Newborn kittens depend on their mother for food and warmth. During the first two months they develop quickly, from tiny helpless kittens that fit in the palm of your hand, to lively active kittens running around the house. At this young age, socialization is important to help them grow into confident and friendly adult cats.

Newborn kittens are tiny – weighing approximately 100 grams. They are born deaf and with their eyes closed, but after 7-12 days these will start to open, although their vision will be blurry. All kittens are born with bright blue eyes, which may change as they grow. They may have some umbilical cord still attached to their belly button, but this will soon fall off. They won’t be able to move around much but will be able to crawl to their mother and siblings for warmth and food. They use their sense of smell and their whiskers to locate them. It’s important that they are kept close to their mother in a nesting box as they are unable to regulate their own body temperature for the first few weeks and need to nurse frequently. Their mother will also need to lick their bottom to stimulate them to poo and wee. By the second week, they will be able to stand on wobbly legs. Kittens share their mother’s immunity against various diseases, so it's important that the mother has had all the necessary vaccinations before she becomes pregnant. The antibodies are passed on to the kittens via colostrum (the milk produced in the first 24-48 hours after birth). This immunity usually lasts until they have their first vaccinations at around 6-8 weeks old. Kittens should have their first deworming treatment at 2 weeks, then every 2 weeks until they are 4 months old. Your veterinarian will be able to advise on the best product to use. Socialization can begin when the kittens are 2 weeks old but make sure the mother is happy and relaxed with her kittens being handled before you touch them. The sensitive period for socialization is 2-7 weeks. Based on numerous studies, it is suggested that kittens be handled in a gentle way by as many people as possible for a minimum of five minutes a day from 2 to 7 weeks of age and there is a benefit to continuing up to 14 weeks of age. Handling the kitten daily and exposing them to a variety of scents and sounds during this period will help to prevent anxiety and fear when faced with new people and experiences.

As the kittens grow, they will be able to control their body temperature a bit better. Their eyes should have fully opened by now, and they will be taking their first steps. At this age, you should be able to tell if they’re male or female. If the mother is happy for you to do so, gently lift them up and look under the tail area. The top opening is the anus, and the lower opening is the genital opening. An anus and penis will look like a colon ‘:’ - two circles, one above the other. An anus and vulva will look like a lowercase letter ‘i’ - a circle with a vertical slit underneath. A female cat has a smaller distance between the two openings than a male. Determining sex is easier in older kittens. A litter box can be introduced now, as the kittens start to toilet themselves and move around. You’ll also notice their baby teeth are starting to come through, so mother will be less keen to nurse them. This is when weaning begins. You may notice the litter starting to play together, and they will begin to interact with people more. This is a really important time for kittens to be socialized with different people (including children) and other pets. Early socialization will help to shape their future behaviour and character.

Weaning is well underway – they will nurse occasionally but you’ll need to start feeding the kittens some solid food several times a day. The kitten’s movement, vision and hearing are well developed by week 5 and they should be able to use a litter tray. You may find they are suffering from teething pain as their teeth come through, and they may start to chew things. Give them plenty of kitten toys to chew on to help with the pain and to save your furniture. During the sensitive period (2-7 weeks), kittens are open to experiencing new things without fear, as the fear response only begins at around 6 weeks. The more they experience before this age, the more confident they will become. Introduce them to as many new noises, animals, people, smells and situations as possible (while keeping them safe). A kitten that fears anything new and unfamiliar, like a vacuum cleaner or doorbell, may grow into a stressed and anxious adult. If they have positive interactions with people and other animals at this stage, they can learn to accept these other animals into their social group. Kittens that are regularly stroked and handled by a variety of people for a minimum of 5 to 15 minutes a day, in short sessions, will be much more confident with people later in life. Make sure the mother is happy for her kittens to be handled – distract her with fuss and some of her favorite treats. Hands should be washed before handling the kittens and the handler should be sat on the floor, just in case they wriggle their way out of the person’s hands. Gently pick up the kitten and slowly stroke it, starting with shorter sessions and gradually increasing the time handled. Place them back with their littermates prior to or as soon as they show signs of distress. It's important that the kitten forms a positive association with people, so that they are comfortable meeting new people and being handled as they grow older.

By this age the kittens should be fully weaned and eating a well-balanced and nutritious diet. Their food should be specifically designed for weaning and growth – check with your veterinarian if you are unsure what to feed your weaned kittens. They often prefer wet food or dry food mixed with warm water. As they age you can gradually reduce the moisture so that they are eventually left eating dry food. Fresh drinking water should always be available. At this stage they will develop adult-like responses. They’ll run away, freeze or show signs of aggression to any potential threats. They enjoy social play but will also develop a curiosity for toys and household items. They love to play hide and seek - cardboard boxes are great for interactive play.