Kitten
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The term kitten most commonly refers to a pre-adolescent cat. It may also refer to a young rabbit or rat.
Birth and development
A litter of kittens usually consists of one to six kittens. Born after approximately 63 days of gestation, kittens emerge in an amnion which is bitten off and eaten by the mother cat. Their eyes remain closed for their first week to 10 days of life.
Between 2 and 7 weeks kittens develop very quickly. Their coordination and strength improve and they spar with their littermates and begin to explore the world outside the nest. They learn to wash themselves and others and to play hunting and stalking games. If they're outdoor cats their mother or other adult cats may demonstrate hunting techniques for them to emulate.
Gradually as they reach 2 months of age the kittens are weaned and begin to eat solid food. Any time after 2 months they can be adopted out to new owners.
Between 2 and 6 months the kittens grow quickly, going through a "leggy" and energetic phase. By one year, the kitten has become a cat, although some larger breeds may take a few more months to attain full adult size.
The young of cats larger than the common domestic cat are usually called cubs rather than kittens.
Caring for kittens
Kittens should be examined by a veterinarian and given their first shots, as well as being checked for parasites. Vaccination schedules vary regionally: the veterinarian will advise you on what is recommended and when to bring the kitten back for booster shots in the future.
Many veterinarians and humane organizations recommend spaying or neutering kittens in order to keep cat population in check (presuming they are not going to be bred as an adult). Females should be spayed at 5 months of age, and males should be neutered at 6 months of age. Many veterenarians advise delaying neutering until the kitten is six months old because they believe that it affects the hormone levels and can cause problems. However, studies have found no difference in development or health between kittens spayed at 12 weeks and those spayed at six months and many vets perform early spaying on healthy kittens.
When caring for a baby kitten between the ages of one day old and 1 month old is hard, but very rewardable.
See also How to choose your pet and take care of it, which has instructions for caring for adult cats.