How old is this kitten?
Age decides almost everything: what it eats, how often, and whether it can pee on its own. Kittens can't tell you, but their eyes, ears, teeth and wobbliness can.
You'll need
- A kitchen scale that shows grams (the most useful clue)
- A towel to wrap the kitten in while you look
The quick check
- Eyes closed?
Under about 2 weeks old. Eyes start opening at 8 to 12 days.
- Eyes open, but it can't really walk?
About 2 to 3 weeks. First steps are wobbly, like a tiny drunk uncle at a wedding.
- Walking, exploring, tiny front teeth?
About 3 to 4 weeks. The small front teeth come first, then the pointy ones.
- Running, playing, eating soft food?
About 5 to 7 weeks.
- Eyes changing from blue to their adult colour?
About 7 to 8 weeks or older.
Week by week
Weights are a guide, not a rule. A street kitten may be smaller than these numbers, so look at all the clues together.
| Age | Weighs about | What you'll notice |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn | 50–150 g | Eyes closed, ears folded flat. Can't walk, may crawl. Needs help to pee and poo. |
| 1 week | 150–250 g | Eyes still closed but starting to open at 8–12 days. Can hold its head up. |
| 2 weeks | 250–350 g | Eyes open and blue. First wobbly steps. |
| 3 weeks | 350–450 g | Ears start to point up. Tiny front teeth appear. Walking and exploring. |
| 4 weeks | 450–550 g | Pointy canine teeth appear. Starts to play and use a litter box on its own. |
| 5 weeks | 550–650 g | Running and playing. Can start trying wet kitten food. |
| 6 weeks | 650–750 g | Jumps off low furniture. Eats wet food well, may not be fully weaned. |
| 7 weeks | 750–850 g | All baby teeth in. Eye colour starts to change. Usually weaned. |
| 8 weeks | 850–950 g | Adult eye colour. Climbs, runs and jumps with confidence. |
Rule of thumb: a healthy young kitten gains roughly 100 grams a week. Weigh it on the same scale at the same time each day.
Under 4 weeks old?
It needs warmth, kitten milk replacer, and help to pee and poo after each feed. That's a round-the-clock job. Call a vet today, then read Bottle-feeding, step by step.
Where this comes from
- PetMD: kitten development milestones, by Hannah Shaw, reviewed by Molly Price, DVM (the week-by-week table)
- Alley Cat Allies: kittens under 4 weeks need round-the-clock care
This guide is a draft and hasn't been checked by a vet yet. It's general information, not a diagnosis.