Factsheet - Caring for Orphan Kittens Between Birth and 4-5 Weeks Old - Care and Feeding Guide

Oct 12, 2026

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A practical factsheet for caring for orphan kittens from birth to 4–5 weeks, centered on estimating age by weight and matching needs to developmental stages. It explains daily weighing, safe measurement practices, and what to watch for in weeks 1–4 (eyes, hearing, mobility, toileting and weaning). Feeding guidance covers formula-only requirements, correct dilution and feeding frequency by age, hygiene, equipment use, and urgent veterinary attention when weight loss or feeding problems occur.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPosters

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

How old is the kitten?

Weight and monitoring

Kitten development stages

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4-5

Week 6-7

Week 8-10

Feeding

Milk to 3-4 weeks

Formula safety and technique

FACTSHEET Caring for orphan kittens between birth and 4-5 weeks old How old is the kitten? The age of the kitten will help you know what their special needs are for each stage of their growth period – there’s a big difference between the needs of a 2 week old kitten compared to a 6 week old kitten. A kitten’s weight roughly reflects their age: 100gms = 1 week old, 200gms = 2 weeks old, 300gms = 3 weeks old and so on until they are 12-14 weeks old. Although a kitten could be much older than their weight reflects for several reasons; the kitten has been orphaned for along time and lost considerable weight from not being fed; the mother cat may have had an inadequate milk supply; or the kitten may be suffering a medical condition. The average birth weight of a kitten is 100gms, although it is normal for a kitten to drop below their birth weight in the first 24-48 hours. However, they should steadily gain weight from then on and have doubled their birth weight in the first two weeks. If a kitten loses weight from one day to the next they need immediate veterinary attention. Failing to seek medical help may result in the kitten becoming very ill and/or passing away. Importantly, kittens between birth and 4 weeks should be weighed daily (preferably at the same time each day) on kitchen scales and then weighed at least 3 times per week after that to ensure they are gaining weight. You will need kitchen scales for this. You cannot use bathroom scales as these are designed for humans and cannot accurately measure the lightweight of a kitten. Also, don’t rely on your memory – record the weights in a diary/notebook, or on a calendar. Kitten development stages Week 1-Kittens are born deaf and blind. Their umbilical cord will dry up and fall off 3 days after birth. Their eyes will be closed and their ears folded over. They cannot walk and will sleep 90 per cent of the time (nursing the other 10 per cent) . They cannot urinate or defecate on their own. Week 2-Eyes may begin to open but vision is blurry. Their pupils are not able to dilate at this age so please keep the kitten shielded from bright lights and direct sunlight. In some cases eyes may be glued shut with sleepy gunk. If this happens, very gently wipe the kitten’s eye with a cotton ball/pad that’s been soaked in warm water. This may need repeating over a couple of days until the kitten’s eye can open and shut with ease. A sense of smell and hearing begins to develop. They may begin to knead and crawl. Teeth start cutting the gumsand continue erupting up until 5 weeks of age. Week 3-Their ears will start to stand up and their hearing improves. Their true eye colour may start to appear and their eyesight will improve. They’ll start taking their first wobbly steps. Week 4-5-They become more mobile and less wobbly on their feet as their balance starts to improve. They should be able to urinate and defecate on their own, although there may bea few toileting accidents until they get used to using the litter tray. Weaning should begin and kitten wet food can be introduced. It is important they are safely contained in a pet crate or similar when not being supervised. Kittens from this age can be curious and adventurous soit is important they aren’t left to wander around on their own. Week 6-7-The weaning process should be finished and they are eating kitten wet and dry food only. They will have developed their permanent eye colour. At 7 weeks baby teeth are fully grown and they are able to regulate their own body temperature the same as an adult cat. Week 8-10 – During this period kittens are refining their social and mobility skills. Learning comes from observation of other kittens/cats and humans. They will be full of mischief and accident prone so it is important you make sure their environment is kitten proof and they are supervised when not safely contained in a pet crate. Feeding Once you have an idea of the kitten’s age based on their weight you can wo

FAQs

How can you estimate an orphan kitten’s age?

Use the kitten’s weight as a guide: roughly 100gms = 1 week, 200gms = 2 weeks, 300gms = 3 weeks, and so on. Note that weight can differ for reasons like prolonged orphaning, poor milk supply, or medical conditions.

How often should orphan kittens be weighed?

Kittens between birth and 4 weeks should be weighed daily, ideally at the same time each day. After that, weigh at least 3 times per week and record results in a diary or notebook.

What should you feed orphan kittens and what should you avoid?

For birth to 3–4 weeks, use kitten-specific formula (prepared by diluting powder according to brand instructions) with a kitten bottle or syringe. Never feed cow’s milk or supermarket cat milk, as it can cause gastrointestinal problems and long-term health issues.

Oct 12, 2026

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