Typical Habits of Newborn Kittens

Newborn kittens live a pretty cushy life.
i Martin Poole/Digital Vision/Getty Images

The typical habits of newborn kittens are centered around staying alive and growing. When the kittens have the advantage of a mother raising them, the process is pretty simple. You stand back and let mom do her job. You support mom and she supports the babies.

Feeding

During the first few weeks of a kitten's life, he will eat every hour or two. The reason the kitten feeds so much is because his little body will double in size in as little as a week. After eating, mom will clean the kitten and stimulate the kitten to have a bowel movement and urinate. If mom is no longer in the picture, you can take a moist, soft cloth and wipe his private area to achieve the same results.

Temperature

A kitten has very little ability to maintain his own body temperature. The majority of his time is spent curled up with his littermates and mother trying to stay warm. During the first few days of his life, his body temperature should be kept around 97 degrees. The temperature will gradual increase until as an adult it is 100 degrees. If you are taking care of a newborn kitten, keep the room temperature around 97 degrees and free of drafts or bed the kitten with a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel.

Senses and Motion

A newborn kitten can squirm a little but it will take him a few days before he will even attempt to walk on his wobbly legs. During these days, he may respond little to sound because he has little or no hearing, nor is he able to see. He will likely sleep through most of his time only waking long enough to eat. His vision will gradually develop from seeing blurry images to clarity. He is easily startled during this time as he learns to use his new skills.

Crying

No one enjoys crying babies whether those babies are two legged or four legged. Typically newborn kittens do not cry much if left to the care of a mother unless there is a problem. Constant crying, stagnant growth and teary eyes are signs that the kitten may not be getting enough milk from the mother or is ill.

Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet, medication, or physical activity routines. This information is not a substitute for a vet’s opinion.

the nest

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