When do kittens start catching mice? - briefly
Kittens usually begin attempting to catch mice between eight and twelve weeks of age, after weaning and sufficient motor development. Reliable hunting behavior typically emerges around ten weeks.
When do kittens start catching mice? - in detail
Kittens typically begin to hunt small rodents between four and six weeks of age. At this stage they have:
- Fully opened eyes and functional ears, allowing detection of movement and sound.
- Sufficient coordination to pounce, supported by rapid development of fore‑limb muscles and balance.
- Completed the weaning process, receiving most nutrition from solid food and becoming less dependent on the mother’s milk.
From two weeks to three weeks, kittens engage in play‑behaviour that mimics hunting: chasing string, batting at toys, and stalking littermates. This activity refines the motor patterns required for real prey capture. By the fourth week, the mother cat often introduces live prey, demonstrating technique and encouraging the kittens to attempt a strike. The exposure accelerates learning of bite control, neck‑to‑body alignment, and the timing of the final bite to the neck.
Sensory maturation follows a predictable timeline. Vision sharpens around day 10, while auditory acuity reaches adult levels by week five. These improvements enable kittens to locate moving mice by sight and sound. The olfactory system, essential for tracking, is functional from birth but becomes reliably effective after the third week.
Breed and environment influence the exact onset. Larger, more active breeds (e.g., Maine Coon, Bengal) may start successful captures closer to the five‑week mark, whereas smaller or less energetic breeds might require additional weeks of practice. A household with regular exposure to live or simulated prey will produce earlier proficiency than one without such stimulus.
In summary, the transition from playful pouncing to effective mouse hunting occurs roughly between the fourth and sixth week of life, contingent on sensory readiness, motor development, maternal instruction, and external opportunities for practice.