{"id":163657,"date":"2022-07-14T12:26:10","date_gmt":"2022-07-14T12:26:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/"},"modified":"2022-07-14T12:26:10","modified_gmt":"2022-07-14T12:26:10","slug":"how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/","title":{"rendered":"How long are kittens ears closed?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy counter-decimal ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#How_long_are_kittens_ears_closed\" title=\"How long are kittens ears closed?\">How long are kittens ears closed?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#Do_kittens_ears_open_before_their_eyes\" title=\"Do kittens ears open before their eyes?\">Do kittens ears open before their eyes?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#What_should_3_week_old_kittens_be_doing\" title=\"What should 3 week old kittens be doing?\">What should 3 week old kittens be doing?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#When_can_I_touch_baby_kittens\" title=\"When can I touch baby kittens?\">When can I touch baby kittens?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#How_long_does_it_take_for_a_kittens_ears_to_open\" title=\"How long does it take for a kitten&#8217;s ears to open?\">How long does it take for a kitten&#8217;s ears to open?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#Are_kittens_ears_closed\" title=\"Are kittens ears closed?\">Are kittens ears closed?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#How_long_are_you_not_supposed_to_touch_kittens\" title=\"How long are you not supposed to touch kittens?\">How long are you not supposed to touch kittens?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#When_can_a_kitten_hear\" title=\"When can a kitten hear?\">When can a kitten hear?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#At_what_age_do_kittens_ears_open\" title=\"At what age do kittens ears open?\">At what age do kittens ears open?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#Are_kittens_born_with_their_ears_closed\" title=\"Are kittens born with their ears closed?\">Are kittens born with their ears closed?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#What_do_kittens_eyes_look_like_when_they_first_open\" title=\"What do kittens eyes look like when they first open?\">What do kittens eyes look like when they first open?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#Why_are_kittens_ears_closed\" title=\"Why are kittens ears closed?\">Why are kittens ears closed?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#What_do_3_week_old_kittens_need\" title=\"What do 3 week old kittens need?\">What do 3 week old kittens need?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#Can_3_week_old_kittens_poop_on_their_own\" title=\"Can 3 week old kittens poop on their own?\">Can 3 week old kittens poop on their own?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#Do_3_week_old_kittens_need_stimulation\" title=\"Do 3 week old kittens need stimulation?\">Do 3 week old kittens need stimulation?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#Can_3_week_old_kittens_drink_water\" title=\"Can 3 week old kittens drink water?\">Can 3 week old kittens drink water?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#How_long_after_kittens_are_born_can_you_touch_them\" title=\"How long after kittens are born can you touch them?\">How long after kittens are born can you touch them?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#What_happens_if_you_touch_a_newborn_kitten\" title=\"What happens if you touch a newborn kitten?\">What happens if you touch a newborn kitten?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#Do_cats_abandon_their_kittens_if_you_touch_them\" title=\"Do cats abandon their kittens if you touch them?\">Do cats abandon their kittens if you touch them?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#How_long_does_it_take_kittens_to_open_their_ears\" title=\"How long does it take kittens to open their ears?\">How long does it take kittens to open their ears?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#When_can_a_kitten_see_and_hear\" title=\"When can a kitten see and hear?\">When can a kitten see and hear?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#When_can_u_touch_kittens\" title=\"When can u touch kittens?\">When can u touch kittens?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#Can_cats_close_their_ears\" title=\"Can cats close their ears?\">Can cats close their ears?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#How_sensitive_are_kittens_ears\" title=\"How sensitive are kittens ears?\">How sensitive are kittens ears?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-are-kittens-ears-closed\/#How_long_should_you_not_touch_kittens\" title=\"How long should you not touch kittens?\">How long should you not touch kittens?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_are_kittens_ears_closed\"><\/span>How long are kittens ears closed?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Under 1 week (3 to 8 ounces): Kittens eyes are shut, their ears are folded down, and they cant yet walk. They can, however, purr and make tiny (adorable) noises.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_kittens_ears_open_before_their_eyes\"><\/span>Do kittens ears open before their eyes?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>One week old kittens will have closed eyes, but no umbilical cord. <b>Around 7 days, the ear canals will slowly begin to open. Around 8-12 days, the eyes will slowly begin to open. Never attempt to pry open a kittens eyes; let them open naturally.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_should_3_week_old_kittens_be_doing\"><\/span>What should 3 week old kittens be doing?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Your Kitten: Week 3 The tiny teeth at the front of the mouth, called the incisors, will start to come through the gums. Kittens will slowly begin retracting their claws. Behavioral development: At this age, kittens will be <b>walking, exploring their surroundings, and even beginning to explore the litter box<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_can_I_touch_baby_kittens\"><\/span>When can I touch baby kittens?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The ASPCA also noted you dont want to wait longer than <b>two weeks before starting to handle the kittens. Pick a kitten up, hold him for a minute or two, gently stroking him, and then return him to his mom. Its important not to keep young kittens away from their mom for more than a few minutes at a time.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_does_it_take_for_a_kittens_ears_to_open\"><\/span>How long does it take for a kitten&#8217;s ears to open?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>about seven days old<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_kittens_ears_closed\"><\/span>Are kittens ears closed?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Kittens are born with their eyes and ears closed.<\/b> As they grow and develop, their ears and eyes will open when theyre about 14 days old. Kittens respond to sounds as soon as their ear canals open, and they will hear softer and softer sounds in the weeks following.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_are_you_not_supposed_to_touch_kittens\"><\/span>How long are you not supposed to touch kittens?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If its a stray, or a cat youve only had for a short while, she might not like it if you come near her babies. Take it slowly, and make sure she is okay with it before you touch them. Either way, they really should not be handled that much at all until they are <b>about 2 weeks old<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_can_a_kitten_hear\"><\/span>When can a kitten hear?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Newborn Kittens Around five days, eyes start opening and initially are blue in color. <b>Around five days, ears start to unfold and they can begin to hear sounds.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"At_what_age_do_kittens_ears_open\"><\/span>At what age do kittens ears open?