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The term kitten most commonly refers to a pre-adolescent cat. It may also refer to a young rabbit, rat, hedgehog or squirrel. This article discusses kittens of the domestic cat.
Birth and development
A litter of kittens usually consists of three 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 litter-mates 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 are 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. At any time after 2 months, new owners may adopt them. Between 2 and 6 months, kittens grow quickly, going through a "leggy" and energetic phase. By the end of its first 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.
Perceptions of cuteness
Feline kittens are stereotypically (and typically) very cute to human perception. There are good evolutionary reasons to expect humans to find juvenile humans, and perhaps juvenile animals in general, cute. Why humans find cats in general cuter than most other species remains a topic of speculation.
As a result of these perceptions, kittens are sometimes referred to figuratively as something pleasant to view or as something that will induce maternal behaviour in humans.
See also
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