NEWBORN KITTENSTHE FIRST 12 WEEKS of a newborn kittens life are the most important. During these Stages Of Kitten Development your kittens will learn their lifetime social skills. I don't think kittens should be taken from their mother before 12 weeks although some suggest to do it at 8 weeks. I have raised kittens from birth and the newborn kittens that were kept with their Mom and litter mates 12 weeks made better pets than the ones taken at 8. They are more loving and social. Your kitten will also receive more grooming, litter and feeding skills. Newborn kittens should be given this extra time to fully develop their social skills by interacting with their mother and siblings. This makes for a happy, healthy and well rounded kitten. If you are raising abandoned kittens see our page for the care of a motherless kitten. Your kittens growth and well being depend on these 12 weeks.
BIRTH - WEEK ONE newborn kittens are pretty much helpless. They are born blind and deaf. Their ears are sealed shut and folded over. Their eyes don't open for about 2 weeks. The only thing they have is their ability to smell. This is how they are able to find their mother. Newborn kittens need to be kept warm. Their mother helps them through a warming stage at birth. If the mother has abandoned the litter you may need to step in with a warming pad. Newborn kittens are not able to regulate their body temperatures. If a warming pad is needed you must monitor it carefully so you don't burn or dehydrate the kittens. Newborn kittens should begin nursing as soon as they are warm. Kittens at this age should not be handled very much. During the first 2 weeks they really just need to eat, sleep and develop. If your kittens are crying they are either hungry or something is wrong. Watch your kittens and if they keep crying or are not nursing you may want to take them to your veterinarian. The mother's milk is crucial. It contains colastrum which is rich in antibodies to boost their immune systems. In the event mother's milk is not available you will need to look into a good kitten formula or homemade kitten formula recipe. Newborn kittens will nurse around the clock with small feedings and then napping in between. As they develop they will nurse longer periods of time with more time in between the feedings. Mother cats will lick the baby's bottoms, bellies and genitals to stimulate their bowel and urine movements. The kitten should pee right after the feeding and have a bowel movement at least once per day. At around 4 days hearing starts to develop but the sounds are muffled.
WEEK TWO your newborn kittens eyes will start to open but will be clouded and vision will be blurry. It takes a few days for their eyes to adjust. Kitten eyes are blue or blue-gray. Their eye color will develop as they get older. Keep a close watch on your kitten's eyes to avoid infection. If you see any pus call your vet to get a prescription for an antibiotic ointment and instructions on how to clean their eyes. I usually use a damp cotton ball to cleanse before putting on the ointment but it is always best to consult your vet. The ear canals will open completely and they will start to stand up and crawl around a little bit. Competition and territory ranking will begin between litter mates now.
WEEK THREE kittens will begin to play and explore. They are a little steadier on their feet but still wobble walk and fall over. Their smell is well developed and their sight has developed enough that they can see their mother to find her. Teeth will start coming in and you will find they are able to purr. You can start to handle your kittens for small periods of time now. Be very gentle and loving. You are strange to your kittens and you don't want them to be stressed.
WEEK FOUR your kitten's hearing is very well developed and smell is fully functional. Your kittens growth will start and they will be gaining weight rapidly. The litter mates will actively be playing with each other. They will start to groom and should be able to get in and out of their bed and a very shallow litter box. Using a pie pan or shallow dish for a litter box is best at this age. Kittens will generally just play in the litterbox the first few times. But don't fret they will make the connection soon enough. Try not to use clumping litter at this stage. Kittens tend to eat it and clumping litter is easier to ingest than clay litters. If they eat too much it can make them very sick. Add a little more social time with your kittens now, they should be getting used to you.
WEEK FIVE the mother will start the weaning process and the kittens can begin to eat from a shallow dish. They will start to groom each other now. They should be walking well and able to avoid obstacles. Littermates will start stalking and pouncing on each other. Watch out their teeth and claws are sharp you may hear some yelps. Add some gentle play time to your kitten sessions by playing with them as a group. You can try using a feather or pulling some string around to see if they will chase it. They should begin to be much more playful now.
WEEK SIX is a good time to introduce a scratching post. Training your kitten young not to scratch carpet and furniture is important. Mom will help with this training but you can also help kitty along by placing her paws on the post and helping her simulate scratching. Be very careful even though they are not newborn kittens anymore they are still a bit fragile. It is now time to schedule another vet visit as their first vaccines are due. You are halfway between newborn kittens and playful new fur balls now.
WEEK SEVEN will show your kitten nursing less often and grooming skills will increase. Your babies will be eating more regular food and may experience some loose bowels. Watch to make sure their little behinds are clean. It's time for their first bath this will start teaching them routine grooming. I usually only have to wipe their faces and behinds as kittens are pretty clean little critters. Make sure to dry them thoroughly. You will see more leaping, pouncing and even some tail chasing now.
WEEK EIGHT some people think, is the right time to take kittens from their mother. Eight weeks is not enough time for your kitten to fully develop socialization skills. Your kitten will be a more loving and better all around pet if you wait at least 12 weeks before separating her from her mother and siblings. You should now start wearing socks as your feet will be the target of sharp playful kitten claws. It is time for more human contact. You should cuddle, hold, kiss and play with your kitten often. Your kittens should be fully weaned from their mother's milk but will still try to nurse and they should now have all of their teeth. Your kitten is also ready for it's first de-worming.
WEEK NINE your kittens should show some significant weight gain. They will really start to grow now and their eye color should begin to change. They are now the terrors of your home jumping out and pouncing on everything they see. You may want to start wearing pants more often as they also like to climb and sometimes will mistake your legs for trees. This is my favorite age because they are so round and fluffy and just full of energy. Their second set of vaccines are due.
WEEK TEN your kitties should have their second bath. This one can be a full bath using a warm wash cloth and a tiny bit of shampoo. Make sure to get out all shampoo and remember to dry them thoroughly. The second de-worming is due.
WEEK ELEVEN you can schedule an appointment with your vet for a final check-up and any final vaccines.
WEEK TWELVE your kittens are well on their way to a happy life. You have done a GREAT JOB!! Your kittens are well developed and loved and will be able to adjust to their new home easier thanks to you!
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