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While grown cats are known for their independence, they are the complete opposite when they are first born. Newborn kittens need their moms for everything because they are born blind, deaf, and unable to walk.
So when do they change from that into the rambunctious older kittens we know best? There are some developmental milestones to look out for and occasionally a little patience and gentle encouragement is needed.
Normal Kitten Development
Developmental milestones will vary by cat, but most kittens stick close to mom their first few weeks. They slowly begin to venture off as they become stronger and braver.
The Neonatal Stage
Kittens are born weighing around 3.5 ounces (100 grams), which is adorably tiny. They will arrive in the world with no teeth, with eyes closed and ears folded and completely dependent on their mother – or whoever is raising them. Newborns have simple needs: heat, regular feeding and toileting. They will spend most of their time at their mother’s belly, feeding every couple of hours and using her warmth to regulate their body temperature.
If you’re raising a very young kitten, you’ll need to bottle feed the kitten every two hours with special kitten formula. It’s important to use kitten formula rather than any other source of milk, including cow’s milk, to ensure your kittens get the right nutrients for their growth and development, in a digestible formulation. Weigh all the littermates regularly. Kittens should double their birth weight in the first week.
You’ll also need to keep them warm to prevent hypothermia. Use a heat source such as a heating pad or heating disk wrapped in a blanket. Wipe under their tails with a damp cotton ball after each feed to help stimulate them to urinate.
Kittens’ Early Development
All kitten’s eye are blue, but this may change as they develop over the next couple of months. Lapina / Shutterstock
At around 1–2 weeks old, kittens start to open their eyes and ears. Kittens are all born with blue eyes, which will change into their adult eye color over the next few weeks. Their senses are still awakening, so avoid overloading their developing eyes and ears with bright lights or loud noises. At around 3 weeks, teething begins and you may see tiny points of teeth coming through at the front of their mouths.
They will start weaning and eating solid food at around a month old. Kittens need proper nutrition for optimal growth and development. Use a food designed specifically for kittens to make sure their dietary requirements are met. When still young, they may want to graze little and often at food, but more mature kittens can be transitioned onto a feeding schedule. Clean water should always be available.
Around this time, kittens can toilet independently and a litter box can be introduced. Kittens usually litter train easily, as they are naturally clean creatures and will usually copy their mother or another adult cat. Use a non-clumping litter and a box with low sides so they can climb into it easily.
As kittens get older, it’s important to expose them to a variety of sights, sounds, and experiences as part of their socialization process. Introduce some toys for them to play with. Never let them play with your fingers or toes, as this can lead to bad habits later in life. Your kitten will also need their first veterinary appointment for a check up and to discuss routine vaccinations and parasite prevention.
When Can Kittens Walk?
Kittens, just like human babies, are born very dependent on their mothers, but this quickly changes. Although kittens need a lot of sleep, they also become active very early in their development.
Here are some key stages of kittens learning to walk:
Week 1: kittens are mostly found cuddled up in their nest next to mum, but begin to wriggle around and mew when they need something.
Week 2: kittens become more mobile, may take their first, very wobbly, steps.
Week 3: their steps become more confident, they begin to move away from mum for short periods to play and explore with their littermates.
Week 4: the kittens’ movement is much more confident now, and they play for longer stretches of time between sleeping and feeding. They also transition from walking to running.
Week 5: the kittens’ movement is very well developed, and as well as walking and running they practice pouncing and chasing.
Tips To Encourage Mobility
Encouraging play will help to to build strong mobility skills. Joseph Jacobs / Shutterstock
Kittens grow and mature at their own pace, so if your kitten isn’t moving as much as expected, then you may just need to wait a little longer and keep a careful eye on the situation. However, there are some fun things you can do with your little fluffy companion to encourage them to gain dexterity and strength.
Games: toys, such as a piece of string or plastic drinking straw, can be dragged around in front of your kitten to encourage them to crawl, walk and pounce. They won’t have much stamina, so allow them to ‘capture’ they toy after a short chase – although monitor carefully that they don’t try to eat it!
Treats: kittens should be fed on an appropriate diet for growth and development, and their immature gastrointestinal system shouldn’t be overloaded with anything rich or hard to digest. However, small pieces of cooked, lean protein such as chicken can be used to encourage them to move, and to increase the positivity of early social interactions.
Safety: kittens are well known for their propensity to get up to mischief, and it’s important that they have a safe environment. When unsupervised, small kittens should be confined to an appropriately sized crate or enclosure, along with their littermates and mother. If a kitten hurts itself when it is just starting to learn to walk, this can damage confidence and stall progress.
When to Worry
Most kittens take their first steps around 2-3 weeks old, and are walking well by 4 weeks. If your kitten isn’t standing or attempting to walk by 4 weeks of age, it’s time to get some medical advice at the vets.
Your veterinarian will examine the kitten, and will discuss their early milestones such as feeding schedule, toileting behaviors, weight progress, eye opening and vocalizations. There are many reasons why your kitten may be developing their mobility more slowly – or not at all. These vary from sheer laziness to illness.
Some serious diseases can present with signs in early kitten hood. These include:
Your veterinarian will be able to discuss whether your kitten is just progressing a little more slowly than others, or whether there are signs that something is wrong, and how to proceed accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a 3 week old kitten be doing?
At 3 weeks, your kitten should be showing their first little teeth coming through. They’ll also be developing their hearing and eyesight. They should be walking by this stage, with various levels of confidence, but won’t yet be able to run, pounce or chase. They’ll still be sleeping a lot and feeding every 2-4 hours.
What age do kittens start crawling?
Kittens start to wriggle around from about one week in, and will start crawling from about two weeks. Their first steps will be taken shortly after this, with confidence in walking growing over the next fortnight.
When can you start holding kittens?
You can start very carefully handling kittens from 2-3 weeks of age. Keep sessions very short to start with, and always be very gentle. Don’t lift kittens up or do anything more than gentle stroking until around 5 weeks.
