When the kittens open their eyes and how to properly care for them?

Perhaps cats are now the most popular.pets. This is understandable - they are more self-sufficient than dogs, require less attention, and care for them is as simple as possible. And what else is needed for a person who spends all day at work? But for all their simplicity, all the same know the basics of feline physiology and the subtle growth of a kitten should be every responsible owner. What to say about the features of caring for your pet - this knowledge is simply a must. And sometimes even beginning breeders baffled even such an elementary question: "When will the kittens open their eyes?"

Like many other mammals, representativesFeline families are born with tightly closed eyelids. At first, the young are blind and are guided solely by the vibrations of the mother's purr, the heat emanating from the mother, and her smell. Gradually, the little ones gain strength, grow up, on the 5th day of life they open the ear canal, and the next step is actually opening the eyes of the kittens.

It turns out that not all breeds have this process.happens at the same time. It is usually considered that the days when the kittens will open their eyes - from the 7th to the 12th from the moment of birth. But, according to felinologists, it also depends on the duration of the pregnancy of the mother, as well as on what breed the offspring belongs to. Typically, the duration of gestation of the litter in representatives of Félis silvéstris cátus - and this is how they are called in biology - ranges from 55 to 70 days. Moreover, if the cat gave birth after the 68th day, the time when the kittens will open their eyes will come sooner than if the birth fell on the 55-67th days.

Another feature of this phenomenon is associated withgenetic characteristics of different breeds. So, for example, in short-haired animals, the eyes open earlier than those with long fluffy fur coats. Separately, it is worth noting that "bald" breeds, such as sphinxes and individuals with very short hair (Cornish Rex, Devon Rex), are distinguished by an even greater rate of development. Wait for the kittens to open their eyes, in their case it will take only 3-5 days.

But then the joyful day has come, and the litter has openedeyelids. This process does not occur immediately. It can take several days - from the first crack to the full opening of both eyes. Usually, at first, their color, without exception, is light blue, and their eyes are completely meaningless. This, in general, is characteristic of newborn mammals of many species. How to care for a kitten's eyes at such a tender age? First you need to ensure that he stays in a darkened place. Bright light is harmful for kittens that only opened their eyes. If the eyelids of the baby by the 14th day of life are not fully opened, they should be carefully processed with a swab dipped in a weak tea brew or chamomile infusion. If this does not work, you should seek help from a veterinarian. The rest of the special care for the eyes is not required, except for the breeds in which the lacrimal canals are located close to the nose (Persians, exotic shorthair cats, British and Scottish). For them, you should immediately buy special lotions for the care of eyes, which tend to leak.