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Kitten development: when does a kitten become a cat?
Kittens have an incredibly rapid period of growth and development in their first few weeks of life.
Kittens can start to look like adult cats by 6 months of age
12 months of age is when they are considered an adult and can be fed adult cat food.
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Bringing A Kitten Home
Her natural curiosity will kick in straight away! Read up on these tips when bringing a new kitten home to make sure she gets the best start in her new life with you.
Help her settle in by reading these top tips
Give your little one all the time she needs - don't rush her exploration...
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Indoor and Outdoor Cats
You'll have to think about what kind of cat will suit your lifestyle and the area you live in. Indoor and outdoor cats demand different responsibilities. Here you can find out which one will suit you best.
Outdoor cats find their own entertainment in the great outdoors. You'll need to put more effort into stimulating a house cat
Read about your kitten's natural territory instincts - your home will now be their 'home range' whether she is an indoor or outdoor cat...
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How to litter train a kitten
There are some important things you need to know when you start litter training your cat. Her first experience of her litter tray will shape her behaviour in the future, so start her off on the right foot...or paw!
Top tip from WHISKAS: keep her litter tray in a quiet safe area of the house
Keep an eye on your kitten - she will make it obvious when she needs to go, this will usually be in the morning, the evening and after mealtimes. Read on to discover more tips on litter training...
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Kitten-proofing your home
Make her territory as safe as possible!
Kittens will be kittens - you'll find that she will find trouble wherever she can. Read here to minimise the damage...
Keep your eyes out for these potential dangers.
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Establishing routines
To get your kitten settled in her new home, try out some routines of play and toileting. Read here to find out how introducing some habits can help make your kitten more comfortable.
You can bring routines to almost every part of your kitten's day - play, feeding and even bedtime!
Read this article to discover how to get your kitten into a habit and minimise her stress when settling in.
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Your kitten's natural instincts
Here you can read about your little kittens natural behaviours and what they mean. Once you understand that all of her motives are survival based, you'll begin to love her wild personality even more.
You'll have to get the balance right - fuel her natural instincts, but make sure she doesn't cause too much damage!
Your cat is a solitary animal and doesn't need a pack to have her back. Sometimes you'll want her attention more than she'll want yours - it's just her natural instincts kicking in...
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Your kitten's natural senses
She may not look like a predator, but everything about your new addition is highly evolved to give her acute senses that we could only dream of. Here you can read about her extraordinary hearing and other senses of your new furry friend.
Watch your kitten as she plays...you'll be amazed by how she balances with such precision, pounces at just the right moment and can climb almost everything!
Read these great facts about your cat's super-senses!
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Cat Grooming
You will notice that your kitten takes great care in her shiny coat. Grooming herself is a natural instinct learnt from her mother that serves to not only make her look healthy, but also control parasites.
Start your grooming routine with her as early as possible
Grooming is a great way to mimic the social bond between and kitten and her mother.
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Sleeping Cats
Your kitten will sleep for up to 16 hours a day! You may notice that she dozes off after meals...here you can find out the interesting reason why.
She can be active at inconvenient times! Early in the morning you may hear her chasing toys, not counting sheep
Your cat isnt lazy - she's giving in to her big cat cousin instincts! They don't call it catnapping for no reason...
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Cat Licking
Your new furry friend loves to groom herself - you'll notice her spending a lot of time licking her coat. This is completely natural. Read here why she has the natural instinct to do this.
Keep an eye on her grooming routines and check for any matted hair that she might not be supple enough to reach
If your kitten gives up grooming herself it might be a sign that she's poorly...
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Claws
Your kitten relies on her sharp claws to give her grip when she's climbing and give her stability on shiny surfaces.
For indoor cats, give them a scratching post to mimic the textures they would sharpen their claws on in the great outdoors
Check your kitten's claws regularly as they can get damaged from everyday play...
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Identification
Have some peace of mind - get your kitten microchipped to prevent her getting lost.
Evert micro-chip is unique, meaning your kitten will come home safely if she ever gets lost and found!
Read these top tips on identification and choosing the right kind of collar for your cat.
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Going away
Your little kitten can't be left alone for too long. If you're away for a few days, put some plans into place. It will give you peace of mind and keep your kitten entertained while you're away.
Ask someone to pop in and check on her every day, or book her into a cattery nearby
Always visit the cattery first to check whether you think it's suitable for your little one.
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Poisons and hazards
Kitten-proof your home. Your kitten will be naturally inquisitive which can get her into some sticky situations.
Always strive for prevention. Keep any hazardous liquids locked away from your kitten. It's much easier to prevent than to cure a poison...
Keep an eye on your kitten's coat - she could end up getting nasty substances stuck on her that she can't avoid licking when grooming herself.
