Cat, Kittens Adoption Resource

Kitten Behavior Basics

What to expect in your cat's first 18 months (and how to make the most of them)

Here are general guidelines for kittens' stages of development that provide an outline of what to expect during their first 18 months of life.

You'll also find tips that will help you and your kitten get the most out of the those important first 18 months.

Birth to two weeks: your kitten's neonatal period
Kitten learns to orient toward sound.
Eyes begin opening; they are usually open by two weeks of age.
Competition for rank and territory begins. Separation from mother and litter-mates at this point can lead to poor learning skills and aggression toward people and other pets.

Two to seven weeks: your kitten becomes social
By the third week, sense of smell is well-developed, and kitten can see well enough to find her mother.

By the fourth week, sense of smell is fully mature and sense of hearing is well-developed. Kitten starts to interact with litter-mates and can walk fairly well. The teeth start to come in.

By the fifth week, eyesight is fully mature, and kitten can right herself, run, place her feet precisely, avoid obstacles, stalk and pounce and catch "prey" with her eyes.
Kitten starts to groom herself and others.

By the sixth and seventh weeks, kitten begins to develop adult sleeping patterns, motor skills and social interaction abilities.

Kittens are usually weaned at six to seven weeks, but they may continue to suckle for comfort as their mother gradually leaves them for longer periods of time. Orphaned kittens, or those weaned too soon, are more likely to exhibit inappropriate suckling behaviors later in life, such as sucking on blankets, pillows or your arm. Ideally, kittens should stay with their litter-mates (or other "role-model" cats) for at least 12 weeks.

Seven to 14 weeks: the time your kitten will play the most
Social and object play increases kitten's physical coordination and social skills. Most learning is by observation, preferably of their mother.
Social play includes belly-ups, hugging, ambushing and licking.
Object play includes scooping, tossing, pawing, mouthing and holding.
Combined social/object play includes tail chasing, pouncing, leaping and dancing.

Three to six months: your kitten starts ranking the household
Kitten is most influenced by her "litter," which may now include playmates of other species.
Kitten begins to see and use ranking (dominance or submission) within household, including humans.

Six to 18 months: your kitten is an adolescent
Kitten increases exploration of dominance, including challenging humans.
If not spayed or neutered, kitten experiences beginnings of sexual behavior.
All Stages: Interactions are important to your kitten
Kittens orphaned or separated from their mother and/or litter-mates too early often fail to develop appropriate "social skills," such as learning how to send and receive signals, what an "inhibited bite" (acceptable mouthing pressure) means, how far to go in play-wrestling and so forth.

Play is important for kittens because it increases their physical coordination, social skills and learning limits. By interacting with their mother and litter-mates, kittens explore the ranking process ("who's in charge") and also learn "how to be a cat."

Kittens who are gently handled by people 15 to 40 minutes a day during the first seven weeks are more likely to develop larger brains. They're more exploratory, more playful and better learners. Skills not acquired during the first eight weeks may be lost forever.

While these stages are important and fairly consistent, a cat's mind remains receptive to new experiences and lessons well beyond kitten-hood. Most cats are still kittens, in mind and body, through the first two years of life.