Kitten care
Kittenhood - An amazing transformation
1. A sense of sight
It takes up to four weeks for a kitten’s sight and connected behavior (spatial perception) to be fully developed.
2. Immunity and defense
In their first six months your kitten's immature immune system must help protect them from millions of germs.
3. Tripling their weight
At birth most kittens weigh around 100 grams. Within a week they will double that weight, and triple it within 21 days.
4. Healthy bones
In the first year of life your kitten's bones must grow to become four times stronger than concrete.
5. Extraordinary growth
In the first six months of life a kitten will grow as much as a 10 year old adult child.
Tailored kitten nutrition
ROYAL CANIN® Kitten dry and wet formulas are tailor-made with the optimal vitamins and minerals to support a kitten's healthy development throughout their entire growth period: the first 12 months of life.
Kitten care guide
Kittenhood is a very rewarding time for pet owners, but it's also a time of huge challenges and steep learning curves, for you and your pet. Our kitten guide was created with help from Royal Canin veterinarians, nutritionists, and partners worldwide, to help you and your kitten have a healthy start in life together.
Preparing for a kitten
When you bring your kitten home for the first time, it's a huge change for both of you. You can make the process much easier by making a few simple preparations ahead of the big day.
Preparing for your new kitten
Bringing home your kitten
Those first days and weeks after bringing your new kitten home can be exciting, but also challenging. By having the right tools and kitten care knowledge, you can make sure that this first experience with your new arrival is a positive one for them and you.
Bringing your kitten homeFeeding your kitten
Kitten growth stages
Understanding the growth stages your kitten goes through will help you recognize the challenges they face, and how to approach kitten care. Ensuring they get the right balance of nutrients in their food is key for healthy development into adult life.
Birth - 3 weeks
Neonatal phase
When kittens are born they can barely move or hear, and their eyes are completely closed. On average, they open their eyes between 7-10 days. Your kitten will gain weight every day during this period and you should weigh them daily to monitor their growth. During these first few weeks, their teeth will start to emerge and by the end of the period, they'll be running and jumping around your home.
8 weeks - 4 months
Socialization phase
By this time, your kitten's sense of smell and hearing is well-developed. Kittens begin to develop their sleeping patterns, motor abilities, and social interaction. Key social skills develop through interaction with litter-mates, and their mother. Your kitten will undergo a period of intense growth during this phase.
At this stage, kittens also begin to understand their position within the household and may start to form a number of social behaviors depending on their experiences and training.
4 months - 12 months
Juvenile & adolescent phase
Your kitten will go through a period of sustained growth. Most kittens will ultimately reach adulthood at 12 months of age, although some breeds, like the Maine Coon, take up to 15 months.
This phase of growth sees your kitten begin puberty and other signs of physical maturity. They gain confidence and explore their place in the household and outside environments (around six months old after they've had all of their vaccinations). While their behaviors are changing, it's important that you maintain consistency.
Kitten socialization and play
Socialization should start as early as possible, to avoid any unwanted behaviors and help them develop into confident, even-tempered adult cats. Find out how you can socialize your kitten.
Socializing your kittenKitten training
It's important to train your kitten to adopt the right behavior from an early age and learn the rules of sharing a home with other people and animals.
Training your kitten
The basics of kitten grooming
Understanding your kitten's health
Your kitten's behavior
Kittens communicate with you in a number of ways. Reading body language and expressive behaviors and listening to the sounds when caring for kittens can tell you a lot about how they're feeling and what they need from you.
Kitten behavior