Raising a 4 month old kitten is full of adventure as they are still developing and exploring the world around them. Knowing what to expect at this age will help you to prepare for a young kitten while providing them with the best possible care.
This stage of a kitten’s life will play have a big impact on their longterm health and behavior. They are taking in new experiences and information at an incredibly fast rate. The early life experiences of a kitten will shape the personality that they will carry with them throughout the rest of their life.
This post will share everything you need to know about raising a 4 month old kitten as well as any other relevant information about providing the best possible care.
4 Month Old Kitten Care
Feeding A 4 Month Old Kitten
Kittens at this age are growing incredibly quickly and they need to be eating enough food to sustain them as they continue to develop. Providing them with a kitten-specific kibble and wet food will ensure that their nutritional needs are satisfied.
Kitten food contains higher in calories and nutrients than adult cat food due to the fact that kittens have different dietary needs than a full grown adult. Regular adult food does not provide the level of nutritional value that kittens require during their first few months of life.
We recommend leaving a constant supply of dry kibble out at all times for your kitten as this will allow them to eat whenever they are hungry. Young kittens grow extremely quickly and it is important that they are receive enough food to support them throughout their development.
Self feeding is also a great way to teach your kitten how to moderate their food consumption from an early age. We prefer to use a grain free kibble made by the brand Nulo as we have found our kittens really thrive on this food.
Supplementing a kitten’s diet with wet food along with giving them a constant supply of kibble will increase their protein consumption while improving hydration at the same time.
Staying Hydrated
One of the main parts of a healthy diet is making sure that your kitten stays properly hydrated. Even though this is a basic need of all living creatures, it is often overlooked for some reason.
If you notice that your kitten is not drinking enough water or start to show signs of dehydration, you should re-examine the current water situation. There are multiple reasons that your kitten may not be drinking a healthy amount of water.
The first thing you need to look at is if they are being provided with fresh water every single day. Dirty water that has been sitting out for three days is not going to encourage your kitten to stay hydrated.
You should also make sure that there are multiple water dishes being placed around the house. Sometimes kittens just need a little reminder to drink water as they are so busy playing that they often forget.
Make sure that you are not placing the water bowl next to the kittens food or litter box as this is another reason they may be avoiding it. Their natural survival instincts will lead them to avoid water that has possibly been contaminated by food or litter.
Litter Boxes
When it comes to picking out the right type of litter and litter box for your cat, there are many different options to choose from. You will probably need to experiment with a few different types of litter and boxes to find one that works well for your kitten.
It is important that your kitten likes the litter box set up that you provide for them because they are the one that has to use it everyday. If your cat is not a fan of the litter box situation, they will make it known by going potty somewhere else in your house.
For multiple kitten households, you will need to provide more litter boxes to accommodate the number of kittens that are living with you. A good rule of thumb is to have one more litter box than the number of kittens in your house.
It is always best to play it safe and go the extra mile when it comes to the litter box situation for your cats or kittens. Some cats can be extremely picky and they will make it known if they are not happy with the current litter box situation.
For kittens that are under a year old, you should make sure that you are providing them with a litter that is safe for kittens. Sometimes kittens will get curious and try to eat the litter in which case you want to make sure there is nothing that will make them sick.
After you find the right litter that your kitten is happy with, you must remember to clean the box every single day. I know this sounds tedious but a dirty litter box is one of the main causes of inappropriate elimination around the house.
We like to make a habit of cleaning the litter boxes twice a day just to be safe. Our cats are extremely sensitive and appreciate having nice clean litter to use. You may need to experiment with a few different litter and litter box combinations to find one that works best for your kitten.
Training
Properly training and interacting with your kitten at this stage of their development will affect how they behave as an adult. This is the age when bad habits tend to get formed which often results in undesirable behaviors later on in life.
The best way to fix a bad habit is to make sure it never begins in the first place. Preventing unwanted behavior from forming is the most effective way to prevent bad behaviors from becoming a larger issue.
For example, allowing a kitten to play with your hand like it’s a toy trains them to bite people’s fingers when they want to play. This may seem harmless at first, but it becomes a serous problem as they get older.
