than their larger relatives.
Belonging to one gender or the other. Males gain weight more actively.
Hereditary characteristics. The kitten adopts its character and growth characteristics from its parents. You can understand what an animal will be like at the peak of its development by looking at its mother and father.

The rate of physiological growth of cats is greatly influenced by the external circumstances and conditions in which they live and are raised, as well as the characteristics of their care:

Habitat. If the kittens grew up in a cold climate, with little sunny days, then their metabolism was slowed down. This means that they will lag behind in development from their relatives, who have lived their entire lives in the south.
Lifestyle. Domestic cats living in a warm place, receiving enough food and everything they need nutrients, have good immunity and develop faster than street animals.
Amount of sleep and rest. The cat needs to sleep enough time. If in childhood animals are playful and active, then in adulthood normal amount sleep should be 17-20 hours a day for them.
Physical activity also plays a role in development. The animal must be given enough space and opportunities to play.
Hereditary and acquired diseases. Owners must take all measures to protect their pets from possible infections. In this sense, the importance of preventive vaccinations cannot be overestimated.
Early castration and sterilization significantly pushes the limit of active growth. After surgery, the rate of growth and weight gain decreases significantly.
Early pregnancy has similar effect. After its onset, the priority for the body becomes bearing and then feeding the offspring.

The first five months of a kitten's life are especially important. This period determines how actively and qualitatively their future life will be. The owner must do everything to ensure that the development of the small organism proceeds correctly. Great value has proper care. During this period, the conditions in which kittens grow must be ideal:

The reason for the slowdown in growth and development will help determine veterinarian. In the event that this endocrine disorders or hormonal imbalances, the doctor may prescribe injections of drugs that normalize metabolism and stimulate accelerated growth. These include kartinina chloride (growth vitamin), Gamavit, Milgamma (vitamin B complex).

A kitten that is lagging in growth and development must be surrounded with care and attention. It has been proven that an animal that is loved, caressed, praised and stroked grows well and gains weight.

It is known that kittens are not fully developed after birth. Their ears and eyes are closed, the muscles of their limbs are not developed, and they can only crawl. The first week of life after the birth of a kitten is called the neonatal period. The mother is constantly in the nest and does not leave the newborns. The baby's body weight during the neonatal period can increase or decrease, and this largely depends on lactation.

Then it begins suckling period when babies grow rapidly and gain weight. At this time, amazing changes occur to them. At proper care And good nutrition Babies increase their weight 4 times in the first month. Their tail grows, ears form and their eyes open. They leave the nest and exercise their legs.

By the age of 4 weeks, kittens' first teeth have erupted and they begin to feed themselves. This is how it begins new period, which is needed to set up the endocrine system, which triggers the active growth phase. During this period of time, the mother’s lactation ends, and the type of feeding the pet changes. Now it becomes a concern for the animal owner. The kitten must be provided a large number calcium, necessary for bone growth.

After the baby gets used to the new diet and the internal secretion organs are adjusted metabolic processes, the growth of skeletal bones will accelerate. This happens towards the end of the second month.

The most active period for bone growth is the time from 3 months to six months. At this time, the endocrine system produces many hormones necessary for the growth of skeletal bones and internal organs.

The growth of teeth can also be an indicator of the proper development of the animal. A normally developing kitten at 2 months has all its baby teeth. On upper jaw you can see 6 small incisors, 2 canines, 3 premolars. On the lower jaw there are the same number of incisors, canines and molars, and only 2 premolars. The third pair will grow when milk teeth are replaced by molars.

Kittens develop exactly to the parameters dictated by their breed:

1. British. Kittens grow big. British adults continue to grow up until they are three years old. Puberty occurs at the age of 9 months. The weight reaches up to eight kilograms, and for castrati it is even more.
2. Scottish. One of the most popular and sought after breeds in the world. Representatives of this breed are either lop-eared or straight-eared. Scots reach their final size by the age of three.
3. Bengal. One of the large cat breeds. It reaches its peak growth by one year. It grows to its final size by two years. In childhood it is characterized by slow growth.
4. Maine Coons. Kittens are already born large. Birth weight ranges from 120 to 170 grams. By five months there is a significant increase in growth. During this period, the Maine Coon develops inharmoniously. That is, one part of the body grows larger than the other. Growth stops by age three. Such a cat can grow up to one meter.
5. Siberian. They grow to medium size. They usually reach a weight of 4 to 5 kg. Growth continues for up to one and a half years.
6. Sphinxes. Hairless breed of medium size. Normal weight is about 4 kg. Sexual maturity occurs at 12 months. Growth continues for up to two years.
7. Not purebred. Outbred cats do not have specific development standards, since they have a mixed genotype. Some grow by one year, others will grow up to three years.

