How Long Do Newborn Kittens Keep Their Eyes Closed?

Tiny newborn kittens, so cuddly and cute, are also helpless. Their eyes will remain shut until week two. In their small and vulnerable state, they are completely dependent on mama cat to feed and care for them. Although they may appear to be in a constant state of sleep with their eyes shut, they are still exploring the world around them through the senses of touch, smell, taste and sound.

  1. Week One

    • After a kitten is born, his eyes are tightly shut. Mama cat keeps her babies close to her at all times, nursing them and keeping them well groomed and cleaned. When a mother cat grooms her tiny offspring, she is not only giving them a little bonding time, but she is helping them to eliminate. By grooming them, she is stimulating their digestive tract, which they need help with at their tender age.

    Days Seven to 10

    • Around a kitten's seventh to 10th day in the new, big world, she will slowly start to open her beautiful blue eyes. All kittens have blue eyes while they are still in their tiny kitten days. Eventually, their eyes will change color -- although some kittens' eyes will remain blue. After reaching the beginning of week two, some kittens may open their eyes right away, while other kittens may require three to four more days until their eyes are completely open. If a kitten's eyes appear completely white or solid blue, veterinary attention is required.

    Safety

    • Kittens' eyes should never be touched or forced open under any circumstances. Their delicate eyes are not ready to be exposed to light. Even after a kitten opens her eyes completely, her retinas will not be fully developed until she has reached approximately 5 weeks old -- which is when her eyesight will finally be clear. At first, a kitten can make out shapes and forms, but her vision will still be blurry.

    Weeks Two to Three

    • As a kitten's eyesight is becoming more developed around weeks two and three, mama cat will begin to spend a little more time away from her babies. As she goes away, the kittens will follow and explore their surroundings. Provide kitten-safe toys such as toy mice and cat-sized balls. Although their vision is still blurry, they can get quite rowdy as they enjoy playing with toys and one another.