Basic Needs of Newborn Kittens

The new family should be left alone in warmth, quiet, and solitude. Constant crying, kittens squirming around the nest box, and restlessness of the queen are signs of trouble. Young kittens have a normal rectal temperature of about 96°, which may rise to about 100° (35.5°C to about 38°C) during the first week, after which the kittens develop the ability to shiver. Umbilical cords drop off at two to three days, and ears and eyes open at around six to twelve days.

Kittens weigh about 100 grams (3-5 ounces) at birth and gain approximately 7 to 15 grams per day (a quarter to over half an ounce). Thus, they will double their birth weight by seven days and triple it by twenty-one days (males gaining even faster). Large quantities of breast milk are needed, and this is stressful for the lactating mother. if a supplemental food source (e.g., milk replacer) can be provided by three weeks of age, it will lessen the need for milk production and may shorten the time to weaning.

The first two to three weeks are the most crucial for your mother cat and her newborn kittens. The kittens should be developing rapidly, and the queen will usually show symptoms of any post-partum problems by this time.
Keep momcat and her babies in a quiet part of the house; a separate room is ideal, and make sure the room is warm enough. Chilling is one of the most critical dangers to newborn kittens. Let the mother cat set the pace for your attentions. If she is a longtime companion and resident, she may welcome your visits. A rescued stray or fostered cat may prefer that you stay away for the most part. As long as the kittens are nursing frequently and appear to be thriving, they will be okay.

Cats instinctively know what to do. But a queen is vulnerable after giving birth, and her children are still very weak. That makes taking care of kittens a quite passive but significant duty for cat owners.

The first two weeks your new little friends do not show much activity. The mother produces milk, the kittens drink it and sleep a lot. That's about it. Newborn kittens do not stand or walk, only crawl.

The queen takes taking care of kittens very seriously. She cleans her children and licks away any waste matter.

Use a large enough box to comfortably hold the mother cat and her kittens. Stack clean towels to line it. The towels will become soiled quickly as the kittens defecate and it will be easy to remove the top towel to reveal a clean layer.
Keep the mother cat's litter box, food, and water bowls close by, and continue to feed her a high quality kitten food, supplemented with.

Each kitten will choose its own teat for nursing at birth and will continue to nurse there by seeking out its own scent. It will nurse every two to three hours. A thriving kitten will quickly develop a fat tummy and will sleep peacefully.

For the first three weeks, the mother cat will lick each kitten around the abdomen and anal area after nursing to encourage elimination of waste. In her absence, this task would be yours, and would be accomplished with a warm, damp washcloth.

As long as the mother eats well and behaves normally, there is no need to call in the vet.

It is possible to hand-feed kittens with a feeding bottle or a dropper. However, you should only do this if the cat is rejected or if the mother is not willing or capable to feed her children.

Development of Newborn Kittens

Three Day Old Kittens

Their eyes will start opening within three days. The umbilical cord will also fall off within this time. Their nervous systems are not fully developed and you will see them twitching during sleep. This is entirely normal, and indicates development of their nervous system and muscles.

Seven to Fourteen Days

The kittens will start crawling around and by two weeks they will be attempting to stand. Their teeth will be starting to come in during this time. You will be able to feel tiny nubs.

Three Weeks and Older

By three weeks the kittens will start walking around and actively playing. They can be introduced to wet food at this time, supplemented with KMR, although they still will be actively nursing. They can also be introduced to the litter box at this age.

As long as the mother eats well and behaves normally, there is no need to call in the vet.

Kittens are born with closed eyes and folded down ears. It takes five to ten days before they first see the light of day. Then it takes another three days before the eyes are fully open.

At first all kittens have grey-blue eyes, which seems a bit odd when you see if the first time. When they reach the age of 12 weeks the adult colors will appear.

By the end of the first month kittens should have their baby teeth poking through. Around that time you may give them their first small meat feed, such as special kitten food.

During the second month cats start to explore their environment.

They start to run and play with their brothers and sisters. Cats are curious pets, and if you ever doubted this, these weeks will change your mind.

Do not declaw your kitten if they damage some of your goods. Instead, make sure you have cat toys at home.