Newborn Kitten Care: The First 8 Weeks of Feeding, Weaning and Milestones (UK)
The short answer
Newborn kittens need warmth, frequent feeds of kitten milk replacer, and help to wee and poo for the first three weeks. Their eyes open around day 10, weaning starts at 3 to 4 weeks, and they are ready to leave mum from 8 weeks. If mum is with them, your job is mostly to watch, weigh, and keep the nest warm.
This guide does not replace professional veterinary advice.
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Bringing newborn kittens into your care is wonderful and nerve-wracking in equal measure. The first 8 weeks pass quickly, but a lot changes in them. This guide walks you through each stage so you know what is normal, what to do, and when to call your vet.
Much of this applies to kittens being raised by their mum. Where it says hand-rearing, it means orphaned kittens or kittens mum cannot feed. If that is you, speak to your vet early.
Weeks 0 to 1: warmth, feeding, and sleep
Newborn kittens are born blind and deaf. They cannot regulate their own body temperature, and they cannot pass pee or poo without help. For the first week they do three things: sleep, feed, and grow.
Keep the nest warm: a cat-carrying basket with soft bedding works well. Put a safe heat source, such as a microwaveable heat pad, under the bedding, and leave room for the kittens to crawl away if they get too hot. Cats Protection advises heat at around body temperature.
Feeding: if you are hand-rearing, the PDSA recommends kitten milk replacer every 2 hours, including through the night, for the first 2 weeks, then every 3 hours from week 3. Never use cow's milk or supermarket cat milk. Neither is suitable for kittens and both can cause dangerous diarrhoea. Follow the mixing instructions on the formula tin exactly.
After every feed, gently rub the kitten's rear end with warm, damp cotton wool. This mimics mum's licking and triggers weeing and pooing. Cats Protection says kittens need this help until at least 3 weeks old.
Weigh each kitten daily at the same time. Cats Protection notes healthy kittens gain around 50 to 100g per week and should double their birth weight by two weeks. A kitten that is not gaining needs a vet visit.
Weeks 1 to 3: eyes open and ears unfold
The umbilical cord usually dries and falls off around day 3. The eyes open at about 10 days on average, though Cats Protection notes a range of 2 to 16 days. The eyes look blue-grey at first and stay that colour until 4 to 6 weeks.
Never force eyes open. If an eyelid looks swollen or has discharge, see your vet instead of opening it yourself. Keep the nest away from bright light while their eyes adjust.
The ear canals open around 5 to 8 days, and the ears start to stand upright by the third week. The kittens begin to crawl with more purpose and may start kneading. They still sleep most of the day.
Keep the same routine. Look for steady weight gain and kittens that settle after feeds. A kitten that cries for long stretches between feeds needs attention.
Weeks 3 to 4: first steps and the start of weaning
By week 3 the kittens can usually wee and poo on their own, though accidents happen. They take their first wobbly steps, and their baby teeth begin to push through the gums.
Weaning starts around 3 to 4 weeks. Offer milk replacer in a shallow saucer, then mix in a little wet kitten food for a sloppy gruel. Expect a mess: most kittens walk straight through the bowl before they work out what it is for.
Keep bottle feeds going alongside the gruel. The PDSA suggests milk feeds every 3 hours at week 4, with wet, sloppy kitten food alongside. Full weaning usually lands at 6 to 7 weeks.
Only feed food made for kittens. Dog food and human baby foods are not suitable.
Weeks 4 to 6: litter training, play, and personality
At 4 to 5 weeks, add a shallow litter tray with low sides and place the kittens in it after meals. Most work it out fast. Use non-clumping litter while they are tiny, as young kittens may try to eat clumping litter.
Personalities appear now. The kittens get steadier and start playing. Gentle handling matters: the socialisation window runs from 2 to 8 weeks, so calm contact with people and household sounds helps them grow confident.
By week 5 they eat wet kitten food and lap milk from a saucer, with fresh water available. Bottle feeds can stop unless one kitten eats less than the rest. At 6 weeks they eat kitten food and drink water.
Worming starts now. The standard UK schedule is every 2 weeks from 2 to 3 weeks of age until 12 weeks, then monthly until 6 months. Ask your vet which product suits your kittens and follow its label exactly.
Weeks 6 to 8: nearly ready for the world
By 7 weeks the baby teeth are fully in and the kittens regulate their own body temperature like adult cats. They can spend short periods away from mum from 6 to 7 weeks, but Cats Protection is clear: kittens should not be fully separated from their mother until at least 8 weeks.
First vaccinations usually start at 8 to 9 weeks, so book the vet appointment for around then. Our kitten vaccination schedule guide explains what jabs they need and when.
If the kittens are going to new homes, week 8 is the earliest they should leave. Before they go, make sure new owners know what they are eating and have the essentials ready. Our new kitten checklist covers everything for the first week at home.
