kittens

Why Do Kittens Have Blue Eyes?

Why do kittens have blue eyes?

Why do kittens have blue eyes?

Kittens are born with blue eyes because the melanin, which gives colour to the iris, is not present at birth. Once the eyelids open and the eyes are exposed to light, melanin production increases, causing their eye colour to darken. The final eye colour may not be determined until 6 to 18 months after birth. This is similar to skin darkening from sun exposure. Skin darkens in the sun due to the production of melanin, a pigment that provides protection from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. When skin is exposed to the sun, melanocytes increase the production of melanin to protect the skin, resulting in a tanned appearance.

A kitten’s eyes are closed at birth because they are developing and need time to grow and mature, which helps protect the eyes from environmental light. The eyelids remain closed until 7 – 10 days after birth. Once the eyes open, they are a pale blue in colour. Some kittens will maintain their blue eyes for life, while the eye colour of other kittens will gradually change from blue to yellow, copper or green.

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Why Do Cats Kill Their Kittens?

Why do cats kill kittens?

All placental animals are hardwired to protect the lives of their offspring, to guarantee the next generation reaches adulthood. Mother cats (known as a queen) have a high maternal instinct and will nurture and raise her kittens until they have reached an age where they can safely care for themselves. But sometimes an adult cat will kill an individual or litter of kittens, which is termed infanticide. There are two types of infanticide, nonkin infanticide, which relates to the killing of unrelated young, and kin infanticide, which is the killing of related young (usually offspring).

There are a number of reasons an adult cat will kill a kitten or kittens, which vary depending on the gender of the cat.

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Vomiting in Kittens: A Veterinarian Explains What to Do

Vomiting kitten

At a glance

Vomiting is a common but potentially serious symptom in kittens that left untreated can lead to dehydration.

Causes:

  • Parasites
  • Dietary indiscretion
  • Snakebite
  • Poisoning
  • Sudden change in diet
  • Heatstroke
  • Intussusception of the intestines
  • Eating too fast
  • Sudden changes in diet
  • Lactose intolerance from cow’s milk
  • Fading kitten syndrome

Treatment: The goal of treatment is to address the underlying cause and provide supportive care while your kitten recovers.

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When Do Kittens Calm Down?

When do kittens calm down?

When do kittens calm down?

Most kittens calm down between 6 – 12 months, by which point the kitten is approximately 15 in human years. The most active age period for kittens is between 4 weeks to 26 weeks. During this time, the kitten is growing rapidly both physically, developmentally and emotionally at which time he or she is learning through exploration and experimentation. Their coordination is still developing, as a result, there are often accidents, such as a broken glass or pot plant knocked over.

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