See how a litter of kittens progress from just after they were born to their 50 day birthday.
It’s a delight watching them getting to know their mama and seeing their eyes opening for the first time.
And then as they explore and play learning all the things that are essential to being a cat.
So what are the notable developments in kittens?
From the day they are born to their 50 day birthday, kittens undergo many significant developments.
We take a look at how they change and reach their milestones:
Day 1-7:
All kittens are born blind and deaf, they rely on their sense of smell to find their mother and locate milk.
They spend most of their time nursing and sleeping.
Day 8-14:
Although their eyes begin to open during this time, their vision is blurry and all they can see are shadows and movement.
As their hearing develops, they become more aware of their surroundings and start using their front legs to pull themselves around.
Day 15-20:
With their eyesight improving, they have the confidence to begin, exploring the world around them. Their coordination improves, and they start playing with their siblings.
This is also the time that their teeth begin to push through, so as well as their mothers milk, they are able to nibble on soft food.
Day 21-28:
Kittens discover the wonderful world of grooming and using their tongues, kittens begin to clean themselves and each other.
As they become more independent they start to venture further away from their mother and littermates. They also become more vocal, and their meows become more developed.
Day 29-35:
By this time kittens’ teeth are fully developed, and they can move on to eating solid food.
Their need for sleep is overtaken by the urge to play more, as well as jumping and climbing.
They become more inquisitive as they explore their environment. This also helps develop their social skills.
Day 36-50:
As their limbs become more proportional to their body, they start to resemble adult cats.
Their independence kicks in and they’re no longer traumatized about being away from the litter and their mother.
And of course they continue to play and explore, all the while learning and developing their motor skills and social behaviors.
Overall, the first 50 days of a kitten’s life are a time of rapid growth and development, as they progress from being a helpless newborn to a independent and playful young cat.
And for anyone that has had a kitten in their family, these precious moments are without a doubt a joy to behold.