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Cats & Kittens: Developmental Stages

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Cats are becoming the pet of choice here in the United States. Unfortunately many people still subscribe to the dark ages of thinking when it comes to those fabulous felines.

In a recent pet magazine I read all about young animals but when it came to kittens–they were given only a measly mention instead of a full section on the topic.

Socializing cats should no longer be an option–it is a crucial piece to creating a calm and well adjusted feline.

Many people today send kittens or puppies away from the birth home too quickly. In fact, some behavior problems (such as inappropriate suckling) are thought to be a direct result of early removal of kittens.

Although kittens will wean around six to seven weeks of age, many will continue to comfort suckle. The queen (female cat) gradually leaves the litter for longer periods of time.

Ideally, kittens will remain with the queen and litter for at least 12 weeks–and in some breeds 14 would be better.

As kittens grow it is important to have human contact. Talking, handling, and playtime helps them to acclimate to humans. If you can invite kids, friends, and other family members to help you in this process your kittens will develop a good well rounded foundation that will serve them well later.

When young kittens are orphaned or separated from the queen and litter mates they usually fail to develop good social skills with others of their kind.

This is because during day-to-day interactions they learn body language signals, clawing and biting inhibition. Play and interactions also help them to develop physical coordination and understanding of fluctuations in social status.

Brain development is though to be enhanced by handling and environmental enrichment if provided for regularly for the first seven weeks of life. Most of my clients are encouraged to give quality time to their pets at least 30 minutes twice a day–if not more.

Many of my breeder pals often hand me their animal babies (birds, cats, and dogs) even asking me to pet them when their eyes are closed (some believe that they should not be handled until after two weeks of age) because they think that it makes them more resilient, able to handle change more readily, and habituates them to strangers–and any changes (stress) in the environment.

Today, you can enroll in kitten kindergarten classes to learn how to help your kitten become a good citizen and social beast.

Classes are still not as common as puppy preschool but my belief is that these courses, along with pet parenting schools, are going to make long term differences in the life and behavior of the animal.

The big PLUS is that these lessons will help keep them in the home…because early education prevents the problems that land cats and kittens in shelters or abandoned to a cruel fate.

General guidelines on kitten development:

Neonate Period (0-2 Weeks)

*Stay close to mom and litter mates.

*Orient toward noise.

*Root (squirmy movement) to feed.

*Low level competition for territory (nipple) and rank.

*Learning skills and socialization to others is thought to come from separation from mother and litter mates during this phase. Critical for developmental learning to be in a stable group.

Social Period (2 to 7 Weeks)

*Week Two: Eyes are usually open.

*Week Three: Both smell and sight is developed enough for them to find their mother.

*Week Four: Smelling skills mature and hearing is good. Interactions with siblings increases. Teeth begin to erupt and they can walk fairly well.

*Week Five: Sight is mature and kittens can run, right themselves when turned over, avoid obstacles, begin to stalk and pounce, and step precisely.

*Begin to groom themselves and participate in social grooming with others.

*Week 6 & 7: Refine motor abilities, social interaction, and develop more regular sleeping patterns

Active Social Period (7-14 Weeks)

*Observational Learning: During this period kittens are refining their social skills and physical coordination. Learning in this period comes from observation (and interactions) with the mother, litter mates, humans, and other cats.

*Object Play: Grabbing objects and toys, pawing, tossing, and holding or carrying.

*Social Play: Pouncing, leaping, tail chasing, grabbing with paws, ambushing, licking.

Hierarchical Period (3-6 Months)

*Adolescents begin to establish their place within the household (cats, humans, other animals) in subtle or overt activities.

*Testing the limits of rules or established patterns may contribute to squabbles.

*Neutering or spaying is advised prior to the exhibiting of sexual patterns.

Adolescence to Maturity Period (6-24 months)

*Sexual behavior ( if not spayed or neutered) exhibited.

*Escalated exploration and challenges for rank (which includes testing limits and rules with humans).

Blog Posted April 25, 2008 at 8:18 am

Cat Training & Other Marketing Irritants

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Okay, I lost this post once and now I have to try again…

This morning I read an Internet marketing page related to cat obedience training. Basically, someone took a dog training concept and applied it to cats.

I trained my first cat over twenty years ago and in the animal training world it is nothing new. However, you don’t “obedience train” cats like you do dogs. The site is one of a new wave of Internet marketing sites flooding the Internet.

Now, anyone can make a buck on the net but I dislike seeing such things because there are people taking information and packaging it up to sell to the already misinformed public.

My concern is that it will make behavior problems worse and instead of getting the help they need, people will give up, and then take the cat to the shelter.

In the meantime, I am waiting to receive a copy of another cat training creation along the same lines–because I have to see something before I will recommend it.

Don’t get me wrong, many professionals offer phone and email consultations on certain cases because after so many years (30 plus in my case) there are some behavior problems you can assess and give direction on via those avenues.

The difference is that we professionals have experience, education, and other training to share. Most of us actually went to college and special private schools to get the training for those careers.

This is in direct contrast to someone who identifies a profitable niche and then proceeds to make a product to sell.

In the media I’ve been identified as an expert but that only because I have credentials and experience to lend insight and commentary on specific issues. Today I hear people spouting about “experts” all the time.

In fact, I watched the most popular “animal training expert” on television the other day. I don’t watch much because it makes me wince and cringe. In two episodes he managed to kick a dog’s leg and then in the next got his client bit.

Grrreeaat.

And just the other day I was in a business setting where some guy heard that I did behavior and training. He proudly puffed out his chest and said, “My wife is one of only two professionals up here able to train for CDX.”

Instead of a dialog I just congratulated him and began to move off. Not that a CDX is anything to scoff at (and the dog got it not her) but how many animals in her lifetime has this woman actually trained? She is offering classes now?

Puh-leese.

This is called a hobbyist in the professional circles.

My point here is that the problem is that most people don’t know how to filter the information. Also they don’t know that they should get the right help from the right professional.

This means go to veterinarians for veterinary care, groomers for skin, coat, and nail care, and an animal behaviorist for behavior problem modification, or an animal trainer for manners or obedience work.

Anyway, like it or not the fact is that we are increasingly turning to online information and courses presented in multimedia. I’ve been working on one for about a year myself.

Some of you know that I just finished an interview with an industry icon, Karen Pryor about her online course aimed at creating standardization for clicker trainers–because there are people out there saying that they are “clicker trainers” but really are not. Also, the difference here is that there is also mandatory hands-on clinics with faculty members…not just Internet training.

Not too long ago DoLittler blogged about online dog training and I almost commented–but stopped short due to the long list of contributions already.

I read Dr Patty’s blog and her column in Veterinary Practice Staff because she has an opinion and is not afraid to state it. One of her last columns on fashion created quite a stir–a flood of letters to the editor–go figure.

So when the operator of the website mentioned in her blog post, Webdogtrainer.com later stopped by and commented, Dr Patty quickly asked some questions.

Unfortunately, the gal only came into see what the traffic source was, commented, and I believe never came back.

Working for a place does not mean you are capable, talented, or even credentialed. In fact, since there isn’t any real universal credential recognized nationally (or internationally) for animal trainers this makes it even harder to decipher.

What I am whining about is the general trend. I started with cats and then it just meandered to this point–which is usually the case when I rant.

My point here is that the people who paid dues (professional fees and work experience) and paid for an education are usually a better choice than those who coughed up the fees for an Internet domain and marketing strategies.

Who are you gonna call?

Let me know your opinion below.

Blog Posted April 16, 2008 at 7:49 am
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