Kitten Care 101: Everything You Need to Know
Caring for kittens, especially newborns, requires special attention and dedication. From feeding schedules to essential supplies, this guide will help you provide the best care for your tiny feline friends.
Kitten Care Basics
Setting Kittens Up for Success
Caring for kittens, especially bottle babies, requires patience, the right supplies, and a good understanding of their needs. Young kittens rely entirely on their caregivers for warmth, nutrition, and hygiene. Keeping them warm, feeding them on a strict schedule, and monitoring their weight daily are crucial steps in ensuring they thrive.
If you find a kitten, the first step is determining their age to understand their feeding and care requirements. Kittens grow rapidly, and their needs change week by week—from how often they need to eat to when they can start using the litter box.
Thanks to Kitten Lady for creating this invaluable Kitten Age Chart, which provides a detailed breakdown of weight, physical development, and behavioral milestones. This resource helps caregivers determine a kitten’s age and understand their feeding schedule, weaning process, and essential care needs at every stage. To learn more about kitten growth stages and behavior, check out the Kitten Lady’s website.
Teeny Tinies
The tiniest, most vulnerable kittens require gentle and frequent care.
Newborn
- umbilical cord attached, eyes closed, ears folded
- can’t regulate body temp
1 Week
- eyes closed, ears folded, no umbilical cord
- eyes open at 8-12 days
2 Weeks
- eyes completely open, blue color
- wobbly on their feet
Teeny Weanies
As kittens age, you'll help them reach important developmental milestones.
3 Weeks
- incisors emerging, ears unfolded
- discovering litterbox
4 Weeks
- canines emerging
- vision improving; walking confidently
5 Weeks
- premolars emerging
- weaning slowing onto wet kitten food
Big Kids Club
These social, independent, and coordinated kittens are almost ready for adoption.
6 Weeks
- all milk (deciduous) teeth have emerged
- eating confidently
7 Weeks
- transitioning to adult eye color
- coordinated and playful
8 Weeks
- once 2 pounds, kittens can be spayed/neutered and placed in their forever home
Do’s & Don’ts
What to Do (and What to Avoid)
Do's
- ✓ Keep kittens warm, especially before feeding
- ✓ Feed on a regular schedule with Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR)
- ✓ Weigh kittens daily to monitor growth
- ✓ Stimulate newborns to help them go to the bathroom
- ✓ Seek medical attention if a kitten won’t eat or seems unwell
Don'ts
- X Never feed a kitten if it is cold
- X Do not hold a kitten like a baby when bottle feeding
- X Never squeeze milk from the bottle into the kitten’s mouth
Bottle Baby Classes
Upcoming Kitten Care Classes
Sponsored by Orphan Kitten Club
Proper care is essential for bottle baby kittens, and our kitten care classes provide hands-on education for those looking to foster or care for young kittens.
More classes starting in February 2026, please check back!
Meet Patti Cairer
Introducing Our Foster Coordinator & Neonatal Kitten Specialist
Patti began her fostering journey with Planned Pethood six years ago, starting out with kittens and quickly discovering her passion for neonatal kittens. Since then, she has focused on nurturing our most fragile little ones. With hands-on training from our veterinarians and vet technicians, she has acquired the skills necessary to support neonatal kittens through every developmental stage. Given the vulnerability of these kittens, their stories can sometimes end sooner than we hope. To assist others in coping with the loss of their foster animals, Patti has recently become a certified Grief Coach for Pet Loss.
Comfort & Warmth
Feeding
Litter & Cleaning
Kitten Lady
Essential Kitten Care at Your Fingertips
Read more about kitten care, from preparing for kittens to bottle feeding and routine care. Learn everything you need to know to be a hero for the tiniest felines.
