10 Super Easy Examples of Cats and Kittens Life Stages
08/07/2021
Cats are among the most popular pets in the world and like all other animals, they undergo life stages and knowing your cat's stages in life will help you understand and determine the behaviour and food wants as well. Below is a comprehensive explanation of the life stages of a cat and can be divided into four. namely,
Kitten-(Junior age)
Young adult or adolescence
Mature adult
Senior adult
Let us take a look at each stage
Cats are among the most popular pets in the world and like all other animals, they undergo life stages and knowing your cat's stages in life will help you understand and determine the behaviour and food wants as well. Below is a comprehensive explanation of the life stages of a cat and can be divided into four. namely,
Kitten-(Junior age)
Young adult or adolescence
Mature adult
Senior adult
Let us take a look at each stage
Kitten (Junior age)
Kittens are young cats and generally a cat below the age of one year can be regarded as a kitten and during this stage, the first six weeks are the most adorable.
Week one
During this stage, a kitten's eyes are not open and are in a very vulnerable stage.The kitten will not be able to retract its claws and will rely solely on the mothers milk. During this stage, kittens generally sleep more and just like human infants, they tend to scream to get attention
Week two
During this stage, the eyes are open and the vision blurry. Kittens this age start interacting with their fellow siblings and ten to sleep a lot as in the first week.
Week three
The vision and hearing starts to develop and the ears which are round in shape slowly start getting pointy. They start slowly wandering and the teeth start getting visible.
Week four
The claws are now more retractable and the sharp canine teeth start to develop. Kittens this age are very playful and adorable.
Week five
Kitten's this age would practically not need to survive with mother's milk and are very playful with humans and other kittens. This age is the best age to adopt a kitten as dependency for breast milk from it's mother isn't necessary and social skills too are developed.
Week six
Kittens this age are capable of looking after themselves when it comes to grooming and are very playful and friendly.
Kittens are young cats and generally a cat below the age of one year can be regarded as a kitten and during this stage, the first six weeks are the most adorable.
Week one
During this stage, a kitten's eyes are not open and are in a very vulnerable stage.The kitten will not be able to retract its claws and will rely solely on the mothers milk. During this stage, kittens generally sleep more and just like human infants, they tend to scream to get attention
Week two
During this stage, the eyes are open and the vision blurry. Kittens this age start interacting with their fellow siblings and ten to sleep a lot as in the first week.
Week three
The vision and hearing starts to develop and the ears which are round in shape slowly start getting pointy. They start slowly wandering and the teeth start getting visible.
Week four
The claws are now more retractable and the sharp canine teeth start to develop. Kittens this age are very playful and adorable.
Week five
Kitten's this age would practically not need to survive with mother's milk and are very playful with humans and other kittens. This age is the best age to adopt a kitten as dependency for breast milk from it's mother isn't necessary and social skills too are developed.
Week six
Kittens this age are capable of looking after themselves when it comes to grooming and are very playful and friendly.
Two months
This is a period where the kitten starts to learn its basic survival skills from its mother like hunting, defending and pouncing. If the kitten is been brought up by a human, it is important that the kitten is given milk and plenty of solid food to keep it strong and healthy as the mother isn't there.
This is a period where the kitten starts to learn its basic survival skills from its mother like hunting, defending and pouncing. If the kitten is been brought up by a human, it is important that the kitten is given milk and plenty of solid food to keep it strong and healthy as the mother isn't there.
Three months
A kitten at this age would have developed all of the teeth and the eye color starts to develop similar to that of an adult cat,
A kitten at this age would have developed all of the teeth and the eye color starts to develop similar to that of an adult cat,
Four months
This is a very important period for your kitten as he will start developing a strong bond with you and will start getting the characteristics of an adult cat. The size of the kitten starts to slowly develop and he starts to eat more food and would even quarrel and grab food given to other adult cats. If you have other adult cats with you, then your four year old kitten will look dominant during feeding time and will scare off the full grown ones.
This is a very important period for your kitten as he will start developing a strong bond with you and will start getting the characteristics of an adult cat. The size of the kitten starts to slowly develop and he starts to eat more food and would even quarrel and grab food given to other adult cats. If you have other adult cats with you, then your four year old kitten will look dominant during feeding time and will scare off the full grown ones.
Five months
This is your kitten's naughty period and he will be extremely naughty. Kittens this age will start playing with your leg, hanging on table cloth or curtains and will see anything and everything as a toy.
This is your kitten's naughty period and he will be extremely naughty. Kittens this age will start playing with your leg, hanging on table cloth or curtains and will see anything and everything as a toy.
