cats how old

Question
QUESTION: i jut got a kitten who is just about the size of my palm very tiny but eating can kitten food and using the litter bax pretty good about how old could she be or is she just pettie

ANSWER: Jana,

What a great question!!!!!!!!!!  Unfortunately there is such a disparity in relative size for kittens, without really seeing her, there is no way to know for sure.  A good guess at a minimum age is 3-4 weeks, since she is already weaned.  I would expect a veterinarian could probably give you a better estimate of age.  

BTW, while you are at the vets, you can set up a shot schedule. Assuming this is an indoor cat, at the very least, she would need a 3-1 shot (protects against panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, and calici) at about 8 weeks of age and a booster at 12 weeks of age.  If she will need a rabies, I would wait at least 4 weeks before getting the rabies vaccine. If she goes outside there are other shots she may need.

Do not let the vet over-vaccinate your kitten!!!!!  If she is to remain indoors, she DOES NOT need a FeLV shot, nor an FIV shot, etc.  If the vet insists, I would get another vet!!!!!

Please let me know what you find out.

Best regards... Norm.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks for your answer very helpful I already contacted our local vet they said i could bring in the kitten and they could tell me how old and what sex as I only think it is a female also how do I get her to use the litter box regularly as she urinated on me this morning after eating and i had her on the bed and she just went

Answer
Jana,

Young kittens can easily get "lost", so she needs a relatively small area to run in so she can find the litter pan when she needs to go. If it is not close by, kittens just tend to let go. Once they find a place they have  gone inapropriately, it needs to be cleaned well with an enzyme based product specifically for pet stains and pet odors. Once she gets the hang of using the litter pan, she should keep to it, as long as it is handy.  Once the kitten gets a bit older, litter pan habits tend to improve and she can wander further from the litter pan and find her way back.

If she uses a spot inappropriately and wants to use it again, sometimes putting aluminum foil or plastic over it after cleaning may help (as long as you can fasten the foil or plastic in some way).

Pleae let me know how things go.

Best regards... Norm.