Friends for a Lifetime: From Kitten to Senior

The 6 Stages of Your Kitten's Development:

• Phase 1: The kitten opens its eyes but still needs the mother's warmth and care.

• Phase 2: The first weeks are characterized by sleeping, growing, and developing milk teeth. 

• Phase 3: Around one month, kittens start to walk and eat solid food. 

• Phase 4: Up to the sixth month, cats grow steadily and go through the teething process.

• Phase 5: At about seven months, cats reach sexual maturity, with males typically a bit later.

• Phase 6: Around one year, the growth phase concludes, and your cat reaches adulthood.

In addition to physical growth, kittens go through major character changes in their first year of life. After birth, kittens learn important basics, such as grooming and hunting, from their mother and/or siblings. Once they arrive in your home, you will be responsible for their care, socialization and development. To help your kitten settle in and cope with new, everyday situations, offer them opportunities to retreat to a quiet room or den. 

Kittens have great demands for their new home. Besides a place to rest and hide, a kitten needs at least the following basic equipment:

• Litter box or litter tray
• Cat litter
• Bowl and/or water fountain
• Tree or scratching post
• Toys
  
• A comfortable resting spot

A cat-safe household should be free from hazards such as poisonous plants or windows without anti-tilt protection right from the start. On the other hand, what should not be missing in a cat household is patience and understanding.

When practicing with the litter box or showing limits, the most important principle of kitten training is: praise instead of scolding - even if that is particularly difficult during the cat's puberty. In addition to education, which is simplified by, for example, clicker training, fun play should not be neglected.

Plenty of activity for body and mind, loving care and the right nutrition are the cornerstones for your cat to lead a long and happy life.

Between the first and seventh year of life, cats are in the prime of their lives. Use this phase to discover different cat games and activities. Then relax with a joint grooming ritual to strengthen the bond with your pet.

If you adopted your cat as a kitten and already spent the past few months together, no major changes are needed as your kitten transitions into adulthood. Habitual animals don't like change anyway.

However, sometimes your own situation can change and your cat will time need to adjust. Moving house, or welcoming a baby into the home can cause cats a lot of stress, so extra consideration and patience will be needed. 

With age, house cats become calmer and extend their sleep phases. At the age of ten, time begins to leave its mark on a cat's appearance and health.

As soon as the first signs of ageing appear, it's time to adapt everyday life to the special demands of your senior cat. 

Here are the first symptoms of ageing in cats:

• The first visible difference appears in your cat's coat - the hair become noticeably grey.
• The coat is dull and tangles more easily - grooming becomes more difficult with age.
• The posture becomes less graceful than in younger cats.
• Eating and drinking behaviours change.
• Memory deteriorates - older cats may forget to be house-trained and walk around confused.
• Joints and mind age - if arthritis, arthrosis or dementia are detected early, the symptoms can be alleviated.

High-quality senior cat food helps to support your pet's healthy and active life.

Cat food suitable for seniors is:

• Easy to chew
• Adapted to the cat's decreasing energy requirements
• High quality
• Easily digestible
• Free from undefined ingredients

Chronically ill cats need a special feeding plan, which your vet will put put together with you!

Retired cats need one thing above all: understanding. New quirks or the odd urine stain on the parquet are simply part of the game when your cat gets older.

Offer your ageing cat a litter tray with a low entrance, a small climbing aid in front of the sofa, warm cuddly dens, quiet retreats and a raised food bowl - your cat will feel how much you love them and can enjoy their retirement years in peace.