Just like humans, newborn cats are totally dependent on their parent at birth, as they have not yet opened their eyes. eyes and their senses of smell, taste and touch are very limited, therefore, at this stage they are especially delicate and require special care to get ahead.
Among many of the doubts, caregivers tend to wonder At what age do cats open their eyes, because they remain closed for a certain time. If you want to know more about it, then you cannot miss this article on our site in which we will explain many things about newborn cats. Keep reading!
The prenatal period in cats
The cat's pregnancy is a particularly important time that will directly influence kittens, as stress, anxiety or poor nutrition can cause puppies to develop he alth and behavioral problems in their later stages.
It is essential that pregnant cats can enjoy an intimate space, such as a nest, in which she can be comfortable until for the weaning of kittens to occur. The ideal place is one where the parent can feel calm and safe, away from disturbing noises, constant traffic of people or elements that could put the well-being of her. This does not mean, however, to isolate them from home life.
So that the pregnant cat does not have to move around excessively, we must leave the water and food containers nearby, remember that the feeding of the pregnant cat is crucial for the production of milk and the development of the little ones. In addition, the space should not be excessively hot or cold, as it can harm the he alth of the cat and the litter at birth.
The neonatal period in cats
Parturition occurs around 57 or 68 days of gestation, at which time female cats usually give birth to an average of between four and five kittens, although on some occasions up to six may be born and, in rarer cases, a litter of only two kittens.
Are cats blind when they are born?
The neonatal period in cats begins during birth and ends around nine days of life. At this time the have closed eyesand their locomotor system (which includes muscles, bones, joints, ligaments …) is very limited. At this stage the mother's puppies should not be separated, as they can hardly survive.
When do the umbilical cord fall to cats?
generally newborn cats usually lose the umbilical cord aroundfourth or fifth day After birth. At this moment we are likely to hear them to produce crying and gimoteos, it is totally normal.
When do you begin to hear the kittens?
Unlike what many people believe, during the neonatal period, puppies already have some slightly developed senses, such as taste, smell and touch This allows their survival, because without them the kittens would not be able to find their mother and feel sufficiently stimulated when it comes to suckling. But when do kittens really hear their mother? Although it does not occur on the same day they are born, they do start hearing before they are nine days old
When do cats first open their eyes?
During the first days, cats are somewhat clumsy, practically unable to move, as they still cannot move easily and it is common to hear their squeaks in search of their parent, especially when they are hungry. The cat spends a lot of time with them during this stage, so it is important to be attentive to the care of a cat and her kittens.
Unlike humans, cats do not open their eyes immediately after birth. But don't worry, this blindness is temporary, because when they start in the transition period, the eyes open, generally between 9 and 15 days of lifeIn some cases it may take even longer. In addition, all kittens are born with blue eyes and, little by little, their final color appears, which can take up to 12 weeks to be displayed.
How do baby cats see?
When cats open their eyes, their vision is neither as sharp nor as sharp as that of an adult cat. Despite this, sight begins to develop rapidly, so the kitten will now be able to use this sense to explore the world and begin its period of socialization.
The socialization period begins around two weeks, approximately, since it varies according to the individual. The kittens will then recognize their mother and siblings and begin to identify objects and snoop around the world around them. At this stage, it is not strange that they try to reach everything they see, providing a very funny show, because they still do not have enough agility to move correctly, so they will walk clumsily and stumble.
When they are one month old, little kittens have sufficiently developed vision to distinguish everything around them. It also improves their agility in walking, running, and jumping, so they become more playful, independent, and adventurous At this point, they will begin to explore outside of that "nest " in which they have lived up to that moment.
Your responsibility is to ensure that basic needs are covered and to prevent any accident, removing objects that could cause an accident. The mother takes care of the litter most of the time, while each kitten gains more independence.
How long does it take for a cat to eat by itself?
Cat puppies develop especially quickly, compared to dogs, which open their eyes around 15 to 21 days of age. So when are cats weaned? Weaning generally occurs between 4 and 10 weeks of life. It is a progressive process and varies according to the individual, the environment, etc. In any case, we must carry out the care of the kittens as far as possible, to ensure that their weaning occurs in a positive way.
