GROWTH & CARE CHART FOR YOUNG KITTENS

Birth weight approx. 100 grams day 3 - 5 approx. 130 - 150 grams / umbilical cord falls off day 9 - 12 approx. 210 grams / eyes and ears will open 14 days approx. 230 grams / starts strolling about a little 16 days approx. 265 grams / starts cleaning itself and playing  21 days approx. 325 grams / starts to walk 25 days approx. 360 grams / first teeth coming through 28 days approx. 400 grams / rest of the milkteeth are coming through / 1st deworming / thorough examination for parasites / start litterbox training  5 weeks approx. 480 grams / becoming housetrained, can run pretty well  6 weeks approx. 540 grams / no longer need for bottle-feeding / has all milkteeth / can go without mother's milk and can eat independently / 2nd deworming  8 weeks approx. 600 - 700 grams / 1st vaccination (ask for vaccination passport !!) / 3rd deworming  10 weeks approx. 850 grams 12 weeks approx. 1000 - 1100 grams / 2nd vaccination   TEETH TIMETABLE 2 - 6 weeks  milkteeth are appearing starting at approx. 14 weeks the replacement begins: first the incisors and then the molars approx. 5 - 6 months and finally the replacement of the canines or "fangs"  At 6 months the permanent teeth should be in place. Kittens are hardly bothered by this replacement. Very seldom you'll find a milktooth: most teeth will be swallowed while eating, and leave the body in the stool. The kittens won't notice a thing. Under the milkteeth are the permanent teeth, and the milkteeth will simply make room for them. Sometimes kittens start biting in things because their gums are a bit itchy, but that's about all they'll feel.   FERTILITY, CATS IN HEAT &  SPAYING Female cats can go into heat for the first time when they're between 5 and 18 months old. There are some exceptions where they're even younger.  A female can go into heat from spring till fall. Without impregnation a cat in some cases can go into heat every 2 to 3 weeks, and runs the risk of losing too much of her energy. So I think it's best to have a cat spayed as young as possible. Other means of contraception are less reliable and not without risking her health: actually only suitable for a very short time until she's spayed. Male cats can already be fertile when 5 months old. There are cases known where they're even younger, especially when there's a female in the house that hasn't been spayed. Best age for neutering: depends on your vet's policy, but if you have a young male and female in the house, it's best to neuter the male at approx. 5 months. Males may also start spraying if not neutered soon enough. Spraying will usually stop after neutering because both testicles are removed: there will be no more hormone-production. Males that are allowed to go outside should allways be neutered first: this will lessen the chance of the typical tomcat behavior of roaming around the area. And also of him fighting with rival cats, and thus contracting all kinds of contagious diseases or getting wounded.

 

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