Newborn kittens: how they develop in the first weeks

Newborn kittens are tiny and completely dependent. For the first few weeks, their mother provides almost everything they need. Knowing how kittens normally develop helps you spot when something isn't right and when to ask your vet for help.

Born blind and deaf

Kittens are born with their eyes shut and their ear canals closed. Their eyes usually open at between about 7 and 14 days old, and they start to hear at around two weeks.

All kittens' eyes are blue at first. Their adult eye colour starts to come through from around six to seven weeks, and the change can take several months to finish.

Keeping warm

Newborn kittens can't control their own body temperature, so warmth is vital in the first weeks. Usually they keep warm by snuggling against their mother and littermates.

The nest should be warm, draught-free and quiet, with enough room for kittens to move away from the heat if they get too warm. Overheating is a risk as well as getting cold. The temperature they need falls as they grow, so if kittens are without their mother, ask your vet how warm to keep them at each age.

Weight gain

Kittens usually weigh about 100 g at birth. A healthy kitten gains roughly 10 to 15 g a day.

Weighing kittens daily on kitchen scales is a simple way to check they are feeding well. A kitten that stops gaining weight, loses weight or stops feeding needs to see a vet promptly.

Feeding and going to the toilet

If you have to hand-rear kittens, contact your vet straight away for guidance.

Feeding

Newborn kittens suckle from their mother every two to three hours, day and night. Kittens that are being bottle-fed need feeding just as often, with a milk made for kittens. They should be fed lying on their tummy, never on their back, to reduce the risk of milk going into their lungs. Your vet can show you how to do this safely.

At around three to four weeks old, kittens start to take an interest in solid food, and weaning begins.

Going to the toilet

Young kittens can't go to the toilet on their own. Their mother licks their bottom to stimulate them. If the mother isn't there, this has to be done for them by gently wiping with a warm, damp cloth or cotton wool. Ask your vet to show you how.

Learning to move and play

Kittens start trying to stand and shuffle around in their second week, and by around three weeks most are walking, if a little wobbly. From about four weeks they become much more active and playful.

Play is how kittens learn to coordinate their bodies and get along with other cats. Gentle, regular handling from an early age also helps them grow into confident, friendly cats.

Teeth

A kitten's baby teeth start to come through at around three weeks old. These are replaced by adult teeth from around three to four months, and most kittens have their full set of adult teeth by about six months.