Birth to Three Weeks

A Birman kitten is born completely white; it's point color begins to gradually appear starting at about three days old, first being most noticeable on their noses and ears.  It can take several weeks to determine what color the kitten will be (whether it will be seal point, blue point, etc.).  The kitten's eyes are closed and the ears are folded down.  The kitten's eyes usually begin to open at about 10 days old.  Gradually, the ears begin to perk up as well.  The mother rarely leaves the nest during the first two weeks and is very protective of her kittens.  She knows the kittens need her for warmth and almost continuous nourishment; the kittens spend their time alternating between sleeping and nursing.  I begin holding the kittens for short periods from the day they are born to ensure proper socialization.

Four to Seven Weeks

Birman kittens make very noticeable progress with their motor skills during the next phase of kittenhood, but even so, they are still very attached to and dependent on their mother, as well as each other.  Some kittens will start eating from their mother's food bowl as soon as they are able to get out of the nest, while others are a little slower to accept solid foods.  By six weeks, most of the kittens will be eating at least some solid food, but even those who began eating early will still be actively nursing as well.  At six weeks they are still babies who need not only nourishment from their mothers, but also the emotional comfort she provides.  Kittens will gradually start to explore their world from about four weeks of age.  Their mother watches over them, occasionally calling them back to her if she feels they've wandered too far.  They also begin to use the litter box during this period.  This is a critical time to begin their socialization with their human family.  Kittens need to be exposed to a variety of sights and sounds, to experience the feeling of being picked up and  cuddled, and to learn to trust people.

Eight to Twelve Weeks

This is an extremely active period in a Birman kitten's life, and the kitten has much to learn.  They learn from their mother and siblings how to interact with other cats and how to recognize and interpret cat body language.  This is when kittens begin to assert their independence from their mothers.  It is not an overnight process; kittens will seek out their mothers for comfort and security less and less over a period of several weeks.  The end result of this gradual process is a confident, self-assured kitten.

Although some mothers will happily nurse their kittens until they are nearly full grown, most will begin the weaning process when the kittens are about eight weeks of age.  Again, this is a gradual process, not an event that happens overnight.  This gradual process keeps their digestive system healthy as their bodies are learning to tolerate the new solid foods.  Also, kittens greatly enjoy the nursing experience and it would be very difficult for them to quit "cold turkey!"

Kittens receive immunity to illnesses through antibodies in their mother's milk.  The weaning period is a particularly risky period for kittens  as their own immune system is still developing and the immunity received from their mother is wearing off.   Vaccinations may or may not give the kitten an adequate amount of protection during this stage, and cannot be fully relied upon, so it is best to keep the kittens in a clean and stable environment during this time.

Although the kittens may start to use the litter box as young as four or five weeks, they still tend to have "accidents" until they are several weeks older.  Young kittens are too busy playing to bother with finding the litter box, and unless there is one close by, they will probably just find a convenient corner of the room instead.  I continually reinforce litter box use to young kittens by placing them in the box when it appears they "need to go." New owners should make sure to show the kitten where the box is when they arrive in their new homes by placing the kitten in the box from time to time for the first few days, and soon the kitten will remember where it is.

While the kittens are learning "cat skills" from their mother and through play with their littermates, they continue to become more socialized within their human family as well.  This is an important time for kittens to learn what behaviors are acceptable to their humans, and what is not.  Birmans are intelligent cats and are capable of learning simple commands; they will learn their names and will come when called; they will learn to use a scratching post; some even learn to play fetch.  Birman coats are easy to care for, but it is still a good idea to groom the kittens regularly so they will be comfortable with it as adults.  The kittens learn to enjoy being combed and many will purr during combing.  Typically all of the kittens in a litter will develop at about the same rate, but there is some variability from litter to litter; therefore, I don't make blanket statements regarding when kittens are ready to go.  Each kitten is a unique individual, and I let them go when I feel they will be able to make a smooth transition to their their new homes and will bond readily with their new families.