Kittens change a lot soon after birth, as almost every day in the first few weeks of their lives is different. When kittens are six weeks old, we are ready to remove them from their mothers. But the growth of kittens does not stop. Between 6 weeks and 12 weeks, kittens still need to learn the following points.

1. The cat’s body continues to develop

At 6 weeks of age, a kitten’s baby teeth will begin to grow in. Over the next week, all the baby teeth will grow in, and the mother may be reluctant to continue feeding her kitten. By 12 weeks of age, the baby teeth will begin to fall out and be replaced by normal teeth. When kittens are six weeks old, their eyes are still blue. Over the next few weeks, the eye color will slowly change to that of an adult cat. By 12 weeks, both hearing and vision are improving.

At around six weeks of age, kittens still need to be kept warm. By about 10 weeks of age, kittens no longer need external heat sources for warmth. By that time, kittens are able to regulate their own body temperature. If you have a male cat, his testicles will descend and become palpable around 7 to 8 weeks of age.

2. The cat’s behavior changes

When 6 to 12 weeks old, kittens are very active. She doesn't sleep as long as she did when she was born, but she still spends more than half the day sleeping. The kitten will begin to play with its friends, become familiar with its surroundings, and its personality will begin to develop. This time is extremely important for developing your kitten's behavioral skills. If a kitten doesn't have the opportunity to play and learn from its mother and peers, it may have difficulties as an adult.

3. Kitten health problems

At approximately 8 weeks of age, kittens need to receive the triple vaccine. Feline triple vaccine contains three different vaccines. The feline triad stands for feline herpesvirus, calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia. These are the main diseases that cats of any age can contract. At approximately 12 weeks of age, a repeat vaccination or booster vaccine is required 3 to 4 weeks later, and again at 16 weeks of age.

Some veterinarians will surgically spay or neuter a kitten when it is 8 – 12 weeks old, while others will have a minimum weight requirement or recommend surgery after 6 months.

Flea treatment is also necessary. Not all parasites are safe for kittens, but these parasites can be fatal to kittens. If you see fleas on your kitten, you can refer to Cat Long JumpWhat should I do if I have fleas?

4. Food and nutrition

Six-week-old kittens begin to be gradually weaned and eat complementary food. You can feed the kitten some canned food until the baby teeth appear. By 8 to 10 weeks old, kittens should be completely weaned. There is no need to limit the kitten’s food intake at this time.

5. Train kittens to use litter boxes and cat climbing frames

If kittens see their mother or littermate using the litter box, they will naturally use the litter box. It is a cat's natural instinct to cover up waste after urinating or defecating. When a kitten is 8 weeks old, its name can be taught through repetition and rewards. Verbal praise, petting, toys, and treats are all forms of rewards that your kitten will respond to.