How to tell the Age of a Kitten
If you’ve just brought home an adorable little kitty, you might be wondering “How old is my kitten?”
Knowing a kitten’s age is important for things like figuring out when to get them spayed/neutered, what shots they need, and how to properly care for them as they grow.
Luckily, there are some easy ways to get a pretty good idea of how old a kitten is just by looking at them and observing their behavior.
While you won’t be able to pinpoint their exact birthday, you can at least get a good estimate of what age range they fall into.
Let’s go over the signs to look for to figure out how old that cute little kitten is.
Newborn Kittens (0-2 Weeks Old)
Kittens that are brand new babies will be very tiny and helpless. Their eyes won’t open until around 7-10 days old.
Newborns can’t do much other than nurse, sleep, and cry for their mom.
Signs of a newborn kitten (0-2 weeks old)
- Eyes are closed shut
- Ears are flat against their head
- They can’t walk or stand up
- They weigh just a few ounces
- They need to be bottle fed every 2-3 hours
- They spend most of their time sleeping
- They can only make tiny mewing sounds.
If a kitten seems this young and fragile, they likely need round-the-clock care from a nursing mom cat or a dedicated human caregiver. Newborns cannot go to the bathroom on their own either.
3-5 Weeks Old Kittens
Around 3-5 weeks old, kittens start developing more quickly.
This is when their eyes open up, their ears perk up, and they become a bit more mobile.
Signs of a 3-5 week old kitten
- Eyes are open and blue
- Ears are upright
- They can walk around a little, but still wobble
- They start purring and playing
- They weigh under 1 pound
- They start trying to eat solid kitten food
- They can use the litter box inconsistently
At this stage, kittens start acting more like real cats instead of just tiny hamsters.
However, they still need a lot of supervision, socialization, and care.
Their eyes will also slowly start changing from blue to another color.
6-8 Weeks Old – Adoption Age
Once kittens hit 6-8 weeks old, they are typically ready to be adopted out from the shelter or separated from their mother cat.
At this “adoption age”, kittens have more defined personalities and can start learning to be litter trained.
Signs of a 6-8 week old kitten
- Eyes are changing to their permanent color
- They are fully weaned and eating solid food
- They weigh 1-2 pounds
- They can use the litter box consistently
- They are energetic and playful
- They start learning hunting behaviors
At this age, kittens can go to their new forever homes as long as they are spayed/neutered and up-to-date on their first round of shots.
They are still considered kittens until around 1 year old, so they’ll need lots of playtime, socialization, and kitten food.
3-6 Months Old
Between 3-6 months old, your kitten is considered an adolescent.
They’ll go through a very rapid growth spurt and transition during this time.
Signs of a 3-6 month old kitten
- Longer body and legs
- May start gaining a pound or more each month
- Adult teeth are coming in
- Very energetic and rambunctious
- Highly playful and affectionate
- May start scratching furniture
- Gets bored easily and into trouble
Your teenager kitten will have tons and tons of energy at this age.
They need lots of toys, playtime, and scratching posts to keep them occupied.
You’ll also want to kitten-proof your home by removing anything valuable or hazardous.
6-12 Months Old
At the 6-12 month mark, your kitten has become a full-fledged cat physically, but may still have some kitten-like behaviors.
It’s best to stick with kitten food until they are 1 year old.
Signs of a 6-12 month old kitten
- Reaches their full adult size and weight
- Has all their adult teeth and skills
- Still has a ton of energy
- Gets into less trouble as they mature
- May start spraying or scratching
- Usually done with major vaccinations
Your kitten is considered an adult cat at 1 year old.
By monitoring their growth, behaviors, and checking with your vet, you can get a good estimate of how old they are in months.
Adult Cats Over 1 Year Old
Once a cat turns 1 year old, it becomes much harder to determine their exact age just by looking.
However, here are some signs of an adult cat over 1 year old:
- They have settled into their adult size and weight
- Their energy levels start slowing down
- Their behaviors are more predictable
- Their teeth may start yellowing
- Their coat is very sleek and shiny
The only way to really know an adult cat’s age is by their medical records or if you’ve had them since birth.
Older adult cats may start showing signs of age like:
- Greying fur
- Duller, thinner coat
- Weight gain or loss
- Less energy and mobility
- Muscle atrophy
- Behavior changes
But some cats simply age better than others, so it may be hard to know their birthday.
That’s why kittens are so much easier to age based on their growth stages.
