{"id":5945,"date":"2016-12-09T18:52:36","date_gmt":"2016-12-09T18:52:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hartz-v2.local7\/determining-the-age-of-your-orphan-kitten\/"},"modified":"2023-02-24T15:24:00","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T15:24:00","slug":"determining-the-age-of-your-orphan-kitten","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hartz.com\/en-ca\/determining-the-age-of-your-orphan-kitten\/","title":{"rendered":"Determining the Age of Your Orphan Kitten"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve rescued an adorable little fluff ball. Before you can decide what you need to do next, you need to determine his age. A one-week old kitten needs a completely different level of care than a four week old. Once you know his age, you\u2019ll know if you need to stimulate him to potty or provide a litter box.<\/p>\n

Please remember that this chart is only a general guide. Every kitten is different. Some kittens open their eyes at three days. Some kittens wean themselves at 3 weeks, while others squeal for a bottle at 8 weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Newborn to
\n7 days<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • A kitten will weigh 3 to 4 ounces at birth<\/li>\n
  • Ears flat against head<\/li>\n
  • Kitten can\u2019t regulate his body temperature<\/li>\n
  • Kitten is blind and deaf<\/li>\n
  • Kitten can smell well enough to find mother\u2019s nipple<\/li>\n
  • Sleeps 90% of the time and eats the other 10%<\/li>\n
  • Room should be 85\u00b0 to 90\u00b0 F<\/li>\n
  • Kitten should be fed 6 to 12\u00a0times a day<\/li>\n
  • Stimulate private parts to help him go to
    \n the bathroom<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Day 3<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Umbilical cord falls off<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Newborn to
\n14 days<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Crawls around<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

5 to 14
\ndays<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Ears open<\/li>\n
  • Eyes open<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

6 days<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Develops shiver reflex<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

7 days<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Kitten should weigh 6 to 8 ounces<\/li>\n
  • Hold head and chest up<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

7 to 14
\ndays<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Room should be kept at 80\u00b0 to 85\u00b0 F<\/li>\n
  • Kitten should be fed 5 to 7\u00a0times daily<\/li>\n
  • Kitten should weigh 8 to 10 ounces<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

14 day<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Starting to coordinate his movements<\/li>\n
  • Locates specific sounds<\/li>\n
  • Stands up and crawls around<\/li>\n
  • Begins to play and explore<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

14 to 17
\ndays<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Begins walking (probably wobbly)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

14 to 21
\ndays<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Room should be 75\u00b0 to 80\u00b0 F<\/li>\n
  • Starts to explore his surroundings<\/li>\n
  • Kitten should be fed 4 to 7 times daily<\/li>\n
  • Kitten should weigh 10 to 12 ounces<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

17 to 21
\ndays<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Poops and pees on his own<\/li>\n
  • Interacts with littermates<\/li>\n
  • Tail swishes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

21 days<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Really walking<\/li>\n
  • Ears stand up<\/li>\n
  • Swivels ears<\/li>\n
  • Scratches with hind leg<\/li>\n
  • Eyes starting to focus<\/li>\n
  • Turns head toward sounds<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

21 to 28
\ndays<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Canine teeth (fangs) emerge<\/li>\n
  • Pees and poops without help<\/li>\n
  • Runs and climbs<\/li>\n
  • Kitten should be fed 3 to 7\u00a0times daily<\/li>\n
  • Kitten should weigh at least 14 ounces<\/li>\n
  • Should start socialization with people and friendly cats<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

28 days<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Room should be no cooler than 70\u00b0 F<\/li>\n
  • Laps milk replacer from a saucer and eats gruel or canned foods<\/li>\n
  • Kitten should weigh at least 28 ounces<\/li>\n
  • Playing with littermates<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

4 to 5
\nweeks<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Lower molars emerge<\/li>\n
  • Kittens begin to pounce<\/li>\n
  • Runs around<\/li>\n
  • Uses litter box<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

6\u00bd to 7 weeks<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Eyes change from baby blue to their adult color<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

7 weeks<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Weaned<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

8 weeks<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Upper molars emerge<\/li>\n
  • Many vets will spay or neuter kitten<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

12 weeks<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Ideal time to remove from mother<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

12 to 16 weeks<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Permanent teeth emerge<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

5 to 6 months<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n
    \n
  • Reaches sexual maturity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n