Week-by-week checklist
Pin this to the fridge. It is the whole 8 weeks on one page.
| Week | Feeding | Milestones | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-1 | Milk replacer every 2 hours, day and night | Eyes and ears closed; sleeps 90% of the time | Cold kittens; no weight gain; cord problems |
| 1-2 | Milk replacer every 2 hours | Eyes open around day 10; ear canals open | Swollen eyelids; discharge from eyes |
| 2-3 | Milk replacer every 2-3 hours | Ears stand; crawling with purpose; teeth start | Not doubling weight by 2 weeks |
| 3-4 | Bottle feeds plus gruel in a saucer | Wobbly steps; weaning begins; wees alone | Refusing the bottle; diarrhoea |
| 4-5 | Wet kitten food plus milk to lap; water available | Litter tray; playing; personalities show | Not eating solids; constant crying |
| 5-6 | Kitten food and water; bottle only if needed | Steady, confident movement; socialisation | One kitten lagging behind the rest |
| 6-7 | Kitten food and fresh water | Temperature control like an adult cat | Worming due; book first vaccinations |
| 7-8 | Kitten food and fresh water | Ready to leave mum from 8 weeks, not before | First vet visit at 8-9 weeks |
What to buy if you are hand-rearing
If mum is feeding them, you need almost nothing extra. If you are hand-rearing, these four items cover the essentials, each chosen on the criteria below, never for commission.
1. Beaphar Lactol Kitten Milk
Who it is for: anyone bottle-feeding a newborn or orphaned kitten, or topping up feeds for a large litter mum cannot fully support.
- Complete milk replacer made for newborn and weaning kittens, not a generic pet milk.
- The 250g tin suits a short hand-rearing stint without waste.
- Beaphar is a well-known UK pet brand, widely stocked.
Honest drawback: mixing to the right consistency takes practice, and a hungry litter gets through a small tin quickly.
Age and weight: suitable from birth. The maker describes it as a complete feed for newborn and weaning kittens.
Check today's price on Amazon →
2. Miracle Nipple Mini and Original set
Who it is for: hand-feeders who find standard bottle teats too big or too fast for tiny newborn mouths.
- Sized for newborn mouths, with a controlled flow that helps prevent milk going down the wrong way.
- The dual set covers tiny newborns and slightly bigger kittens as they grow.
- Reusable with proper cleaning and sterilising between feeds.
Honest drawback: like all bottle gear, it needs thorough cleaning and sterilising after every single feed.
Age and weight: made for hand-feeding newborn kittens; the two sizes cover the first weeks.
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3. SnuggleSafe Microwave Heat Pad
Who it is for: anyone keeping orphaned newborns warm between feeds, especially at night.
- Cord-free warmth with no electricity near the nest.
- Stays warm for hours after a few minutes in the microwave.
- Sized to tuck under the bedding of a small nest.
Honest drawback: it MUST sit under bedding, never directly against a newborn kitten, and it needs reheating on schedule.
Age and weight: the maker's range includes kittens. Always used under bedding, with space for kittens to move away from the heat.
Check today's price on Amazon →
4. Salter 1087 SSDR Arc Digital Kitchen Scale
Who it is for: hand-rearers tracking daily weight gain, the earliest sign a kitten is thriving or struggling.
- Gram-precise digital readings catch slow weight gain early.
- The 3kg capacity covers the whole first 8 weeks easily.
- Easy to wipe clean between kittens.
Honest drawback: it is a kitchen scale, so keep it dedicated to the kittens for hygiene.
Age and weight: digital kitchen scale with 3kg capacity. Suitable for weighing newborn kittens daily.
Check today's price on Amazon →
How we chose these products
Each product fills a genuine hand-rearing need: feeding, warmth, or weight tracking. Every item is kitten-appropriate on its Amazon UK page, none carries a "Frequently returned item" flag, and each is readily available in the UK. Nothing here was tested by us; these are chosen on criteria, not personal experience.
When to call your vet
Newborn kittens can go downhill fast, so do not wait and see with these signs:
- A kitten that feels cold or limp, even after warming.
- No weight gain over 2 days, or any weight loss.
- Constant crying that does not settle after a feed.
- Diarrhoea, vomiting, or a swollen tummy.
- Refusing feeds for more than one feed in a row.
- Discharge from the eyes or nose, or difficulty breathing.
If a kitten looks seriously unwell, call your vet or an out-of-hours vet straight away and say it is a newborn.
FAQ
Can I give a newborn kitten cow's milk in an emergency?
No, never. Cow's milk can cause diarrhoea that is life-threatening at this age, and supermarket cat milk is not a substitute. With no milk replacer to hand, keep the kitten warm and call your vet or an emergency clinic. They can advise or supply formula.
How do I know the milk is the right temperature?
Warm the mixed formula in a jug of warm water, not the microwave, which heats unevenly and makes hot spots. Test a drop on the inside of your wrist: lukewarm, roughly body temperature, never hot. Warm a cold kitten gently before feeding, as feeding a cold kitten is dangerous.
My hand-reared kitten is 5 weeks old and still wants the bottle. Is that normal?
Yes, speeds vary. Some take to the saucer at once; others cling to the bottle for another week or two. Keep offering wet kitten food and milk in a saucer, and offer the bottle less often. Most are fully weaned by 6 to 7 weeks. If a kitten refuses all solid food by 7 weeks, ask your vet.
Read next
- New Kitten Checklist UK: Everything You Need in the First Week
- Kitten Vaccination Schedule UK: What Jabs and When
- How to Kitten-Proof Your Flat: The Room-by-Room Checklist
Sources
- Cats Protection: Hand-rearing Kittens - kitten development milestones, feeding frequency, and toileting guidance.
- PDSA: Hand Rearing Kittens - week-by-week feeding timetable and weaning guidance.
Last reviewed: 22 October 2026
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
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