After a cat has had kittens when can you touch them?

Kittens are born with soft bones that are prone to breaking. To protect them, mother cats will often keep their kittens hidden for the first few days of life and will only allow them to be handled by her. By the time kittens are 2 weeks old, their bones have started to harden and they can be handled more frequently, although it's still important to be gentle. By the time they're 4 weeks old, kittens have developed a full set of teeth and are able to walk, climb and play. If necessary, you can pick them up and cuddle with them.