How to determine how many months old a kitten is
The age of a kitten is of great importance for the owner, as it allows him to provide the pet with appropriate care and nutrition, as well as to start training on time. accustom to tray or develop other healthy habits. If you don't know how old your kitten is, it's best to consult a veterinarian, as determining your kitten's age on your own is usually a rough estimate. However, if you don't have the time or opportunity to consult a specialist, knowing some age-related characteristics specific to each stage of your little pet's life can help.
External examination
Using photos from the internet to determine kittens' ages by month is pointless, as each kitten's appearance depends largely on its breed and living conditions. A thorough examination of the pet to determine its developmental stage and physical characteristics is far more effective.
A sign that a kitten is newborn and less than two weeks old is its eyes not opening. If its ears are pinned to its head and the umbilical cord is still attached, it's no more than a week old. When its eyes and ears are fully open and only a small spot remains where the umbilical cord once was, it's almost a month old.
Furthermore, all kittens' eyes are azure immediately after opening, and this color begins to change at approximately 1.5 months, acquiring their permanent color. The only exception are breeds with blue eyes.
Since it is possible to determine the age of kittens by their eyes only up to one and a half months, then later the most “informative” ones become baby teeth, or more precisely, their presence and number. The incisors (front teeth) appear first, approximately mid- to late-first month of life. Subsequent eruption occurs in the following sequence:
- canines begin to grow when the baby is almost a month old;
- premolars - at one and a half months;
- All teeth grow by 4 months.
In older pets, baby teeth are gradually replaced by permanent teeth:
- incisors – at 4 months;
- canines, premolars, molars – almost at six months.
The presence of all molars indicates that the pet has reached seven months of age.
Physical parameters
Another indicator of age is the animal's weight. This can vary significantly depending on the breed, but the basic parameters should be approximately as follows:
- a month-old baby weighs about 225–250 g;
- by the age of two months its weight increases to 650–900 g;
- by three months - up to 1050–1400 g.
Then the monthly weight gain is approximately 500 g until it reaches 4 kg–4.5 kg, that is, the weight of an adult animal.
You can also use body length as a guide. At birth, this ranges from 10 to 12 cm, excluding the tail. Up to three months of age, monthly growth is 3 cm, then 2 cm. Therefore, a three-month-old pet will have a body length of approximately 18–21 cm, and a six-month-old pet will have a body length of 25–27 cm.
Behavior and activity
If kittens are kept close to their mother, she stops feeding them at seven weeks, and at two months, the kittens begin to wander off on their own to explore the world around them. Generally, the kittens' age can be determined by their movement patterns:
- crawl – up to 2 weeks;
- begin to walk, swaying unsteadily – at 2 weeks;
- stand firmly on their paws – at 3 weeks;
- move quickly and confidently, try to play - at 4 weeks;
- can run, show curiosity – at 5 weeks;
- become confident and mobile at 1.5 months.
At two months old, the kitten develops good coordination, becomes bolder, loses its fear of others, and even tries to play with them. The kitten is active, loves to play with people and other pets, and gets into all accessible places, climbing or jumping.
Puberty
Sex hormones begin to kick in in four-month-old male cats, significantly affecting their behavior. They meow loudly and try to run outside, their babyish plumpness fades, and their bodies elongate, even if they are overweight. Often, these cats are already marking their territory and searching for a mate.
Cats mature at around six months (when they go into heat) and behave similarly. If they successfully mate, pregnancy may occur, which is undesirable at this age. Early pregnancy can be harmful to both the cat and the litter, so it's best to take the necessary precautions.
Kittens reach full sexual maturity at seven months. They grow larger and stronger, and their behavior becomes more aggressive. Male cats begin to compete with other males, attempting to gain dominance. Adolescent kittens can bite much more than small or adult kittens, so caution should be exercised during this period.
Since determining a kitten's age based on any single characteristic is only an approximation, it's best to use several indicators. By comparing the results, you can more accurately determine the animal's age.
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