If on your way met a small, plaintively squeaking glomerulus, which turned out to be a kitten upon closer examination, the problem of determining its age becomes very urgent. Indeed, the mode of feeding and methods of care depends on the correct determination of the baby's age.
Instructions
Step 1
Examine the kitten's eyes. Babies are born blind. Kittens' eyes begin to open on the eighth day, and the animals fully regain their sight, as a rule, by the fourteenth day. It should be noted that long-haired cats begin to see later than short-haired ones. If your "foundling" has not yet fully cut his eyes - he is most likely less than two weeks old.
Without exception, all kittens, regardless of breed, have a blue cornea up to three weeks of age. Pigmentation ends, as a rule, by 2, 5-3 months. If you can't pinpoint your baby's eye color, chances are it's not yet 12 weeks old.
Step 2
Look at the ears of your "foundling". Immediately after the birth of kittens, their auricles are tightly closed. Babies begin to hear at about one week of age. Ears rise by three weeks of age.
Step 3
Evaluate how confidently the baby is moving. Kittens usually start crawling at the age of 18 days. By the 21st day of life, as a rule, the animal walks on its own, although it does so somewhat uncertainly. At the age of 25-28 days, kittens move freely and orient themselves by hearing and sight. At the same age, you can start feeding them from a saucer.
Step 4
The age of a kitten can also be determined by the teeth. Of course, this method requires some experience. At 2-4 weeks of age, the first milk incisors begin to erupt in kittens. At 3-4 weeks - canines. A one and a half month old baby should have premolars on the lower jaw. All milk teeth should erupt by 2 months.
At the age of 3, 5-4 months, the replacement of milk teeth with permanent ones begins. The permanent incisors are cut first. At the age of 4-5 months - molars, molars and premolars. By six months, all kitten's teeth should have changed to molars.
If you find it difficult to independently determine the age of the kitten by the teeth, take it to the nearest veterinary clinic. Experienced doctors can easily cope with this task. In addition, you can make sure that your pet is healthy and, if necessary, give him preventive vaccinations.
