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DEVELOPMENTAL
STAGES OF KITTEN BEHAVIOR
Well-socialized
cats are more likely to have well-socialized kittens. Kittens "feed"
off of their mothers' calm or fearful attitude toward people. Although
feeding time is important, it's also vital to include petting, talking
and playing in order to build good "people-skills" in your
kitten.
Kittens
are usually weaned at six or seven weeks, but may continue to suckle
for comfort as their mother gradually leaves them more and more. Orphaned
kittens, or those weaned too soon, are more likely to exhibit inappropriate
suckling behaviors later in life. Ideally, kittens should stay with
their littermates (or other role-model cats) for at least 12 weeks.
Kittens
orphaned or separated from their mother and/or littermates too early
often fail to develop appropriate "social skills," such as
learning how to send and receive signals, what an "inhibited bite"
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 littermates
kittens learn "how to be a cat," as well as explore the ranking
process ("who's in charge").
Kittens
that are handled 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 are 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.
The following
chart provides general guidelines for the stages of development.
0-2
weeks = Neonatal
- Learning
to orient toward sound.
- Eyes
are opening, usually open by two weeks.
- Competition
for rank and territory begins. Separation from mother and littermates
at this point can lead to poor learning skills and aggression toward
people and other pets, including other cats.
2-7
weeks = Socialization
- By the
third week smell is well-developed and they can see well enough to
find their mother.
- By the
fourth week smell is fully mature and hearing is well-developed. They
start to interact with their littermates, they can walk fairly well,
and their teeth are erupting.
- By the
fifth week sight is fully mature, they can right themselves, run,
place their feet precisely, avoid obstacles, stalk and pounce, and
catch "prey" with their eyes.
- Start
to groom themselves and others.
- By the
sixth and seventh weeks they begin to develop adult sleeping patterns,
motor abilities and social interaction.
7-14 weeks = Most active play period
- Social
and object play increases their physical coordination and social skills.
Most learning is by observation, preferably from their mother.
- Social
play includes belly-ups, hugging, ambushing and licking.
- Object
play includes scooping, tossing, pawing, mouthing and holding.
- Social/object
play includes tail chasing, pouncing, leaping and dancing.
3-6
months = Ranking period
- Most
influenced by their "litter" (playmates now include companions
of other species).
- Beginning
to see and use ranking (dominant and submissive) within the household,
including humans.
6-18 months = Adolescence
- Heightened
exploration of dominance, including challenging humans.
- If not
spayed or neutered, beginnings of sexual behavior.
Reprinted
with permission from the Denver Dumb Friends League.
