How Old Is The Kitten in My Henderson Yard?

Newborn kittens will have closed eyes, folded ears, be unable to stand, and may even have their umbilical cords still attached. They won’t have any teeth. Newborn kittens, like newborn humans, rely on the mother for everything: Food, warmth, assistance with elimination. They can purr and make distress calls, however. At this age, until about four weeks, they require intensive around-the-clock care – this includes bottle-feeding with kitten formula every two hours and using a warm damp washcloth or cotton ball to wipe their bottoms and help them eliminate urine and stool. They also need to be kept warm – a heated rice sock, soft blankets, or skin-to-fur contact can all work.

At approximately a week old, their eyes are open, ears nearly unfolded, and birth weight should be approximately double (to around eight ounces). They can wiggle around but are still very limited in how far they can go. They continue to require around-the-clock bottle-feeding, warmth, and help with elimination. You will probably notice the kittens (assuming there are more than one) snuggling together for warmth and rarely moving far away from Mama or their nest.

By two weeks, the kittens will interact with each other but still need Mama’s (or a surrogate Mama’s) constant support. They will hiss (adorably) at unfamiliar sounds or smells and can’t retract their claws. You may see them “kneading” or “making biscuits” with their paws.

Mobility by the three-week mark is much improved. At this point, their teeth are coming in and the kittens are steadier on their feet. Kitten gruel – a thin mix of kitten formula and wet kitten food – can be introduced, first in the bottle, and then in a flat plate on the floor. (They are notoriously messy eaters, so you may want to put down an absorbable potty pad under the plate.) Feedings can be decreased to four or five times daily, and the kittens’ weight should be almost a pound. Mobility is improving, and you’ll see the kittens start playing with each other; however, sleep still occupies most of the day.

The best thing about this age, however, may well be the ability to introduce the litter box – make sure it’s scooped out daily, and monitor for changes in urine or feces may indicate a problem. They will have to be taught how to use the litter box if they’ve been raised without their mother – this is a topic for another time, but essentially, it involves encouraging the kitten to eliminate in the box by positive reinforcement.

At four weeks, the kittens are very mobile and curious about their surroundings. Socialization with frequent positive, gentle handling by humans should start now – as should playing with toys. These one-month-olds can be weaned from the bottle and onto a diet of solid food (wet and dry) two to three times daily, with plenty of clean water always available. The kittens should be steady on their feet, walking with tails up and blue eyes wide open – their eye color may change; essentially, all kittens start off with blue eyes. Four-week-olds still need a warm place to sleep as body temperature regulation is not always efficient yet.