Kittens can generally be taken from their mother and littermates once they are weaned (stop nursing), beginning at 6 to 7 weeks old. Kittens, like babies, require a lot of attention, including veterinary care, feeding, and socialization.
Will My Kitten Need to See a Vet?
Kittens need to visit the vet every 3 to 4 weeks until they're about 6 months old to receive shots and parasite treatment.
Like puppies and human babies, kittens receive a certain degree of immunity (known as maternal immunity) that is passed from their mothers at birth into their bloodstream in the form of proteins called antibodies and also afterward through nursing. Vaccinations can't effectively stimulate a kitten’s immune system until this maternal immunity wears off.
Because maternal immunity declines slowly over time, kittens should be vaccinated according to a regular schedule, beginning at 2 to 3 months old. This helps ensure that the kitten receives an effective dose of vaccine soon after maternal protection is gone. Keeping kittens away from unvaccinated cats until they have received the full series of vaccinations is important to protect them from disease.
Intestinal parasites are very common in kittens. Larvae that hatch from parasite eggs may be passed to kittens through the placenta or mother’s milk. Parasitic worms are so common in kittens that many vets routinely treat them with deworming medications to kill and prevent a broad range of worms. A kitten's droppings, or feces, are usually reexamined, with additional deworming treatments as needed. External parasites (including fleas and ticks) found on a kitten's skin and coat should also be treated but only with products approved for use on kittens.
What Do I Feed My Kitten?
Proper nutrition is important throughout a cat’s life and is especially critical during kittenhood. Growing kittens need extra calories, fat, protein, vitamins, and minerals for rapid growth and development. Kittens need multiple daily feedings of food specially formulated to meet their needs. The number of daily feedings can be gradually decreased as the kitten ages, but feeding with a nutritionally balanced, name-brand kitten diet should continue until adulthood (about 9 to 12 months of age).
Does My Kitten Need Toys or People to Play With?
Cats learn how to socialize with other cats from their mother and littermates. To become good pets that are used to being around people, kittens usually need human contact before they're 10 to 12 weeks old. Playing with your cat and providing interactive toys can help develop a close bond, as well as decrease destructive behaviors.
