What are the stages of Cats’ growth?
The life stages of cats are divided into six sections, in which the cat is exposed to many changes in shape, size, weight, and the nature of food. Which diseases, the six stages are
Kittens younger than six months old
At this stage, the cat is distinguished by the fact that it grows very quickly, in terms of size, weight, and shape, but it is not sexually mature in it. The most important thing that distinguishes this stage from others is that the cat feeds on its mother’s milk through lactation, and it often takes about two months to wean. , As the majority of cats are able to eat at the age of eight weeks. At this stage, the cat from 0-3 weeks of age uses its legs to move, but not completely, as its movement in movement is similar to that of a swimmer (the cat’s limbs are far apart and moves in a manner similar to Crawling), as the cat does not enjoy muscular motor development at this stage. After the third week, the cat begins to learn to walk.
Kittens do not need a long time to be able to open their eyes, as they are at this stage, specifically after the age of 7-10 days, they begin to open their eyes, and by the second week of life, they are able to open their eyes completely.
Kittens from seven months to two years old
The cat at this stage is able to deal independently with the environment and life so that it can survive, and the most important thing that distinguishes it at this stage is that it has reached its full size. The cat at this age is considered to be in adolescence, and the most important thing that distinguishes it is that the cat is in it. It has strong teeth, as at this stage the milk teeth have been replaced, and it may start sexual reproduction. Cats at this stage mainly eat food that contains high protein sources (meat).
Kittens from three to six years old
Cats at this age achieve physical and behavioral maturity, characterized by their health and physical activity. Their appearance at this stage is distinguished from the rest of the stages in that they are eye-catching as their hair is soft and shiny, and they deal with life usefully (as they are able to secure their food and take care of their young). ).
Kittens are seven to ten years old
The cat at this stage is considered in the stage of youth and is equivalent to the age of a human being at the age of 40 years, the most important thing that distinguishes this stage from others is; The cat needs a lot of care, as it appears to have health problems such as diabetes, kidney disease, high blood pressure, and hyperthyroidism. Several symptoms may also appear in cats that must be paid attention to at this age, the most important of which are: lethargy, weight loss, diarrhea, decreased activity, a change in appetite, and changes in the urine.
Cats from 11 to 14 years old
At this stage, the cat is equivalent to the age of 70 years in humans, and this stage is one of the most difficult stages compared to other stages, in which the cat may be exposed to many treatable problems them, and at this stage is a sense of smell begins to weaken, at this stage, there are 5 Common diseases that may affect cats, namely: chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, arthritis, and cancer.
Cats over 15 years old
Many cats reach this stage, some of the cats do not suffer from any of the problems that the cat is exposed to at the age of 7-14 years, this stage is known as the aging stage, and the age of the cat in this stage is equal to the age of a human at the age of 76 years, cats need at this stage to a great degree of comfort.
Stages of fetal development
The feline fetus goes through a number of stages, and it is divided into 4 stages, as follows:
fertilization stage
At this stage, the female mates from 10 to 20 times during the period of one month and a month and a half. During the mating process, the egg travels from the bottom of the fallopian tube until it reaches the uterus and settles in it, as well as the sperm that passed from the male to the female (the sperm may be from more than one male, and thus multiple parents), two weeks after the fertilization process, the stages of embryo development begin, as the organs, skin, placenta, skin, and spinal cord begin to grow.
fetus after three weeks
At the three-week stage, the fetus is more than 2.5 cm long, organs begin to form, and faces are formed. At this stage, signs of pregnancy begin to appear on the female cat (the mother), as the fetus begins to change in terms of size specifically. The cat’s weight also increases due to its increased appetite for food. The mother cat is distinguished at this stage by showing physical changes on it, the most important of which is a change in the color and swelling of the nipples, and the fetus is distinguished by the fact that it begins to benefit from the nutrients it obtains through the placenta.
fetus after four weeks
At this stage, the fetus has gained more change, especially in size, as it is 3.8 cm long. The teeth of the fetus have formed by the fourth week, and the bones have begun to become strong. By the fifth week, the fetus swallows 6.3 cm, and their eyelids begin to form along with the claws. At this stage, the fetus also begins to move into the mother’s womb, and what must be addressed is that they do not have hair at this stage yet. After the end of week 6, the length of the cat exceeds 8 cm and its hair began to grow, and its tails grew and its ears became large. In the seventh and eighth weeks, the fetus develops a sense of smell and the organs of the mouth, especially the tongue. At this stage, the fetus begins to increase in size in terms of fat, as it begins to consume fat as a nutritional component through the mother’s food through the placenta.
prenatal stage
At this stage, after 60 days (the ninth week), the length of the fetus is approximately 17 cm and its weight is 350 grams, and its organs are complete. Most cats may give birth at this stage, as the fetus has reached full maturity (physically), and some cats may continue the pregnancy for the tenth week. It depends on the type of strain of the fetus. At this stage, the mother cat begins to search for a quiet place for the fetus to be safe in the event of childbirth. The mother’s body temperature drops (by 1 degree).
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Alaa