Persian Kittens Development

Persian Kittens - The Sensitive Period

The first two months of a Persian kittens life is known as the "The Sensitive Period". During this time, a Persian kitten is learning to move, eat, stimulate senses, and be handled by humans.

Movement: During the first two weeks of a Persian kitten's life, she relies mainly on her mother for everything. She can barely move at this point, but at about 2 to 3 weeks of age, she begins a preliminary walking movement. Persian kittens are able to smell the mother's teats and feel her warmth which encourages her to use a paddling like movement toward the mother. At around 3 to 4 weeks of age, a Persian kitten is able to walk in a somewhat wobbly fashion while at about 3 to 5 weeks of age, a Persian kitten can start to run. It isn't until about 6 to 7 weeks that a Persian kitten is able to really start exploring the world using all of the gaits of an adult Persian cat.

Food: Persian kittens live completely on their mother's milk up until the age of one month. At that point, a Persian kitten can begin eating solid foods.

Stimulation: A Persian kitten must grow in a setting that challenges and stimulates her senses. If not, she may never learn to overcome problems or learn how to become interested in her environment.

Human Handling: The amount of handling a Persian kitten receives during the the first 8 weeks of life plays a crucial role in her personality. In order for a Persian kitten to adapt well in a human environment, she must be handled gently and frequently by people. Studies show that Persian kittens that are handled regularly during the first 45 days of life seem to develop a willingness to be handled and a general inquisitiveness.