Kitten

Kitten

A kitten is a juvenile cat. After being born, kittens display primary altriciality and are totally dependent on their mother for survival. They do not normally open their eyes until after seven to ten days. After about two weeks, kittens quickly develop and begin to explore the world outside the nest. After a further three to four weeks, they begin to eat solid food and grow adult teeth. Domestic kittens are highly social animals and usually enjoy human companionship.

Etymology and development

The word "kitten" derives from the Middle English word kitoun, which in turn came from the Old French chitoun or cheton. The young of big cats are called cubs rather than kittens; either term may be used for the young of smaller wild felids, such as ocelots, caracals, and lynx, but "kitten" is usually more common for these species.

Behavior

Kittens are highly social animals and spend most of their waking hours interacting with available animals and playing on their own. Play with other kittens peaks in the third or fourth month after birth, with more solitary hunting and stalking play peaking later, at about five months.

Health

Kittens are vulnerable to a number of infections and diseases, including feline leukemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus, and feline infectious peritonitis. Vaccinations are available for many of these diseases, and domestic cats are regularly given treatments to eliminate parasites such as worms and fleas.

See also

• Cat
• Cat behavior
• Cat health
• Feral cat