A young cat, especially young domesticated cats, are called kittens. When they are born, kittens have their ears and eyes tightly sealed. They will stay this way for their first few weeks of life as they nurse and sleep.
Kittens are warm-blooded animals like all mammals, but for the first 3 weeks of life, their metabolism is unable to control their internal thermostat properly. This is why the mother of a litter keeps her kittens close when they are first born.
Interesting Facts About Kittens
#1. It takes about 10 weeks for a kitten to have their vision fully develop. This is despite the fact that they will typically open their eyes about 10 days after birth. The retina of the eye develops at a slower pace, which interferes with the animal’s vision as their other senses continue to develop as well.
#2. Kittens need to have milk from their mother in order for their immune systems to develop properly. This is especially important in the first few weeks of life. If a mother cat rejects a kitten or is unable to care for it, there are emergency kitten formula recipes that can be made at home or purchased so the abandoned kitten can still have a chance to survive.
#3. A kitten is social because this is how it learns basic skills. Running, walking, jumping – they all come from the desire to play. Each kitten goes through a specific learning stage where specific interactions and play take place. Around 5 months of age, solitary behaviors begin to develop, which includes hunting and stalking.
#4. Because kittens are so reliant on their mothers, it is illegal in some places to purchase a cat that is younger than 8 weeks old. Because staying with the mother and siblings is so important to the development and health of a kitten, it is often recommended to not purchase kittens until they reach 3 months of age.
#5. Like most cats, kittens will begin to purr when they feel relaxed and happy. Purring is known to be relaxing for kitten owners, but it also benefits the animal as well. It is believed that the frequencies of purring help to promote the healing process within a kitten. It may even improve their bone density and growth as they begin to grow older.
#6. All kittens are born with blue eyes, but they are also all born with a unique nose. The nose of a kitten is the equivalent to a fingerprint for a human.
#7. Most male kittens tend to be dominant with their left paw, while most female kittens tend to be dominant with their right paw.
Live Kitten Cams
Because of their playfulness and desire to be social, kittens can be a lot of fun to watch. These are the top webcams that are streaming kitten action right now.
View Cat Bless You Rescue Sanctuary in Los Angeles Kitten Cam.
View Animal Planet Live Kitten Cam.
View Oregon Humane Society Kitten Cam.
Kittens can play with a level of ferocity that seems unlikely because of their size. This ferocity can sometimes lead to funny, cute, and unanticipated events occurring.