All animals are adorable when they are born, but without a doubt, one of the cutest are cats. A baby cat is a tiny, quiet little ball of fur with mini ears, usually lying next to its siblings, occasionally meowing to ask for milk and warmth. But when do kittens start walking?
When we adopt a baby cat, it is logical that we want to know what will happen at each stage of its growth because it is so fast that it is fascinating to identify each milestone our dear friend reaches, especially if it is the first cat we have.
If you have a baby cat in your care and suddenly you have doubts about its development, you have come to the right place. We will give you information about the most relevant questions that pet parents ask themselves, for example, “when will my cat start walking?“
When do kittens start walking? Can a newborn kitten walk?
Not really. When it comes to walking, during the first 3 weeks of age, baby cats crawl to move from one place to another, almost like a human baby. While it is true that they use their paws, they cannot walk correctly because their short, weak legs are not yet stretched so that the cat can walk steadily.
But don’t let their cute appearance fool you. Even though your cat can’t walk and has its eyes closed, its adventurous spirit and curiosity are already activated. You can expect to see the cat crawling around and exploring its environment.
Like human babies, baby cats are not born fully prepared to succeed in life; their physical development continues for quite some time before they can be considered fully independent.
When can a kitten walk, hear and see correctly?
The growth of a cat occurs at an accelerated rate. What takes humans months, for cats, takes only weeks. For example, cats are born with their eyes closed, and as early as ten days, they open them, and at 18 days, they can see clearly. And the same happens with their hearing. When the cat is born, its auditory canal is closed, but at 3 weeks of life, the little one can hear perfectly. If you look closely, you will find that at this stage, they begin to turn their head every time they hear a loud noise.
Undoubtedly the third week of life is when the most significant changes occur, for example, walking. However, these skills are still adjusting with the days because although, in theory, the cat can walk, you will see how it stumbles quickly. Generally, until the fourth week of life, the cat gains coordination and can balance its weight better, but you will still see that it is a little clumsy when running and jumping.
How to care for a cat that starts walking
If the cat has her mother, you usually won’t have to do much because the mother cares for her kittens. You must ensure they have a clean, warm and comfortable space to spend their first weeks. For example, if the cat usually lives outdoors, allow her to settle in a closed room to protect her kittens from the cold. But if you’re in charge of caring for kittens, here are some foolproof tips to make you the best baby cat caregiver in the world.
- The best advice I can give you is to keep your cat in one room. Place its bed, scratching post, water, food, and litter box in one room. This controlled area will make it much easier for you to control your cat’s environment while also helping it learn to use each thing correctly and gain confidence to walk and explore in a space that poses no danger.
- Give her scratching toys and a climbing tree. For cats, play and exercise are essential because, in addition to helping them stay healthy in the early stages, it helps them develop their skills. It is also vital that we attend to the spontaneous needs of cats. For example, when a cat feels nervous, it will always seek to hide in a high and inaccessible place, so an excellent way to help it is to give it a tall post where it can take refuge and calm down. If your cat learns to scratch and climbs only on her toys early, it will less likely destroy your furniture and curtains. It’s a win-win situation.
- Use cleaning products that are non-toxic to your cat to avoid accidental poisoning. Products to avoid include bleach, floor disinfectant, and laundry detergents.
When is a cat considered no longer a kitten?
The kitten stage goes from birth to six months. This stage is the most important for its development because it is when its body is more fragile, and is necessary to protect it. Also, it is when they learn different skills that will serve them for the rest of its life.
It is vital that you take advantage of these months to teach your cat to behave, for example, not to scratch the furniture, or that he gets used to baths and brushing his teeth from an early age because this way, you will avoid problematic attitudes when your cat is an adult.
When do kittens start walking? Conclusions
Now that you know how long it takes for kittens to start walking and what you need to do to take care of them, it’s time to enjoy these magical moments when your kittens are discovering the world around them. Remember that each cat is different, so don’t worry if your little one doesn’t seem to be developing as quickly as others. Your kitten will get there, eventually.
And if you have any doubts or problems, don’t hesitate to consult your veterinarian. They will be happy to help you! Do you have any tips for taking care of kittens? We would love to hear them in the comments!