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>3 weeks (7.5 to 14.5 ounces): Kittens eyes and ears are fully open, and they are standing up. Theyll respond to noises and movement. They start to take their first wobbly steps and baby teeth start coming in!<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_kittens_born_with_their_ears_closed\"><\/span>Are kittens born with their ears closed?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Newborn Kitten When kittens are first born they are completely helplesstheir eyes are closed, <b>their ears are folded, and they cant stand, keep themselves warm or eat on their own.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_do_kittens_eyes_look_like_when_they_first_open\"><\/span>What do kittens eyes look like when they first open?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Its eyes will start to open and will be completely open at 9 to 14 days old. <b>All kittens eyes are blue and will remain so for several weeks. Vision will be blurred at first. As a kittens pupils dont dilate and contract readily, protect your kitten from bright lights.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_are_kittens_ears_closed\"><\/span>Why are kittens ears closed?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The First Stage  Unopened Eyes and Ear Canals In the first developmental stage, when a kittens eyes are unopened and their ear canals are closed, it is important to take great care of them. <b>They must be protected from dirt, debris, and pathogens that could damage the development and cause kitten health issues<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_do_3_week_old_kittens_need\"><\/span>What do 3 week old kittens need?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>For the first 3 weeks of life, orphaned kittens are usually bottle fed with kitten formula milk replacer every 2 to 4 hours. When kittens are 3 to 4 weeks of age, feed them <b>a kitten milk replacer mixed with small amounts of moist, easily chewable, commercial kitten food four to six times each day<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_3_week_old_kittens_poop_on_their_own\"><\/span>Can 3 week old kittens poop on their own?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Orphaned kittens and puppies cannot pee and poop by themselves until they are 3-4 weeks old. Usually, the mother stimulates her litter to pee and poop until that time.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_3_week_old_kittens_need_stimulation\"><\/span>Do 3 week old kittens need stimulation?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>General guidelines are: <b>Kittens need to be stimulated until about 3 weeks of age. Kittens should be stimulated before and after each feeding. Kitten should urinate every time and defecate at least once daily.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_3_week_old_kittens_drink_water\"><\/span>Can 3 week old kittens drink water?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Very young kittens will get most of their fluid from their mothers milk and wont need anything else. <b>Weaned kittens will need fresh water to drink<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_after_kittens_are_born_can_you_touch_them\"><\/span>How long after kittens are born can you touch them?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The ASPCA also noted you dont want to wait longer than <b>two weeks before starting to handle the kittens. Pick a kitten up, hold him for a minute or two, gently stroking him, and then return him to his mom. Its important not to keep young kittens away from their mom for more than a few minutes at a time.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_if_you_touch_a_newborn_kitten\"><\/span>What happens if you touch a newborn kitten?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Petting and picking up newborn kittens can be dangerous. Baby kittens, much like human babies, are extremely fragile. Handling them roughly or accidentally dropping them <b>can damage bones or vital organs. Be very gentle and, if you have young children in your home, supervise closely while they handle the kittens.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_cats_abandon_their_kittens_if_you_touch_them\"><\/span>Do cats abandon their kittens if you touch them?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>A mother cat will NOT reject kittens that have been touched by humans. You can try scattering flour around the nest and leave the area completely for a while. Look for paw prints in the flour when you come back.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_does_it_take_kittens_to_open_their_ears\"><\/span>How long does it take kittens to open their ears?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>about seven days old<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_can_a_kitten_see_and_hear\"><\/span>When can a kitten see and hear?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Kittens are born blind, with their eyelids sealed shut. By the time they are 2 weeks old, the eyelids and open and the kitten can begin developing their vision. Kittens are also born deaf, with sealed ear canals. <b>By the age of 17 days, the ear canals are open and the kittens can start to hear.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_can_u_touch_kittens\"><\/span>When can u touch kittens?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The ASPCA also noted you dont want to wait longer than <b>two weeks before starting to handle the kittens. Pick a kitten up, hold him for a minute or two, gently stroking him, and then return him to his mom. Its important not to keep young kittens away from their mom for more than a few minutes at a time.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_cats_close_their_ears\"><\/span>Can cats close their ears?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>3 weeks (7.5 to 14.5 ounces): Kittens eyes and ears are fully open, and they are standing up. Theyll respond to noises and movement. They start to take their first wobbly steps and baby teeth start coming in!<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_sensitive_are_kittens_ears\"><\/span>How sensitive are kittens ears?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The First Stage  Unopened Eyes and Ear Canals In the first developmental stage, when a kittens eyes are unopened and their ear canals are closed, it is important to take great care of them. <b>They must be protected from dirt, debris, and pathogens that could damage the development and cause kitten health issues<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_should_you_not_touch_kittens\"><\/span>How long should you not touch kittens?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The ASPCA also noted you dont want to wait longer than <b>two weeks before starting to handle the kittens. Pick a kitten up, hold him for a minute or two, gently stroking him, and then return him to his mom. Its important not to keep young kittens away from their mom for more than a few minutes at a time.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents How long are kittens ears closed?Do kittens ears open before their eyes?What should 3 week old kittens be doing?When can I touch baby kittens?How long does it take for a kitten&#8217;s ears to open?Are kittens ears closed?How long are you not supposed to touch kittens?When can a kitten hear?At what age do&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[622],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-163657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pet-care"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163657"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=163657"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163657\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=163657"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=163657"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=163657"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}