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Did you know that kittens are born deaf and blind? In fact, newborn kittens enter the world with their eyes entirely shut, and they don’t open their eyes until they are 1-2 weeks old. In this article, we will discuss why kittens are born with their eyes closed, how they communicate with their mothers at an early age, and what you should do if you find a newborn kitten with their eyes closed.
Why Are Kittens Born With Their Eyes Closed?
Kittens are born with their eyes closed because immediately after birth their eyesight is not yet fully developed. For the first week or two of a kitten’s life, their eyelids remain shut in order to protect sensitive eye tissue and until their eyes are fully functional. In most kittens, the eyes won’t open at all until around 7–10 days of age.
Even once a kitten’s eyes do open, they will be essentially blind until they are around 14 days old. It takes some time for very young kittens to adjust to light after total darkness, and they may not open their eyes all the way at first. Once they do open their eyes, you’ll notice that their eyes are blue when they are young. After about 6 weeks, their eyes will start to change to their adult eye color, which can include shades of amber, yellow, green, or blue (in this case, you would notice a change to a lighter shade of blue).
How Do Newborn Kittens Communicate?
Although kittens are born without sight and hearing, they do have touch, smell, and taste. They rely heavily on these three senses to start bonding with their caregivers and understanding the world. Like human babies, newborn kittens are very dependent on their mothers or human caregivers at the beginning of their lives. They will cry to indicate that they need something, such as warmth or food.
If your kitten’s mother isn’t around to help care for them when they are a newborn, you will need to step in to help them eat and eliminate urine and feces. As much as your kitten communicates with you by meowing, you communicate with them by feeding them and otherwise letting them know that you are their caregiver. Through these simple acts, you will be able to bond with your new kitten.
What to Do if You Find an Orphaned Kitten
If you find a young kitten with their eyes still closed, you should bring them to a veterinarian if possible. These young cats need a lot of care because, as mentioned, they can’t do much of anything for themselves. However, if you aren’t able to bring your new kitten to a vet immediately, you should know that at this age, they are very vulnerable and need your attentive care to survive. If possible, you should only feed your kitten formula specifically made for kittens—do not feed cow’s milk to a kitten.
When you aren’t feeding your kitten, keep them in a relatively dark and warm area, like a cat carrier with lots of blankets. Even if their eyes are open, avoid exposing a newborn kitten to bright lights, as this could potentially damage their eyes.
If you have any concerns or curiosities about your kitten or their health, we recommend you contact a vet directly.
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Final Thoughts
Although cats are generally independent and self-sufficient creatures, as kittens, they require a high level of care. Kittens eyes are closed until around 2 weeks old, but they aren’t usually fully weaned from their mothers until around 8–10 weeks. If you’re hoping to adopt a newborn kitten from a litter, you should know that you probably won’t get to take them home until they’re around 10–12 weeks old. If possible, it is best to let your kitten stay with their mother and their litter throughout the weaning process so that they will hopefully grow up to become a healthy, well-socialized, and well-adjusted cat.
Featured Image Credit: Brenda Carson, Shutterstock
