How to tell how Old Your Kitten
If you’ve ever rescued or adopted a kitten, you’ve probably asked yourself, “How old is this little furball?” Their eyes, teeth, and size change so quickly that one week can make all the difference in how you feed, care for, and nurture them.
Understanding how to tell how old a kitten is isn’t just curiosity — it’s essential for their well-being. Kittens have distinct growth stages that determine everything from feeding schedules to social development. Whether you’ve found a stray kitten or welcomed one from a shelter, knowing its age helps you provide the right nutrition, warmth, and love.
According to PetMD’s guide on kitten development stages, age-appropriate care ensures healthy weight gain, proper weaning, and emotional bonding that lasts a lifetime.
Why Knowing Your Kitten’s Age Matters
Determining a kitten’s age helps you make the right decisions about:
- Feeding: Newborns require bottle-feeding, while older kittens need soft or solid food.
- Vaccinations & Vet Care: Immunizations and deworming depend on age.
- Socialization: Early play and touch shape lifelong behavior.
- Adoption Readiness: Kittens under 8 weeks shouldn’t leave their mothers.
The Vets emphasizes that kittens grow fastest in their first 12 weeks — a critical window for health and bonding.
Learn about other pet health milestones in our Pet Health section, including “Dog Throwing Up Yellow Liquid? How to Help Them Feel Better Fast.”
Week-by-Week Kitten Growth Chart
Each kitten stage brings visible changes. Here’s how to recognize your kitten’s age through sight, touch, and behavior.
Newborn to 1 Week Old: The Tiny Miracle Stage
Appearance: Eyes and ears closed, pink nose, and barely any fur on the belly.
Weight: Around 85–115 grams.
Behavior: Sleeps almost constantly, crawls slowly, and depends entirely on mother’s warmth and milk.
Stray Cat Alliance notes that newborn kittens can’t regulate body temperature and must stay near their mother or a heating pad.
Care Tip: If orphaned, bottle-feed every 2–3 hours with kitten formula — never cow’s milk.
1–2 Weeks: Eyes Begin to Open
Appearance: Eyes open slightly by day 7–10 (usually blue at this stage). Ears start unfolding.
Weight: 150–250 grams.
Behavior: Starts wiggling more, senses smell and touch developing.
Care Tip: Keep feeding every 3 hours and maintain a warm, clean nesting area.
ASPCA’s newborn kitten care guide reminds caregivers that kittens this young still can’t go to the litter box independently.
2–3 Weeks: Wobbly Explorers
Appearance: Ears perk up, eyes open fully, baby teeth may start emerging.
Weight: 250–350 grams.
Behavior: Starts to stand, stumble, and recognize littermates.
Care Tip: Begin gentle handling to help them adjust to human contact.
Discover more about early bonding in our post “What My Pet Taught Me About Unconditional Love.”
3–4 Weeks: Learning to Walk and Play
Appearance: Walking improves; fur becomes thicker.
Behavior: Begins grooming and exploring surroundings. Teeth start showing.
Feeding: Can lap milk from a shallow dish; may begin trying soft kitten gruel.
WebMD recommends mixing kitten formula with wet food for an easy transition to solids.
4–5 Weeks: Curious Climbers
How to tell how Old Your Kitten
Appearance: Brighter eyes, stronger legs, and more coordinated movement.
Behavior: Starts pouncing, playing, and using the litter box.
Feeding: Eats soft kitten food 4–5 times a day.
Care Tip: Start introducing scratching posts and toys for stimulation.
5–6 Weeks: Weaning and Playtime Mastery
Appearance: Sleek coat, strong posture, and fully open eyes.
Behavior: Fully mobile and very social — play-fighting and grooming each other.
Feeding: Transition from milk to solids; fresh water available.
Proper nutrition at this stage builds lifelong digestive health.
Read “How to Boost Gut Health for Dogs After Antibiotics or Illness” to learn why good digestion matters across all pets.
6–8 Weeks: Growing Independence
Appearance: Small but agile; coat fully developed.
Behavior: Learns social boundaries through play and mimicry.
Vet Care: First vaccinations usually start now.
Care Tip: Schedule your first vet visit for a check-up and deworming.
PetMD’s vaccination timeline details when to begin shots and parasite prevention.
8–12 Weeks: Playful Teen Stage
How to tell how Old Your Kitten
Appearance: Bigger, leaner, and coordinated.
Behavior: Confident, curious, and mischievous — learning to hunt and chase.
Feeding: Fully on solid food with three meals a day.
Care Tip: Provide interactive play and gentle discipline for a well-socialized cat.
PMC stresses the importance of consistent feeding, safe exploration, and human bonding for social maturity.
How to Tell a Kitten’s Age by Teeth
Teeth are one of the most reliable indicators of kitten age.
| Age (Weeks) | Teeth Status |
| 0–2 | No teeth yet |
| 3–4 | Baby incisors appear |
| 4–6 | Canines and premolars develop |
| 8+ | All baby teeth visible |
| 12–16 | Permanent teeth begin erupting |
Mountainaire Animal Hospital explains how teething changes appetite and behavior — sometimes causing playful biting or chewing.
How Eyes and Behavior Reveal a Kitten’s Age
How to tell how Old Your Kitten
Eyes:
- Blue eyes = under 6 weeks.
- Color change to green/gold = around 7–12 weeks.
Behavior:
- Wobbling and crawling = under 3 weeks.
- Running and pouncing = 8+ weeks.
Visual changes are among the easiest age markers for first-time owners.
Common Mistakes When Estimating Kitten Age
- Relying only on size. Different breeds grow at different rates.
- Ignoring teeth. Dental clues are more reliable than body weight.
- Forgetting the eyes. Eye color and focus indicate early stages precisely.
- Overlooking behavior. Activity level reveals maturity.
For behavioral comparisons, see our “How to Help a Senior Dog Sleep Better” article to understand how age affects rest patterns in pets too.
When to Call the Vet
If your kitten shows:
- Poor appetite
- Swollen belly
- Lethargy
- Difficulty walking or breathing
Seek veterinary care immediately. Newborn kittens decline quickly without proper feeding and warmth.
WebMD warns that kittens can become hypoglycemic or dehydrated in hours without regular feeding.
How to tell how Old Your Kitten
Final Thoughts: From Cuddles to Confidence
Kittens grow fast — from tiny bundles of fluff to curious climbers in just a few weeks. Understanding their growth stages helps you care for them properly, feed them right, and love them better.
So whether you’ve found a stray or adopted a baby feline, remember: every stage — from wobbly steps to playful leaps — tells a story of growth, trust, and joy.
💛 Keep nurturing your little one, and soon enough, those tiny paws will become confident steps into a lifetime of companionship.
Our Authority Sources
- PetMD’s guide on kitten development stages
- The Vets – a critical window for health and bonding.
- Stray Cat Alliance – Warming kittens
- ASPCA’s newborn kitten care guide – litter box problems
- WebMD – Weaning a Kitten From Mother’s Milk to Solid Food
- PetMD’s – vaccination timeline
- PMC – human bonding for social maturity.
- Mountainaire Animal Hospital – teething in kittens
Explore more cat and kitten tips on MyPetMyJoy.com — where pets are family forever.
