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Kitten care

An easy-to-follow guide to caring for your kittens after they’re born.

Kitten care

An easy-to-follow guide to caring for your kittens after they’re born.

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How to look after young kittens

Kittens are delightful little bundles of curiosity. They're also fragile creatures who rely on their mothers for intense care during their first few weeks. Watch our video or read our guide below to find out how to care for newborn and very young kittens to ensure they grow up to be happy, healthy adult cats. 

tabby-and-white kitten lying on white fleece blanket with other kittens in the background

Feeding kittens

Newborn kittens should get all of their nutrition from their mother. This will continue until they gradually transition to solid foods when they are around four weeks old (a process known as weaning).

The first milk produced, called colostrum, is rich in antibodies and will help protect kittens against diseases. These antibodies last for six weeks or more. Kittens can only absorb colostrum during their first 16 to 24 hours of life, and they should feed within two hours of birth. It’s essential that kittens receive colostrum to protect them against disease. If any kittens do not receive the first milk, contact your vet.

Newborn kittens need to feed every two to three hours. Kittens suckling well from their mother will sleep between feeds and do not need additional nutrition until three to four weeks of age. Kittens not receiving adequate nutrition from their mother may cry and constantly seek the teats. Contact your vet if you think a kitten is not getting enough milk.

Distressed newborn kittens may be restless, cry excessively, stay awake for long periods, leave their mother and kittening area, appear neglected by their mother or stop feeding and have a reduced sucking reflex.

If the mother is relaxed, you can gently weigh the kittens at birth and then weigh them daily to ensure they are gaining around 10 to 15g each day, doubling their birth weight by two weeks of age. Kittens typically weigh between 90 and 110g at birth.

If kittens are rejected by their mother for any reason or if the mother is unable to feed her kittens, you may need to hand-feed them.

Hand rearing
black-and-white kitten standing by yellow plastic food bowls on a green fleece blanket, with another kitten eating in the background

Weaning kittens

Weaning can begin at three to four weeks of age, and it will take several weeks.

  • Start with a diluted kitten milk in a shallow bowl. Always follow the product's instructions carefully to ensure the correct amount and dilution are used at the right temperature. Place a small amount on the kitten's mouth to encourage them to drink directly from the bowl. Offer this several times a day
  • Add a small amount of wet kitten food to the milk over time
  • Gradually increase the ratio of food to milk until the kitten is eating solid food
  • This process should happen gradually over three to four weeks while the kittens continue to suckle, until they are feeding freely
  • Monitor each kitten during this time to make sure they are eating well

Veterinary care for kittens

Talk to your vet about the following treatments for your kittens:

  • flea and worming treatments. These may be recommended for kittens as young as two days old, depending on the risk to the kittens and any treatment the mother had during pregnancy. Find out more about fleas and find out more about worms
  • vaccinations. The protection provided by the mother's colostrum fades when the kittens are eight to nine weeks old, leaving them vulnerable to disease. Ask your vet when the kittens can start a course of vaccinations. Find out more about vaccinations 
  • neutering. The mother can be neutered while she is still with or feeding the kittens, as long as the surgical wound will not be affected by enlarged mammary glands. Fortunately, the neutering wound will normally be on her side, not her belly. You do not need to wait until her milk has dried up, though it’s usually best to wait until the kittens are no longer dependent on her and neuter her when the kittens are around eight weeks old. The mother can get pregnant again as early as one or two weeks after giving birth, so it’s sensible to get her neutered promptly. The kittens should be neutered when they're around four months old. If neutering is not carried out by then, you should separate males from females and the mother to prevent inbreeding. Ask your vet if you need help sexing the kittens. Find out more about neutering

Separating kittens from their mother

It's important to separate the kittens from their mother when they're ready. Don't separate them before they reach eight weeks of age, as they will still be learning from their mum.

  • Once the kittens are fully weaned, it’s a good idea to allow the mother to gradually spend time apart from the kittens each day to allow her milk to dry up
  • You may need to gradually separate the kittens from the mother so that her mammary glands do not become engorged
  • The mother may try to mother something else, such as a cuddly toy, if you try to take the kittens away too soon
  • Behavioural issues may arise if you separate kittens from their mother and littermates too early. For example, the retention of juvenile behaviours such as kneading or suckling may be seen in cats separated before eight weeks of age

 

Rehoming kittens

Ask your vet when is the right time to rehome the kittens. This will depend on their behavioural development as well as the risk of disease. If possible, do not separate the kittens from their mother until at least eight weeks of age, unless your vet recommends this.

You'll need to find new homes for the kittens, with owners who will provide for them and have them neutered.

Kittens can be rehomed singly or in pairs, but if homed singly, make sure the new owners will be able to provide sufficient stimulation.

If homed in pairs, ensure the new owners will provide separate beds, bowls and toileting areas for the kittens in case they choose to live separate lives when they are older.

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