Like humans, newborn cats are totally dependent on their parents at birth, as they have not yet opened their eyes and their senses of smell, taste and touch are very limited, so at this stage they are especially delicate and require care. move on.
Among the many doubts, caregivers often wonder at what age cats open their eyes, as they remain closed for a while. If you want to know more about this, you can not miss this article of Animal Expert in which we will explain a lot about newborn cats. Read!
- Cat pregnancy is a particularly important time that directly influences puppies.
- As stress.
- Anxiety or inadequate nutrition can lead puppies to develop health and behavioral problems in later stages.
It is essential that the pregnant cat can enjoy an intimate space, like a nest, in which it can be comfortable until weeding the puppies. The ideal place is where the mother can feel calm and safe, away from irritating noises, constant traffic of people or elements that may endanger her well-being. This does not mean isolating him from domestic life.
In order for the pregnant cat not to need to move too much, the containers of water and food must be left close, remembering that feeding the pregnant is essential for milk production and the development of the little ones. In addition, the space should not be excessively hot or cold, as this can affect the health of cats and young people at birth.
Childbirth occurs between 57 and 68 days gestation, when cats usually give birth to an average of four or five kittens, although in some cases up to six and, in rare cases, a litter of only two kittens may be born.
The neonatal period in cats begins during childbirth and ends around nine days of life. At this time, cats have their eyes closed and their musculoskeletal system (which includes muscles, bones, joints, ligaments …) is very limited. At this stage, the puppies should not be separated from their mothers, as they will hardly survive.
Newborn cats often lose the umbilical cord to the fourth or fifth day after birth. Right now we can hear them crying and complaining, which is perfectly normal.
Contrary to what many people believe, during the neonatal period, puppies already have slightly developed senses, such as taste, smell and touch. This allows their survival, because without these senses the kittens could not find the mother and feel stimulated enough when it comes to breastfeeding. But when do kittens really listen to their mother? Although this does not happen on the same day as their birth, they begin to listen before the age of nine.
During the first few days, cats are clumsy, virtually unable to move, as they are always unable to move easily and it is common to hear squeals in search of their mother, especially when they are hungry. The cat spends a lot of time dedicating himself to the puppies during this phase, so it is important to pay attention to the care of the cat and newborn puppies.
Unlike humans, cats do not open their eyes immediately after birth. But don’t worry, this blindness is temporary, because when the transition period begins, the eyes open, usually between 9 and 15 days of life. In some cases, this may take longer. In addition, all puppies are born with blue eyes and, little by little, will appear what will be their final tone, which can take up to 12 weeks to appear.
When cats open their eyes, their vision is not as clear or accurate as that of an adult cat. Despite this, the vision begins to develop quickly, so the kitten can already use this sense to explore the world and begin its period of socialization.
The socialization period begins about two weeks, as it varies from person to person. The kittens will then recognize the mother and siblings and begin to identify objects and mingle with the world around them. At this point, it’s no wonder they’re trying to achieve everything they see, offering a very fun show because they’re still not agile enough to move properly, so they’ll walk awkwardly and stumble.
At the age of one month, kittens have a vision developed enough to distinguish everything around them. It also improves your agility to walk, run and jump, and thus be more playful, independent and adventurous. At this point, they will begin to explore the exterior of this “nest” in which they lived up to that point.
Your responsibility is to monitor the basic needs that must be met and anticipate any accident by removing objects that could cause an accident. The mother takes care of the litter most of the time, while each kitten gains independence.
Kittens develop particularly quickly, compared to dogs, which open their eyes around 15 and 21 days of life. So when do cats weath? Weathing usually takes place between 4 and 10 weeks of life. It is a gradual process and varies depending on the individual, the environment, etc. In all cases, the maximum care must be taken care of so that the weathe is done in a positive way.
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Basic Care section.