One thing that we’ve all got in common is that we were all babies once.
Both mother and baby know the importance of each other and there’s an instinctive nature surrounding how dependent babies are.
As well as Mom having the tools to raise her young, babies of all species are born with instincts and characteristics to aid in the process of growing up and gaining independence.
Kittens are fascinating as well as being super cute and there’s a lot of really interesting stuff about them that many people don’t know.
Here are 6 things that you probably didn’t know about kittens…
Purring
Kittens are born without being able to do many things, however, purring is something that they can do right from birth!
Newborn kittens can be heard purring when nursing with mom right from day one.
Weight
Kittens only weigh around 3-4 ounces at birth and are around the size of a lemon.
Kittens grow rapidly in the first few weeks after birth though.
Body temperature
Kittens can’t regulate their own body temperature and don’t have the ability to generate body heat like mature mammals.
Kittens can be in grave danger if they are exposed to the cold so they snuggle up to mom and or their siblings to stay warm.
Bodily Functions
Kittens can’t urinate or excrete waste on their own from birth.
They need a little help from mom…
Mom licks the kitten’s stomach and rear to stimulate the digestive system and to help keep things flowing in the right direction.
Walking
Kittens don’t learn to walk until they are around 3 weeks old.
Kittens make up for the 3 weeks without walking because as soon as they can walk, they become very active!
Kneading is Important
We’ve all seen cats “making bread” pressing up and down with their paws.
This is known as kneading and has an important function.
This motion is used to stimulate milk flow when nursing from mom.
Cats may continue to do this in adult life and this is considered to be a sign that they are seeking comfort.
My Thoughts
We have a black cat called Coco and he was already 3-4 months old when we took him from the street.
He was being raised in a nearby abandoned house and I only got to see his paws when he was very young through a window.
It’s a shame that we didn’t get to see him from birth but it’s nice to know that he spent the whole of his very young life with his mom.
She did a great job and we took over when it was time for them to go their separate ways.
How well do you know your cat? Want to do a quick quiz about cats? Click here…
Lee Harris
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