Fostering An 8 Week Old Kitten Litter
8 weeks is a big milestone for kittens as this is when they are old enough to leave the nest for their new family. For families that are looking to adopt, 8 weeks is normally the youngest to start caring for a kitten. Prior to reaching this age, kittens are extremely vulnerable and in need of their mother or an experiences foster parent.
Raising an 8 week old kitten is exciting as it is one of the best stages in a kittens life. They are able to run around and survive away from their mother however they are still so tiny and cute. It is the perfect age to start bonding with your new kitten.
This article will explore everything you need to know about adopting and raising an 8 week old kitten. We make sure to share all of the information you need to provide your new kitten with a safe and welcoming.
7 Week To 8 Week Development
Behavioral Changes
There are not any major behavioral changes between 7 and 8 weeks. You will definitely notice them beginning to get smarter as they explore their surroundings. Kittens at this age will gradually become more independent as they gain self-confidence.
They will continue to play more intensely as they grow bigger and more coordinated week by week. At this stage, they should ideally be using the litter box on their own without you having to remind them.
Physical Changes
Kittens are past the point in their development where they experienced rapid physical changes. However, they are still continuing to grow as they become increasingly more independent.
Their coordination and reflexes develop surprisingly quickly during this time. They go from taking their first steps to climbing up and down a cat tree with ease in a matter of weeks.
8 Week Old Kitten Care
Provide A Proper Sleeping/Play Area
8 week old kittens need to have a dedicated space where they can feels are while exploring their surroundings. Having a dedicated room where you keep your kitten at this time will allow you to watch over them in a controlled environment.
Allowing them access to the whole house will likely be overwhelming, especially if there are other pets or people living in the same space. Kittens should be eased into their new home, which is why you should always give them their own space.
Along with having their own area to feel safe, you should be sure to provide a cat bed along with some other soft areas for them to sleep. A good solution for this is to provide a cat tree for your new kitten. Kittens love being perched up high, which is why investing in a cat tree is one of the best decisions you can make as a cat owner.
Feeding 8 Week Old Kittens
At this age, kittens should mainly be eating kitten-specific dry kibble and drinking water. I like to place multiple water dishes around as a way of encouraging them to stay hydrated. Kittens can forget to drink water if they are having too much fun playing.
I provide them with wet food in the morning and at night during this time. The goal is to wean kittens off of wet food so that they are eating primarily dry food.
When it comes to feeding your 8 week old kitten, there are two ways to go about feeding them. Some people feed their kittens a certain amount of food at different meal times while others do the self-feed method. I am in the camp that believes self-feeding is the way to go.
I always leave a bowl of dry kibble out for the litters that I foster as this teaches them from an early age to not overeat. It is much easier to just provide a self feeder for your kittens than to fill their dishes multiple times a day. Be sure to monitor their intake and make sure they do not abuse this privilege and start overeating.
When deciding what food to provide for your kitten, I recommend doing your research and providing them with a high quality kibble. Good food may be a little bit more expensive, but it is well worth it for how it makes your kitten feel. They will have much healthier coats and be happier cats if they are eating healthy kitten food.
My cats and kittens eat Nulo because this is the best and most affordable food that we have found. We have been feeding our cats this for years and it truly makes a difference in their overall health. Just make sure you get the kitten friendly mix if you are taking care of a young kitten!
Socializing The Kittens
It is extremely important to interact with kittens at this age. Giving them lots of playtime and supervised exploring time around the house will pay dividends in their development. It helps them adapt to normal household noises such as laundry and the dishwasher.
During this process, constantly talking to them and petting them goes along way in making sure they are socialized correctly. Exposing them to human voices and touch will have that kitten bonded with you in no time.
We want kittens to learn that human companionship equals constant food and love. The secret is to only feed them wet food when you present in the room with them. Wet food is every kitten’s favorite and they will start to realize that being with humans equals eating yummy food.
Just remember that kittens will be a little hesitant about their new environment for the first day or two. Be sure to move at a pace that the kitten is comfortable with and they will soon be your best friend.
Playing with kittens is a sure fire way to win them over. Buy a little string toy that you can wave around and your kitten will chase it around until they are all out of energy. Providing your kitten with constant food, playtime, and comfort will help to socialize them before you know it.
Getting Ready For Adoption
8 weeks old kittens are officially at the age when they are ready to be adopted. They are no longer reliant on their mother and can eat solid food all on their own.
If you are helping to foster through a program then the kittens should be up to date on their medications such as dewormer, flea medicine, and their 3 rounds of kitten shots (FVRCP). If you are a temporary foster parent, your job is to make sure the kittens are healthy and fully socialized before adoption.
Is It OK To Take A Kitten At 8 Weeks?
Yes, this is the youngest age you can fully adopt and sign papers for a kitten from programs. Kittens require more specialized care before this age which is why they should ideally be kept with their mother or a suitable foster. This is the standard age when families can adopt kittens as they are usually socialized and eating dry kibble by this time.
Can 8 Week Old Kittens Be Left Alone At Night?
An 8 week old kitten can be left alone at night if they have access to a bowl of water, a clean litter box, and a full bowl of dry kibble. Make sure they are locked away in a safe room where there are no dangerous things they can get into. If you are keeping them in a bathroom or they have access to a bathroom, please ensure that the toilet seat is closed so they do not get stuck inside.
How Can I Bond With My 8 Week Old Kitten?
A great way to bond with your kitten is to play with them using different types of toys. Cuddling and petting them a lot is a great way to grow closer with your kitten. When you are feeding them wet food, you should talk and sing to them so they get used to your voice. They will start to find it comforting as they will associate your voice equals yummy food.
