If you have recently adopted a kitten, it's important to be prepared for their changing needs. As kittens grow and develop, their requirements will vary on a weekly basis, so it is crucial to be able to determine their approximate age. Our veterinarians in Somerset provide useful insights on how to accurately assess the age of your kitten.
Why It's Important To Identify A Kittens Age
If you have recently rescued a kitten, it is crucial to determine its age as soon as possible, as their needs change rapidly during their early stages of life. The requirements of a one-week-old kitten are vastly different from those of a four-week-old kitten.
How To Tell A Kittens Age
While we will get into more detail later in the post, here are 4 simple steps you can follow to get a pretty good estimate of your kitten's age:
1. Look at their teeth
It can be difficult to determine a kitten's age based on their teeth. However, there are some general guidelines that can help. Baby teeth usually start to appear when a kitten is around three weeks old, and permanent teeth emerge around three to four months. The middle incisors are the first to show up at around 14 weeks, followed by the second and third incisors at approximately 15 and 16 weeks.
Since kitten teeth are tiny, it can be challenging to distinguish between baby teeth and permanent teeth. It's easier to compare them side by side. Baby teeth are slightly smaller and have pointed tips, while permanent teeth are a bit wider and have flat edges.
2. Check your kitten's weight
A kitten’s weight in pounds roughly corresponds to his age in months, and he will gain weight at a relatively predictable rate until about five months of age. As long as a kitten is in good body condition, you can safely guess that a one-pound kitten is about four weeks old and a three-pound kitten is about 12 weeks old.
3. Whether they have opened their eyes or not
Kittens are born with their eyes closed, and they don’t open until about 10 days of age.
4. Are they walking around or playing
Most kittens start walking around three weeks of age but take a little longer to gain their coordination. You can be comfortable saying a kitten who is walking pretty well and playing is at least four weeks of age.
Development & Behavioral Milestones
If you want to know the age of your new kitten accurately, it's recommended to take them to a vet for a checkup. Your vet will be able to determine the age of your kitten more accurately, and you can also use some milestones to get an estimated age. These milestones can be used as a "kitten age chart" to give you a better idea of how old your kitten is.
New Born
- Still have their eyes closed, their ears folded and the umbilical cord still attached.
- They are still unable to see or hear.
- Nose and paws might be pink in color.
- Weight roughly 50-150 grams.
- Low body temperature, usually around 95-97 degrees.
One Week Old
- Their eyes still remain closed by no umbilical cord.
- At about 7 days old their ear canals will start to open.
- Around 8-12 days, the eyes will slowly begin to open. Never try to pry open a kitten's eyes; let them open on their own.
- By one week of age, the kitten should have doubled her birth weight (approximately 150-250 grams).
Two Weeks Old
- The kittens' eyes will be fully open and baby blue. Her vision will still be developing.
- The ear canals will be open and the ears will be small and rounded, like a baby bear cub.
- They will be wobbly on their feet and attempting to develop coordination and movement.
- The kitten should weigh anywhere from 250-350 grams.
Three Weeks Old
- The kitten's first teeth will begin to erupt. The tiny teeth at the front of the mouth called the incisors, will start to poke through the gums.
- They will have ears that point upwards.
- At this age, kittens will be walking, exploring their surroundings, and even beginning to explore their litter box.
- The average kitten should weigh from 350-450 grams.
Four Weeks Old
- Your kitten's teeth will continue to develop and by this time their canine teeth will start to poke through the gums.
- Four-week-old kittens will be confidently exploring and developing more coordination that allows them to walk, run, and even begin to play.
- Your kitten should still weigh anywhere from 350-450 grams or roughly 1 pound.
Five Weeks Old
- The premolars will start to emerge, indicating that a kitten is ready to be introduced to weaning onto wet food.
- Your kitten should now weigh roughly 550-650 grams.
Six Weeks Old
- The kitten's deciduous teeth will have fully emerged, and she will typically be perfecting her weaning onto wet food.
- At this stage, your kitten can weigh 650-750 grams.
Seven Weeks Old
- The kittens will have all of their baby teeth. Most seven-week-old kittens will be fully weaned onto wet food.
- At this age, the adult eye color will begin to emerge. Kittens' eyes will change from baby blue to the eye color they will keep permanently. Kittens with grey, green, or yellow eyes are likely 7 weeks or older.
- They will weigh around 750-850 grams.
Eight Weeks Old
- At eight weeks old, most kittens will be eating independently.
- Kittens of this age will have their permanent adult eye color.
- Your kitten should weigh about 850-950 grams or roughly 2 pounds.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.