Six months
Kittens have a more chubby body frame and the legs and feet are in the developmental stage and the outward appearance of the kitten would be stocky.
Kittens have a more chubby body frame and the legs and feet are in the developmental stage and the outward appearance of the kitten would be stocky.
Seven months
At this stage of kitten, he will be playful and even aggressive and will start bonding with other cats. Adult canines would have developed and start having the characteristics of an adult but would be more naive in its behaviour.
At this stage of kitten, he will be playful and even aggressive and will start bonding with other cats. Adult canines would have developed and start having the characteristics of an adult but would be more naive in its behaviour.
Eight months
Kittens sleep more than 16 hours and have started to gradually develop sleep habits of that of an adult cat who sleeps for 9 hours a day on average. The baby teeth most probably have fallen and all the adult teeth have grown.
Kittens sleep more than 16 hours and have started to gradually develop sleep habits of that of an adult cat who sleeps for 9 hours a day on average. The baby teeth most probably have fallen and all the adult teeth have grown.
Nine months
This time period of a kitten is similar to that of a human teenager. Naughty, playful and will start exploring the outside world and you should be careful to keep him from getting into fights with other territorial cats which are adults
This time period of a kitten is similar to that of a human teenager. Naughty, playful and will start exploring the outside world and you should be careful to keep him from getting into fights with other territorial cats which are adults
Ten Months
During this period, your kitten would need protein rich meat diets and would start eating foods eaten by adult cats. Kittens would have already developed hunting skills and would start hunting during the night.
During this period, your kitten would need protein rich meat diets and would start eating foods eaten by adult cats. Kittens would have already developed hunting skills and would start hunting during the night.
Eleven months
A kitten this age would be sexually mature and will be able to mate or get pregnant. It should be noted that a female kitten can get pregnant as young as four months old.
A kitten this age would be sexually mature and will be able to mate or get pregnant. It should be noted that a female kitten can get pregnant as young as four months old.
Twelve months
This is a stage where a kitten has developed from child to an adult and can be called an adult cat. A twelve month cat will still have the characteristics of a kitten such as being playful and naughty. Kittens even after attaining adulthood would still look young but will start sleeping and average of 19 hours per day.
This is a stage where a kitten has developed from child to an adult and can be called an adult cat. A twelve month cat will still have the characteristics of a kitten such as being playful and naughty. Kittens even after attaining adulthood would still look young but will start sleeping and average of 19 hours per day.
Young adult or adolescence
Young adult cats are cats between the ages of 1 to 6 years. Cats are sexually mature and male cats will frequently need to go out especially during February to March and July to December every year. Male cats who are sexually in heat would show the below signs,
Frequently spraying urine indoors and outdoors to mark territory
Rolling on the floor
Going outdoors frequently and not coming home for one to three days
Wanting to go outside
Chasing female cats
A female cat in heat would show below signs,
Being restless
Wants to frequently go outside
Starts quarelling with other male cats
Will have a low pitched sound
Will show extra affection towards its owner
A female cat is pregnant for around 2 1/2 months and will give birth to a minimum of one to a maximum of eleven or twelve kittens. Young adult cats sleep on average 19 hours per day and are around one foot in height and around 70 cm with the tail. Cats this age will be less playful and will turn aggressive towards other adult cats who are new to its territory. Cat owners should be careful when introducing an adult cat as a new member due to this reason and the better alternative would be to introduce a kitten instead of an adult as the young adult cat, although aggressive at first, will accept the kitten as its member. Cats this age are independent but will frequently need the owner to provide its food.
Young adult cats are cats between the ages of 1 to 6 years. Cats are sexually mature and male cats will frequently need to go out especially during February to March and July to December every year. Male cats who are sexually in heat would show the below signs,
Frequently spraying urine indoors and outdoors to mark territory
Rolling on the floor
Going outdoors frequently and not coming home for one to three days
Wanting to go outside
Chasing female cats
A female cat in heat would show below signs,
Being restless
Wants to frequently go outside
Starts quarelling with other male cats
Will have a low pitched sound
Will show extra affection towards its owner
A female cat is pregnant for around 2 1/2 months and will give birth to a minimum of one to a maximum of eleven or twelve kittens. Young adult cats sleep on average 19 hours per day and are around one foot in height and around 70 cm with the tail. Cats this age will be less playful and will turn aggressive towards other adult cats who are new to its territory. Cat owners should be careful when introducing an adult cat as a new member due to this reason and the better alternative would be to introduce a kitten instead of an adult as the young adult cat, although aggressive at first, will accept the kitten as its member. Cats this age are independent but will frequently need the owner to provide its food.
