Kitten Growth Milestones: Watching My Furry Friend Grow Up

One day, there was a knock on our door. When a maintenance personnel was at the door, he told us a little kitten was underneath our car. Little did we know there was a litter of 4 tabby kittens.

The rest is history.

I loved him at first sight and nonchalantly pointed/chose. Hinting by saying, "I want that one." They clumped up and occupied 3/4 of the space inside the corner of the box they were cushioned with a red and clean kitchen rag. My mom saw my expression as probably not too obvious even if I said the hint phrase as a (just maybe) if she could let me have one. I adore these kittens. But the sleeping one who did not move I want. And of course the black furry furball of a kawaii blob. He was so peaceful and asleep.

Meeting Kai: The Tiny Gentleman in a Tuxedo

Do you know what is the color of the kitten?

You guessed it! Kai is a ghost-colored tabby kitten. A Tux fur pattern at that too. Let me explain. Not really, (gloat) for him. He is a ghost tabby kitten, meaning underneath the black fur is an undercoat of grayish-silvery fur. Since he is a ghost tabby the stripes are only seen from different angles. But I think it will be more prominent when he is a little older. He has white paws and a bib/bandana kind of white fur running on his chest towards the middle of his tummy from his chin chin. White paw tips. He has white fur on the hind legs. These are sort of his dress socks and shoes. 😉Fancy!?

Can you guess what character he reminds me of? A guy with a tailored black tux? But I call him KAI. It means ocean in Japanese.

He is the only one in this particular color. I think he might have taken some of his daddy's genes. My mom was saying he probably is the first to be born from the litter next is his other sibling another boy and two sisters. Whichever of them comes next after Kai. All three of them look like the mommy cat through and through.

The early days: Snuggles, soft purrs, and a lot of napping-and the moment I knew he'd be the boss of the house. Move over Honnie (my poodle). But now Honnie is my mom's in the meantime.

Eyes Wide Open

Newborn kittens typically open their eyes between 7-14 days. Kai opened his right on the 2-week mark. He was squinting mildly as if trying to open his eyes first. But I think our commotion when we were all gathered in my mother's bedroom and took all our attention on him made him open his eyes more fully to see all of us and the compliments he gets from his new family. He was mewing as if happy to see while we were so much in joy to see him open his eyes wide for the first time.

We were so surprised he opened his eyes for all of us to see. He has black eyes with a blueish tinge to it. I for one look it up that it is normal because he is just a baby kitten. It will change over time as he grows more mature.

The Stretch, the Wiggle, and the First Big Pounce

He was at the time a little wobbly. Tail up as if it was like training wheels in a bicycle balancing himself and guiding himself to wobble and baby walk.

The hilarious uncoordinated zoomies. He thought he was fierce but looked like a wobbly coffee mocha marshmallow. He is trying to walk and wobbly indeed he was. I love how he gracefully shows off as if he could walk.

When I kind of held him after feeding him he climbed on my chest and onto my shoulders sniffing me while his tiny mewing was just so calming and music to my ears.

He also loves to nibble on my ear lobe. Which was making me giggle and the more I giggle the more he held on to my ear and nibbled faster.

The role of play on how those clumsy attempts to walk down to my lap from my shoulder and tumble down catching him on my palms when I am sitting on the bed after he is fed is building Kai's strength and confidence.

Becoming a Little Gentleman: Socializing and Building Trust

He is a social butterfly with a tiny mew. He is not timid when it comes to nuzzles and purring sounds. Especially right on the fold of my arm near my elbow. Nibbles there too.

Kai- In Japanese means ocean.

I introduced him to gentle handling and what to expect as he gets older. I hope he knows, "I will take good care of you." Can be heard by my gentle handling.

I do this to Kai at an early age to show that even if you are lost and weaned from your cat mother and cat family you have a family in me. And I know training you will sometimes have challenges but hopefully, you know by the time you get older you will be a well-mannered, happy adult cat. With oodles of love from your huuuman family.

The World Outside the Nest: What to Expect Next with Kai

The first big vet visit is scheduled. And I also would like to research when he should be able to be litter-trained. At the moment, he is going to the bathroom now by himself no attempt anymore to stimulate him to go. We did that when he was less than 2 weeks old.

I bought kitten essentials for him. Like kitty litter, that attracts him to go to the litter box and do his business. Unscented, self-clumping, and dust free.

I will be starting to look at how to kitty-proof the home as much as I can. I will be searching online for things that are within his reach that might be dangerous for a little naive kitty.

Can you (friend) please share in the comments as a kitten mom what you do to protect your little kittens in the house that you thought at first might not be a big deal but is? Tips like these can help. I would like to know your experience and your guidance it can also help others too.

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As our bond grows and time transcends to the happy life Kai would have. I will not doubt that his shine will be awesomespice!

A simple little bow tie collar perhaps might just complete his look.

What do you think friend?