Your Kitten: 14 Weeks Old

Mental and Physical Development

Pet Food Allergies Food allergies in kittens are not at all uncommon, and kittens at 14 weeks of age often develop allergies to ingredients in the foods they have been weaned on. Many kittens will eventually outgrow their food allergies as their digestive system slowly becomes accustomed to their diet, but in severe cases where symptoms are extreme, a veterinarian may recommend a prescription hypoallergenic diet.

The main symptom of food allergies in kittens is usually intermittent vomiting that occurs a few hours after meals and which is composed mainly of bile. The vomiting may occur only once a day, or in severe cases, up to a dozen times a day. Less common symptoms include periodic loose stool or stool that has a particularly strong odor; some kittens suffering from food allergies also fail to gain weight and may develop skin problems or hair loss.

Decoding the Purr Have you noticed that your kitten purrs in a variety of tones and under different circumstances? Kittens purr not only when they are happy and content, but also when they are scared, injured or distressed. It is believed that purring is both a form of communication as well as a method of self-soothing during stressful times.

During the first few days of life, a kitten, as well as her mother, will purr during the nursing process. It is thought that purring is a form of communication between mothers and their kittens to indicate contentment, reassurance and general well-being.

As the kitten outgrows the need for her mother, her purring will continue in a variety of other situations. She will purr during human interactions such as petting or grooming. She will also purr, submissively, when approached by other cats, as if to signal that she is not a threat to them. Most surprisingly, she will purr during difficult times such as veterinary visits or when injured, sick or dying. It is widely thought that the low-frequency sound waves produced during purring have calming and soothing effects.

So, with all this in mind, pay attention to what your kitten is trying to tell you next time you hear her purring.

Health and Veterinary Care: Chlamydophila Felis

Chlamydophila felis (formerly called Chlamydia psittaci) is a bacterial pathogen that can infect a kitten's upper respiratory tract. It typically manifests as a swollen, puffy eye but can also cause nasal discharge, ocular discharge or sneezing. If your kitten is exhibiting any of these signs, call your veterinarian immediately. Chlamydophila is easily treated with antibiotics, unlike the viral causes of feline upper respiratory tract infection.

Ninety percent of all feline upper respiratory tract infections are caused by feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus, which means that less than 10 percent are caused by Chlamydophila. Due to its low incidence, the vaccine for this bacterium is not recommended, except in extreme circumstances. Consult with your veterinarian to determine your kitten's individual level of risk.

Training: Eating Houseplants

Houseplants are particularly irresistible to house kittens. You may have noticed that your houseplants are looking a bit damaged -- chances are that your 14-week-old kitten is now stalking, attacking and eating them. Unfortunately, the safest thing to do for your kitten -- and your plants -- is to remove the plants from your kitten's reach.

A variety of houseplants are toxic to kittens, especially lilies, so it's a good idea to research your plants and make sure they are safe in case your kitten does does get a hold of them.

Next, try to relocate your plants to another area so that your kitten cannot eat them. If you love the look of greenery around your home, invest in some artificial plants, hang plants from the ceiling, or grow catnip plants that are safe for your kitten to munch on.