Have you found yourself with a new kitten to take care of? You'll need to know how to care for them at their age. Our Southern Wisconsin vets talk about how to tell how old a kitten is by their teeth, eyes, weight and more using a handy age chart.
The Importance of Knowing a Kitten's Age
Knowing how old a kitten might be is vital to properly caring for them if you've brought a new kitten home. Since kittens' needs change so quickly, the requirements of a one-week-old kitten will be dramatically different than those of a four-week-old kitten.
How to Tell How Old a Kitten Is
While we will cover more detail later in this post, here are four simple steps to obtain reasonably accurate insight into your kitten's age.
1. Examine Their Teeth
Examining their teeth is another way you can tell approximately how old a kitten is.
A kitten's baby teeth start to emerge around three weeks old, and their permanent teeth begin to come in around three or four months old. The middle incisors are typically the first to come around the 14-week mark, with the second and third incisors following at about 15 and 16 weeks.
Kitten teeth are exceptionally small, which makes it tricky to tell if their incisors are baby or permanent teeth. It's easiest to check their mouth periodically during this timeframe when you can see some of their baby teeth and some permanent teeth to compare their sizes. The baby teeth are smaller with pointed tips, while permanent teeth are slightly wider with flat edges.
2. Weigh Your New Kitten
A kitten's weight in pounds will roughly correspond to their age in months, and they will gain weight at a relatively predictable speed until they are about five months old. As long as a kitten is physically healthy, you can safely estimate that a one-pound kitten is about one month old and a three-pound kitten is about three months old.
3. Take a Look at Their Eyes
Kittens are born with closed eyes and will open them once they reach about 10 days old. They will have blue eyes when they first open, eventually changing to their permanent color once they reach about seven weeks old.
4. Watch Their Movement
Most kittens start to walk around three weeks of age, but it will take a little longer for their movements to become fully coordinated. You can be comfortable estimating a kitten walking pretty well and playing is at least one month old.
Kitten Age Chart
To achieve the most accurate age estimate for your new kitten, you'll likely need to bring them to a vet for their first veterinary checkup. Here are some milestones you can watch for to estimate your kitten's age more accurately. Use this information like a 'kitten age chart':
Newborn
- Their eyes are still closed, and their ears are folded.
- The umbilical cord is still attached.
- The nose and paws may be pink in color.
- They are still unable to see or hear.
- They typically weigh around 50 grams.
- Body temperature is usually low, around 95 – 97 degrees Fahrenheit.
One Week Old
- Their eyes are still closed.
- The umbilical cord is no longer attached.
- At around the seven-day mark, their ear canals will begin to open.
- When they are around 8 – 12 days old, their eyes will gradually begin to open. Never try to pry open a kitten's eyes; allow this process to unfold on its own.
- By the time they are one week old, your kitten should have at least doubled their birth weight (may weigh around 150 – 250 grams).
Two Weeks Old
- By this time, your kitten's eyes will be fully open and baby blue, and their vision will still be developing.
- The ear canals will be open, and the ears will appear small and rounded, similar to a baby bear cub.
- While your kitten will be wobbly on their feet, they will start trying to develop their coordination and movement.
- Your kitten should now weigh anywhere between 350 – 350 grams.
Three Weeks Old
- At three weeks of age, a kitten's first teeth begin to erupt. The tiny teeth at the front of the mouth called the incisors, start to poke through the gums.
- Three-week-old kittens 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, which will allow them to walk, run, and even begin to play.
- Your kitten should still weigh 350 - 450 grams or roughly one 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
- At six weeks, a kitten's deciduous teeth will have fully emerged, and they will typically be weaning onto wet food.
- At this stage, your kitten can weigh 650 - 750 grams.
Seven Weeks Old
- At seven weeks, 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 seven 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 two 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.