Information on New Born Kittens

To cat lovers, there are few creatures more beautiful than newborn kittens. Kittens are born after a three-month gestation period in a rubbery sac called an amnion. Like most placental mammals, they are born helpless.

  1. Feeding

    • Newborn kittens have a very high need for fluids, nutrients and antibodies; they must be nursed frequently by their mothers. In emergencies, you may use specialized kitten formulas as a replacement for mother's milk.

    Elimination

    • After a kitten has eaten, a mother cat must lick the kitten's spine at the base of the tail. This is essential for enabling newborn kittens to urinate or defecate.

    Eye Development

    • At birth, kittens' eyes are sealed shut. The eyes generally open during the kitten's second week of life, but the kitten may not see clearly until she is 8 to 10 weeks of age.

    Weaning

    • Most newborn kittens do not begin eating solid foods until they are 3 or 4 weeks old. By the eighth week, kittens gain most of their nutrition from solids. They may suckle occasionally until adolescence.

    Medical Care

    • Except in special circumstances, kittens do not require medical care until they are of weaning age. At 8 weeks, they should be sterilized, wormed and given routine vaccinations.