Stages of growing up

Growth limits for each animal are individual, but there are averages. It is known that the phase of most active development ends at the age of 10-15 months. Large breeds, such as the British, continue to grow for some time after puberty. Small and medium breeds finish their development earlier. These include, for example, fold-eared and straight-eared Scots (medium breeds), and among small ones - munchkins.

There are several main stages of kitten development (starting from birth). In order for the baby to develop correctly and be different good health It is important that favorable conditions are created for him at each stage:

The neonatal period (lasts 4-7 days after birth) is a phase of continuous growth, although it is possible that the kitten will lose some weight during this period.
The suckling period (lasts 3-3.5 weeks). Phase speed dial weight. Kittens are rapidly increasing in size and learning to navigate independently.
Transitional period (lasts from 4 weeks to 2 months). The first teeth appear. At this age, complementary feeding and transition to independent feeding are carried out. There is a significant leap in development.
Adolescence (lasts until the end of active development). Phase of active and uniform growth. This is the period of formation of the skeletal and endocrine systems. It is important that the diet at this time is of high quality and complete.

Active formation of the bone apparatus lasts up to six months. For correct height during this period, the kitten should receive sufficient amounts of calcium and vitamin D.

Cats stop growing by the age of 3, and cats already look like adult animals at 2 years of age. At this time, their ovaries activate. After bony skeleton and the muscle corset has completed its formation, an increase in body weight and size occurs only due to the accumulation of fat.

Development of a newborn kitten: Newborn kittens photo A newborn kitten is born weighing 80-120 grams, the size of kittens at birth is body length about 9-12 cm. Newborn kittens during this period are absolutely helpless, they are blind, deaf, and do not know how to regulate temperature regime. Newborn kittens have no undercoat; the fur is thin, weak and does not warm at all. Newborn british kitten photo Kittens do not know how to stand on lamps, their bones are very fragile, so babies require special care. At this time, sleep and kittens are almost inseparable concepts. Newborn kittens sleep almost constantly and eat a lot and often. Kittens need sleep for further development. nervous system. Newborn kittens also cannot defecate on their own; the mother cat licks their genitals and eats their feces. What is really well developed in newborn kittens is their sense of smell and touch; they easily find their mother’s nipples, fingering them with their paws, sucking and, thereby, stimulating further milk production. Newborn Scottish Straight kittens During this period, it is better not to touch the kittens at all, just monitor their weight. Kittens should add it daily (about 10-20 grams per day), if the kitten is growing, then everything is fine. Photo of a newborn fold kitten Scottish fold Things to take care of:

Set up a box for a cat with newborn kittens. It should be warm and dry there. The bedding should be changed (it is advisable to use white sheets to track the color of the mother cat’s discharge), because The cat will have discharge. Also, if necessary, you can put a heating pad.
Cat food. It should be plentiful and balanced; food is a must for nursing cats. Food and water should be freely available near the nest box. It is also recommended to place a tray here.

Cats are by nature excellent mothers and may not leave the box for a whole week, so it is important that newborn kittens have enough milk. In the first days, the cat produces colostrum (very fatty, nutritious milk that has antibodies, thanks to which kittens develop lasting immunity).

Photo of a newborn kitten If there are a lot of kittens, be sure to make sure that each newborn kitten gets its good portion.

Newborn Scottish Fold kittens The development of kittens after birth (the development of newborn kittens) is very active, so the first week can be scheduled day by day.

Kittens - development by day:

1-2 days after birth, a newborn kitten only sucks milk and sleeps. After 3-4 days, the kitten’s umbilical cord heals and falls off. After 4-5 days, the kitten’s hearing begins to develop, and you can already observe how it begins to react to loud sounds.

How long do kittens sleep?

Why does the kitten sleep all day?

Kitten sleep If it seems to you that the kitten sleeps all the time, this is most likely normal, do not worry right away. In the first week, the kitten sleeps about 22 hours a day. Just weigh your kitten daily - this is best indicator that the baby is fine.

A newborn kitten sleeps How much a kitten should sleep, he decides for himself, however, if the kitten sleeps constantly and does not gain weight, first of all, pay attention to whether the kitten has enough free nipple (this often happens if there are 5 or more kittens in a litter), if the kitten is weak or the last born, apply it to the cat more often and do not let other kittens chase it away. If in this case the kitten behaves sluggishly and does not recover, contact your veterinarian. Kittens from birth to one month change greatly both in appearance and development, and it is important to pay close attention to this in each period. Newborn kittens in the photo, look in the pictures.