Baby Cats: Essential Care Tips and Fun Facts About Kittens

by Peculiaridades del mundo on September 28, 2025 in Cats

Welcome! Is it true that kittens from the same litter can have different fathers? How long does it take for a kitten to learn how to use the litter box? What kind of care does a baby kitten need? Find out the answers to these questions and many other fun facts in this article!

Baby kittens are super playful and curious, so it's very important to make sure their environment is safe to prevent them from getting hurt. Kitties love to explore everything around them.

Although they’re very active and playful, they also need a lot of sleep, they can sleep up to 20 hours a day!

At birth, they’re tiny and usually weigh between 85 and 120 grams. It’s around 21 days old when they start to walk.

In the third week of life, their first little teeth begin to emerge. Even though they’re small and adorable, baby kitten teeth are very sharp, like little needles, and it can hurt quite a bit when they bite!

A fun fact about Siamese kittens is that they’re born completely white, and their beautiful coloring appears over time. By the time they’re about one month old, they begin to show their permanent coat patterns.

Just like puppies, kittens are born deaf and blind. Their eyes open between 7 and 10 days, while hearing takes up to 21 days to develop. In the meantime, their sense of smell helps them navigate the world, and it’s very strong from an early age.

Did you know that kittens from the same litter can have different fathers? When a female cat mates with multiple males, superfecundation can occur. This can also happen in dogs.

In the beginning, kittens feed exclusively on mother’s milk. By the time they’re 8 weeks old, they can begin to wean and start eating solid food.

Another curious fact about kittens’ eyes: they’re born with blue eyes, which change to their final color between 6 and 8 months of age.

During the first 8 weeks, kittens follow their mother everywhere. They do this to stay safe from predators and because they still rely on her for food, warmth, and grooming.

Since they can’t regulate their own body temperature yet, they need a warm environment to avoid hypothermia.

It takes up to 4 months for kittens to fully learn to use the litter box. Unlike dogs, they can pick it up quickly thanks to their natural instincts. Around 4 months, they also learn to retract their claws.

Female cats can get pregnant as early as 5 months old. Do you know how many kittens were in the largest recorded litter? A whopping 19 kittens! Though typically, a litter has around 4 kittens.

Some cats take longer to reach full maturity, for example, the Maine Coon can take 3 to 4 years to stop being considered a baby. Most other breeds mature faster, with the first year of a cat’s life roughly equal to 15 human years in terms of development.

What’s the best environment for a baby kitten?

A safe space where they can explore, learn, and play while they grow.

What are the main things to care for in a baby kitten?

Since they have very little energy reserves, they need to be fed regularly. They also need a warm place to stay cozy and avoid getting cold, and they need to stay hydrated to prevent dehydration.

How do you feed an abandoned kitten?

The best option is a kitten milk replacer (specially formulated for cats). If the kitten is too weak to suck, the milk should be given carefully, drop by drop, to avoid it going up the nose or down the wrong way, which can cause choking.

In more serious cases where the kitten can’t swallow at all, it’s best to take it to a vet, who can administer fluids by injection. If the kitten is very weak, urgent veterinary care is crucial.

Can you replace mother’s milk with water?

No, water only fills the stomach and can cause the kitten’s blood sugar to drop. As an emergency solution, sugary milk might help temporarily until proper kitten milk is available.

Why is mother’s milk so important?

Because it contains all the essential nutrients a kitten needs, it hydrates and nourishes at the same time.

How often should baby kittens be fed?

Ideally, every 2 hours during the first 5 days of life. As the kitten grows and their stomach can hold more food, the feeding intervals can be extended a bit.