Happy New Year!
Hello 2018. Just wanted to say Happy New Year to all of our friends, followers and fellow cat lovers! This year we have some awesome things in store that we can't wait to share! Cheers to a New Year!
Week Six, Seven, and Eight
We are starting to wrap up on the major developmental stages so I am combining these next three weeks together. Many things are still changing but not as in depth as the first few weeks.
Week Six
In week six the kittens are running, playing, pouncing, and entertaining everyone around including themselves. They are learning how to do things on their own so mom gets a little break. Kittens should be eating four small meals a day and fully trained to use the litter box. Their teeth are coming in nicely and their eye color can start to change this week. Vaccinations are considered safe at six weeks of age but some vets prefer to wait until 8 weeks. We vaccinate at 6, 9, and 12 weeks, that way by the time the kitten is ready for its new home it is fully vaccinated for the first year.
Week Seven
The Kittens should be completely weaned by this time. They can groom themselves as well as each other which makes their sibling bond stronger. They should be mostly self-sufficient but run to mom and each other for comfort and relaxation. At this time, it is also important to start messing with their paws and ears as well as introducing them to grooming. Running water and using normal household items are good to start at an early age. These noises can be frightening so this will help ease them into the idea of bath time.
Week Eight
Week eight has a lot going on. This week they should be weighing in around 2 pounds which is said to be safe enough to spay or neuter them. We like to alter the kittens at 12 weeks just because most things can be done at one time which makes it less stressful on the kittens. Their teeth should be aligned where they need to be and are as sharp as ever. Kittens are completely weaned and will start to look more like adult cats. They will not grow nearly as fast as in the prior weeks, but will more or less start to fill out and develop muscle tone from all that horsin' around. Kittens should be kept on a routine just like children, sleeping and eating around the same time every day. Socializing is still very important and if a kitten is unsocial at this age it will be very difficult to get it to come around but it can be done with some time and patience, especially with higher generation savannah's.
