Kittens begin purring around the second or third week after birth. However, some cats might begin purring sooner rather than later. From kitten to kitten, they may differ. One could characterize purring as a tiny cat’s vocalization. House cats, bobcats, lynxes, and ocelots are examples of small cats that can purr. Large cats that purr include cougars and snow leopards. A purr is distinct because it is made when the kitty is inhaling and exhaling or throughout the whole respiratory cycle. Meows and other vocalizations, on the other hand, only occur during exhalation.
According to research published in Current Biology, domestic cats have “pads” buried within their vocal cords that provide an additional layer of fatty tissue and enable them to vibrate at low frequencies. Furthermore, these animals’ larynxes seem to be able to produce such purring without any help from the brain.
At What Age Do Kittens Start Purring?
Kittens start purring from Week Two to Week Three, although this timeline may vary from kitten to kitten. Purring is a way for kittens to communicate comfort and contentment. When kittens are nursing or having their mother groom them, they frequently purr.
How kittens Develop Week by Week
Week 1:
Kittens are entirely reliant on their mother for warmth, food, and care from birth. They are also blind and deaf. Their mother nurses them for the majority of the day. The kittens get all the nourishment and antibodies they require from their mother’s milk. 90 percent of the time during the day is spent sleeping with kittens. This week has seen them being quite inactive. Kittens are little at birth, but throughout their first week of life, they put on weight rapidly.
Week 2:
By the end of the second week, the kittens start to develop their sensory abilities. They start to slightly open their eyes. Their ear canals also begin to open, allowing them to start hearing. While still quite shaky, kittens begin to move around the nest a little more, though they mostly crawl. Kittens start to recognize their littermates and may begin to engage in gentle play with them and start to become more social. The kittens continue to nurse frequently, as they are still heavily reliant on their mother’s milk for nutrition and hydration.
Week 3:
Kittens start to walk by the end of the third week as they get more coordinated. They might also begin to investigate their nearby environment. By the end of the third week, a kitten’s eyes fully open, enabling them to perceive its surroundings for the first time. As their infant teeth erupt, they could begin to gnaw on soft objects. Kittens may begin grooming one another as they get more social with their littermates. Even though they still rely heavily on their mother for care, they also start to react to human contact.
Week 4:
Kittens get bolder and venture outside the nest to investigate their environment. They start acting more playfully and energetically, and they spend more time exercising. Kittens may start to exhibit interest in solid food around the fourth week. This is an excellent time to introduce wet cat food. In addition to interacting with their littermates, kittens may also react when they come into contact with people.
Weeks 5-6:
It’s a great idea to begin socializing kittens at about five weeks of age, as this is when they become curious and lively due to their increased confidence in their newfound mobility. In addition to preparing the kittens for their eventual forever homes, playing and cuddling with them, introducing them to other people and pets, letting them explore their surroundings (under careful supervision, of course), and allowing them to experience new sights, sounds, and smells will help them develop into emotionally sound, well-adjusted adult cats.
As they become older and more self-sufficient, kittens may begin to travel farther from their mother. Over time, they go from being breastfed to eating only solid food. Kittens become more receptive to handling and human interaction. Play becomes more coordinated, and kittens can play games of chase and pretend to fight with other members of their litter.
Weeks 7-8:
Kittens usually start eating solid food and are completely weaned from their mother’s milk by 7-8 weeks. They can be introduced to litter training when they begin to show interest in using a litter box. Kittens continue to pick up social skills from human interaction, their mother, and their littermates. This is also the moment to take your kitten for their first visit to the vet. According to the kitten timetable, the first series of immunizations should be administered between six, seven, and eight weeks. They will require the following core immunizations: feline calicivirus, feline viral rhinotracheitis, and distemper. Your kitten’s veterinarian will discuss any extra vaccinations for illnesses like feline leukemia and chlamydia that they may be at risk for, as well as put them on a plan for follow-up vaccines and boosters.
Week 9-12:
Although kittens will continue to nurse for a few weeks after this, they can be introduced to solid food during their fifth week. According to Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, some veterinarians even advise giving Mama Kitty the same kitten food while she is nursing, as its high protein and fat content would aid with her recovery and overall health. Your kittens should be fed high-quality kitten food by the ninth week when they will have finished making the switch to solid food.
By twelve weeks, kittens are ready to receive their first rabies vaccination. During this time, kittens learn how to be cats from their mother and their littermates.
3-6 months old
During the 3-6 month period, kittens undergo significant physical and behavioral development as they transition from infancy to adolescence:
Physical Growth:
During this phase, kittens still grow quickly, although at a slower rate than in the first few weeks of life. As they gain muscle mass, their bodies begin to take on the proportions of an adult cat.
Dental Development:
During this time, their baby teeth gradually give way to adult teeth. The chewing habit may increase as a result of the discomfort associated with teething.
Agility and Coordination:
Kittens develop their ability to balance and coordinate their movements, which makes them more deft and agile. They could become more adept in climbing, leaping, and exploring.
Sexual Development:
Kittens reach sexual maturity at the age of five to six months. At this point, they might begin to display mating-related activities like spraying and increased vocalization.
Socialization:
Through interactions with humans, other cats, and members of their litter, kittens continue to acquire social abilities. Good experiences during this time are essential for determining their temperament and behavior in the future.
Play Behavior:
Play is still crucial to a kitten’s development during this stage. The kittens play in increasingly sophisticated ways, simulating hunting and interacting with objects and people.
Feeding:
By the end of this phase, kittens are only consuming solid food. Feeding them a healthy diet is critical to encouraging their growth and development.
Healthcare:
Routine veterinary examinations, shots, and parasite treatment are necessary to guarantee the kitten’s health and well-being throughout this time.
Conclusion
The first few weeks of a kitten’s life are extremely crucial for its development and growth. They start to purr at week three, transition to solid foods at week seven, get vaccinated at weeks eight to nine, and by the twelfth week, they are on their way to becoming cats.