Providing different types of toys for your young kitten to play with will teach them how to play properly from a young age. Giving them a way to channel their energy into fun toys will pay dividends as they start to get older.
Another behavior that you should be prepared for is when kittens start scratching furniture such as the couches, chairs, rugs, etc. The best way to deal with a kitten scratching things around your house is to provide them with a scratching post to use instead.
Scratching posts are necessary for kittens because they need something that they can sink their claws into. If you notice them starting to scratch your couch or other furniture, pick them up immediately and put them next to the scratching post to reinforce the proper behavior.
Health & Care
Staying on top of your kitten’s health and well being will ensure that they live a long and happy life. This means scheduling regular veterinarian appointments and cultivating an appropriate an environment for your kitten.
Once your kitten is 4 months old, they should have already received most of their core vaccines. Depending on how you adopted your kitten, there is a chance that most of this has already been covered by a rescue shelter.
Although this may seem small and insignificant to you, receiving the proper shots and treatment is essential to a young kitten’s health. Veterinarians have been doing this stuff for a very long time and they will be the best advisors for you and your kitten.
At around 4 months of age, something that you will need to start considering is having your kitten spayed or neutered. This is extremely important for many reasons, especially for female kittens that are old enough to experience their first heat.
A kitten that is in her first heat cycle has reached sexually maturity and is capable of having her first litter of kittens. Unless you are a kitten breeder, please make sure to have your kitten fixed.
Every single year, there are millions of homeless cats and kittens on the street because they reproduce so fast that there are not enough homes and resources to take care of them all. The best way to combat this issue is by making sure to get your kittens spayed or neutered to prevent them from contributing to the problem in the first place.
4 Month Old Kitten Development
Physical Development
By the time a kitten is 4 months old, they will look start to look like a small version of an adult cat. All 26 of their milk teeth (baby teeth) will have come in and they be starting to fall out to make way for their permanent adult teeth.
Kittens at this age have endless amounts of energy that they out on display as they walk, run, climb and hunt around the house. They are continuing to increase the strength in their muscles by playing playing with you and climbing on their cat tree.
Behavioral Changes
4 month old kittens will be gaining confidence and exploring the world around them as they continue to transition into full grown adults. You should expect them to play, sleep, eat and explore wherever they can gain access to in your house.
If you notice your kitten chewing on random objects, they have most likely started teething. Kitten teething is completely normal thing that all kittens experience as they lose their kitty teeth and start developing their permanent adult teeth.
The reason that kittens will chew on anything they can find is because it helps ease the discomfort that they are feeling in their mouth. You should be sure to provide them with all sorts of toys so that they have plenty of different options to choose from.
What Should I Expect From My 4 Month Old Kitten?
You should expect your 4 month old kitten to have endless energy and curiosity as they adjust to their new environment. Once a kitten has gotten comfortable, they will begin playing, cuddling and spending all their time with you.
Kittens at this age will be eating a lot of food to recuperate all of the calories that they lose throughout the day. This is the most growing they will every do in their entire life and they need all of the nutrients they can get.
Is A 4 Month Old Cat Still A Kitten?
4 month old cats are still considered kittens as they are nowhere near fully grown. They require kitten specific food during this stage of their life to supplement their caloric intake and nutritional needs.
Kittens are not considered full grown cats until they are at least a year old. Some kittens take up to 2 years before they have reached full maturity and are finished growing.
How Much Attention Does A 4 Month Old Kitten Need?
Kittens at this age need ample attention and playtime each day to ensure they develop into properly socialized adults. Although this is past the age of socialization, it is still an important stage for learning and developing personality.
You should make sure to play with them at least once a day. Cuddling with them on the couch is also a great way to bond and improve their interactions with people.
How Long Can A 4 Month Old Kitten Be Left Alone?
A 4 month old kitten can be left on their own, but you shouldn’t leave them alone for any longer than a normal workday. Kittens are at a very critical stage of their development, and constant human interaction plays a big part in the development of their personality
