Cats are a highly popular pet among people today and many families choose to bring home kittens. Here, our Brooklyn vets answer questions like 'When do baby kittens open their eyes and start walking? and share advice for newborn kitten care.
When do newborn kittens open their eyes?
If you haven't spent much time around kittens then you may not realize how different they can be when compared to an adult cat. They have tightly sealed eyes and typically folded ears. They cannot stand on their own and are essentially helpless. However, they are bound to develop into healthy and joyful cats with the right love and care from their mother or caretakers.
Baby kittens develop at varying rates, depending on several factors. However, most newborns typically open their eyes between 2 and 16 days of age. Their vision gradually improves during this period, although both eyes may not fully open simultaneously. At around two weeks old, both eyes usually become dilated, and by the time they reach three weeks old, many kittens can focus with both eyes. All newborn kittens initially have blue eyes, with their eye color typically settling on the permanent hue at about eight weeks old.
How to Care for Your Newborn Kitten's Eyes
Keep very young kittens away from bright lights that could harm or damage their developing eyes. If the kitten lacks a mother's care or is not being well-cared for by its mother, it falls upon you to guarantee the cleanliness and health of the newborn kittens. Use a warm, damp washcloth to clean their faces gently, and above all, refrain from attempting to force a kitten's eyes open before their lids naturally open on their own. Remember, patience is crucial otherwise you risk injury or the development of infections.
Preventing & Treating Eye Issues in Kittens
Newborn kittens can develop a crust on their eyes that prevents them from opening. This is a common problem that a bacterial or viral infection can cause; yet another reason to ensure that your kitten's bedding and shared areas are clean and hygienic to stop infections from reoccurring or spreading to littermates. If their eyes develop this matted crust, gently clean their eyes with a cotton ball dampened with warm, clean water. Avoid soap entirely! If there is no improvement or the symptoms worsen, reach out to our vets or your nearest emergency veterinary clinic immediately to ensure they receive care.
Meeting the Needs of Newborn Kittens
Newborn kittens, much like newborn human babies, primarily spend their time sleeping and waking up intermittently for feeding and care. They rely on their ability to sense warmth and use their sense of smell to find their mother's belly. Their development hinges on a steady supply of milk and warmth.
Now you've asked 'When do kittens open their eyes?' but what about when they stand up and start walking? Newborn kittens sleep approximately 22 hours a day, and their need for sleep diminishes as they grow older. Around the same time their teeth start coming in, typically at about two weeks of age, their mobility begins to improve. They can walk, jump, and play more proficiently in four weeks. This stage also marks an uptick in their mischievous behavior, driven by their curiosity and adventurous nature. You'll likely notice that your new kitten has discovered climbing during this time.
How to Keep Your New Kitten Warm
Newborn kittens can't regulate their body heat, which is part of the reason that they usually pile up near or on their mother. If your newborn kitten doesn't have a mother or littermates to keep their body temperature up, you will have to do more to help keep them warm by using something such as a heating disk in the crate or a heating pad on low heat underneath a blanket in their enclosure. It would be best if you also made a little nest out of blankets for the kitten to lay in for comfort. You must make sure that the heating pad isn't too hot by touching it with your hands and providing a comfortable place in your kitten's cage/crate that does not have a heating item so they can go there if they get too warm.
You should continue to provide your kitten with a heating source until they are about 6 weeks old because if kittens get too cold, they will catch hypothermia. For this reason, their area should be kept at 85ºF or 29ºC.
How to Meet the Nutritional Needs of Baby Kittens
Of course, when caring for a newborn kitten without a mother, you will need to feed them and provide them with proper nutrition. You will have to bottle feed your kitten a special kitten formula every 2-4 hours. Every kitten is different, and your veterinarian will be able to inform you of the best formula to use, how much to feed them, and how frequently you should feed your kitten. For kittens to thrive, they will need to gain approximately ½ an ounce (14 grams) per day or 4 ounces (113 grams) a week. Never give your cat cow milk; always ensure you feed them the same formula. And, for your kitty to digest food properly, it will have to be kept warm.
Preventive Care for Kittens in Brooklyn
No matter how old your kitten is, taking them for their first veterinary appointment when appropriate is important. Your veterinarian will evaluate the health of your kitten as well as inform you of their dietary needs. This also allows you to ask any questions you may have regarding the care of your new family member.
Ensuring your kitten receives routine preventive care is crucial. This care includes wellness exams, regular vaccinations, and parasite prevention.
Regular wellness exams allow your vet to assess your kitten's overall health and well-being, including their dietary requirements. Your vet will also be able to detect any diseases early before they become severe when they are easier and more affordable to treat.
You also need to ensure your kitten gets all their vaccinations and parasite prevention care on schedule. Your kitten should come in for their first round of shots when they are six to eight weeks old, and you should have them spayed or neutered when they are five to six months old. This prevents any serious diseases or conditions from arising in the first place.
Our vets at Heart of Brooklyn Veterinary Hospital love meeting new furry friends and giving them a great start to a long and healthy life. Schedule your new kitten's first check-up right away.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.