0-1 Week Old:
The Newborn Stage
The first week of life is the most fragile period in a kitten’s development.
You Should Know:
During the first 12-24 hours after birth, mother cats produce an antibody rich first milk called colostrum. Kittens who do not receive enough colostrum during this brief window are more vulnerable to illness. After about 24 hours kittens can no longer absorb these antibodies effectively.
Because their immune systems are still immature, kittens this age should be handled only with clean hands and protected from other animals and potential sources of infection.
Whenever possible, kittens should stay with their mother. If you find a kitten outdoors, make every effort to keep the family together.
If a kitten is truly orphaned, they will need intensive care: constant warmth, help urinating and defecating, and frequent bottle feedings around the clock.
Newborn ear canals are shut.
Newborns have fully closed eyes throughout the first week of life.
Newborn claws cannot retract, even at rest.
Newborns have weak necks and move with splayed limbs, often in a circle.
Week 0-1 Developmental Attributes
Stool:
Kittens cannot defecate on their own and must be stimulated at every feeding.
They typically defecate about once per day.
First 24 hours: Dark, tarry stool (meconium) is present as they pass material from the uterus
Day 1-7: Stool should be solid in form and mustard yellow in color.
Urine:
Cannot urinate on their own and must be stimulated at every feeding.
They should urinate each time they are stimulated.
Sleep:
Newborns sleep almost constantly when not nursing.
Movement:
Neck muscles are weak and the head appears heavy.
Kittens crawl or wiggle slowly with legs splayed, and cannot yet stand or walk.
Body temperature:
Day 0–3: 96–97°F (35–36°C)
Day 4–7: 96–98°F (35.5–36.5°C)
Week 0-1 Physical Attributes
Eyes:
Completely closed
Ears:
Small and folded against the head
Ear canals closed
Teeth:
No teeth present
Umbilical cord:
First 24 hours: attached and moist
Day 1-5: attached and dry
Day ~5: cord typically falls off
Day 6-7: no cord present
Claws:
Non-retractable
Typical weight:
First 24 hours: ~75-100g
By day 7: ~150g
Healthy weight gain:
At least 7g per day
Essential Supplies for a 0-1 Week Old Kitten
Blender bottle for mixing
Gram scale for weighing
Cozy hut and/or stuffed animal
Plastic storage pin with no lid
Newborns can be housed in a storage bin with a heated disk, blanket and stuffed toy.
A heated disk is an essential supply for a newborn kitten.
How to Set Up Your Space for a 0-1 Week Old Kitten
Newborn kittens need a small, safe, and warm environment. Always keep neonatal kittens quarantined from unfamiliar animals to reduce the risk of infectious disease.
In a bin:
Use a plastic storage bin without a lid to allow airflow.
Place a kitten-safe heat source under one side of the bin, creating a warm zone and a cooler zone so the kitten can move if it becomes too warm. Make sure the heat source remains comfortably warm at all times, but never hot.
Cover the entire base with a soft baby blanket.
Add a small cozy hut or stuffed animal to provide comfort and something to lean against.
In an incubator:
Use a kitten-safe incubator with a soft baby blanket. Never use a cheap incubator.
Provide a cozy hut or stuffed animal so the kitten has something to snuggle against.
Set the incubator to approximately 90°F (32°C) during the first week of life.
Maintain around 60% humidity.
With a mama:
Use a nesting box or small enclosed bed lined with a baby blanket or soft bedding.
Keep the space warm and clean.
Ensure the mother has easy access to fresh food, water, and a litter box nearby.
Care Schedule: Every 2 Hours
At 0–1 week of age, kittens must eat very frequently because their stomach capacity is extremely small and their bodies are growing rapidly. In a natural setting, a mother cat would nurse her kittens throughout the day and night, providing almost constant opportunities to nurse.
In addition to the need for frequent feedings, kittens lack the neuromuscular signaling needed to eliminate waste on their own. After about 2 hours their bladder will be quite full, and you will need to stimulate them to go to the bathroom, which their mother would normally do.
Most kittens this age will eat about 2–6 ml of formula per feeding, typically every 2 hours. These frequent feedings keep the kitten hydrated, fuel their high metabolism, and support healthy growth.
Care Routine for a 0-1 Week Old Kitten
Wash your hands or put on clean gloves.
Neonatal kittens have immature immune systems and should be handled with clean hands.
Stimulate the kitten to go to the bathroom.
Use a clean tissue to gently rub the genital area until the kitten urinates and, if needed, defecates.
Bottle feed the kitten.
Use a kitten bottle and allow them to nurse at their own pace.
Weigh the kitten.
Record the weight in grams, along with the time of feeding. Healthy kittens should gain weight every day.
Clean the kitten.
Use a baby wipe or warm cloth to gently clean the kitten’s face and bottom if needed.
Return the kitten to the warm nest.
Ensure the kitten is placed in the warm zone of the nesting area.
Set an alarm for the next feeding in 2 hours.
Neonatal kittens require around-the-clock care, so setting alarms helps maintain a consistent feeding schedule.