Mature adult
Mature acts are between 7 to 11 years which is equivalent to 45 to 60 human years. Cats this age are less active than young adult cats and will start to slowly develop health issues such as diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, dental disease and even cancer. Cat owners should take necessary steps when needed to take care of cats this age such as taking them for veterinary check ups and showing affection and love. Mature cats are heavier and chubbier than younger cats and the coat colour sometimes will start to get pale in color or could shred fur. Cats this age are adored by cat owners for their sweet and chubby appearance but this could also mean obesity in your cat. Untreated obesity could lead to long term physical problems such as cholesterol and diabetes so, having your healthy chubby feline checked at least once a year is advised.
Mature acts are between 7 to 11 years which is equivalent to 45 to 60 human years. Cats this age are less active than young adult cats and will start to slowly develop health issues such as diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, dental disease and even cancer. Cat owners should take necessary steps when needed to take care of cats this age such as taking them for veterinary check ups and showing affection and love. Mature cats are heavier and chubbier than younger cats and the coat colour sometimes will start to get pale in color or could shred fur. Cats this age are adored by cat owners for their sweet and chubby appearance but this could also mean obesity in your cat. Untreated obesity could lead to long term physical problems such as cholesterol and diabetes so, having your healthy chubby feline checked at least once a year is advised.
Senior adult
This is the last stage of a cat's life and the age range is 11 years and above and is a senior citizen of over age 60 in human years. Cats this age tend to be less active and develop memory loss coupled with anxiety and depression. psychological problems in your cat can cause aggression similar to older humans. Less activity means more obesity and this could lead to physical ailments such as kidney and liver problems, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure and heart problems. If the cat is less active or feels warm and has mucus coming from the nose, Seeking the help of a veterinarian is important to get treatment. Senior cats develop cognitive problems and would often wander without any purpose and would stare at blank spaces and would become suddenly aggressive. Senior cats tend to have sleep problems and would often wake up suddenly. A research
(link https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/001346948490110X) found that senior cats had more brief awakening than young cats. Senor cats will groom themselves less hence general hygiene would decline and will stop using litter boxes and will be clumsy when urinating or defecating. Some cat owners try to physically or verbally punish cats by hitting or shaking them. A cat of any age should not be disciplined in such a manner because the cat could get physically hurt and mentally affected as a result of this. A cat similar to a human child cannot recognize or associate a physical punishment with wrong behaviour. Rather, training the cat through patience and compassion is the way forward in correcting a cat. Punishments such as beating, scaring, threatening or withholding food could be detrimental to the cat and can make the cat anxious and depressed or even aggressive. Punishing a kitten or a cat could confuse the cat, making him scared and depressed. A cat this age would eventually become weak towards its end years and due to less grooming, will start emanating a smell and would prefer solitude. Cats who are dying will go to a solitary place and eat less and occasionally drink water.
This is the last stage of a cat's life and the age range is 11 years and above and is a senior citizen of over age 60 in human years. Cats this age tend to be less active and develop memory loss coupled with anxiety and depression. psychological problems in your cat can cause aggression similar to older humans. Less activity means more obesity and this could lead to physical ailments such as kidney and liver problems, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure and heart problems. If the cat is less active or feels warm and has mucus coming from the nose, Seeking the help of a veterinarian is important to get treatment. Senior cats develop cognitive problems and would often wander without any purpose and would stare at blank spaces and would become suddenly aggressive. Senior cats tend to have sleep problems and would often wake up suddenly. A research
(link https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/001346948490110X) found that senior cats had more brief awakening than young cats. Senor cats will groom themselves less hence general hygiene would decline and will stop using litter boxes and will be clumsy when urinating or defecating. Some cat owners try to physically or verbally punish cats by hitting or shaking them. A cat of any age should not be disciplined in such a manner because the cat could get physically hurt and mentally affected as a result of this. A cat similar to a human child cannot recognize or associate a physical punishment with wrong behaviour. Rather, training the cat through patience and compassion is the way forward in correcting a cat. Punishments such as beating, scaring, threatening or withholding food could be detrimental to the cat and can make the cat anxious and depressed or even aggressive. Punishing a kitten or a cat could confuse the cat, making him scared and depressed. A cat this age would eventually become weak towards its end years and due to less grooming, will start emanating a smell and would prefer solitude. Cats who are dying will go to a solitary place and eat less and occasionally drink water.