Your Kitten: 17 Weeks Old

Mental and Physical Development

Is My Kitten's Level of Understanding Increasing? At 17 weeks of age, a kitten has reached multiple milestones in physical and mental development. During this stage of growth, kittens are beginning to show the first signs of mental maturity. You may notice that your kitten is less interested in play and more interested in cuddling and petting time, and, like many other pet owners, you may feel that the bond between you and your maturing kitten is becoming stronger.

The level of understanding in your kitten increases dramatically at this time as your kitten is beginning to assimilate all the information he has learned in the first months of his life. This is the point when your young kitten slowly begins to become a cat. At this age, kittens may begin to sleep more than they used to, and they may show more interest in developing relationships with not only humans, but other cats and animals in the household as well.

Appearance of Weight Loss Kittens at 17 weeks of age often develop a slim and sleek figure due to the physical development of their muscle and bone structures. While kittens may begin to appear thinner at this stage, they should not actually be losing weight.

The appearance of weight loss is merely a result of rapid growth combined with the physical maturation of bones and muscles. If your kitten is truly losing weight at this age, it may be the result of a poor diet or an underlying health condition, such as parasites.

You can tell if your kitten is at the right body weight by looking at your kitten's body condition. You should be able to see a small waistline when you look down at your kitten and you should also be able to lightly feel, but not see, your kitten's ribs. If you are worried that your kitten is losing weight at this time, it is best to have her examined by a veterinarian.

Health and Veterinary Care: Dental Care

Oral care plays a critical role in the health and well being of all kittens. Routine dental care not only reduces the incidence of disease, but also strengthens the human-animal bond. As you begin dental hygiene practices at an early age, you are building your kitten a foundation for a long and healthy life.

The following are guidelines to help you and your kitten get started:

- Choose a quiet time of day for dental care, usually just before naptime, so that the kitten is more relaxed.

- Allow her to become familiar and comfortable with your gentle handling of her mouth, chin and lips.

- Gradually work toward being able to softly massage her gums and teeth with your index finger. If you prefer, you may wrap your finger in a soft, thin towel or piece of gauze and lace it with a small amount of cat-specific toothpaste. (Note: human teeth-cleaning products are toxic to felines when swallowed).

- Substitute a finger brush instead of your finger to facilitate the routine.

As you routinely perform these exercises, your kitten will welcome this attention and allow the activity with more patience.

Training: Pet Jealousy

With the growing mental maturity that occurs in the 17-week-old kitten, behavioral problems often arise -- and pet jealousy is one of them.

At this time, your kitten may suddenly become possessive of your time and attention. The kitten may even respond to other people or animals that are vying for your attention with physical demonstrations including hissing, growling and batting. It is also common for a kitten to become jealous over another animal in the household with whom he has formed a close bond.

To help your kitten get through this stage, reassure your kitten that it does not need to fear losing your attention or affections: When you give attention to other people or animals, pet your kitten at same time as well. If your kitten becomes physically aggressive during a bout a jealousy, put the kitten down and ignore him.