Q&A for How to Tell How Old a Kitten Is

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How big is a 3 month old kitten?

Natalie Punt, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. Natalie Punt is a Veterinarian and the Founder and CEO of mPet- a smart phone app for pet owners to store, manage and transfer their pets medical records and health information. She specializes in small animal emergency and general medicine and veterinary practice economics. Dr. Punt holds a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from The University of California, Davis, an MS in Biochemistry from The University at Buffalo, and a DVM from Western University of Health Sciences.

Natalie Punt, DVM

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Since the cat's nourishment can impact growth, so there's no way to be completely sure without a vet. That said, a kitten that is about 4 to 5 weeks old should weigh 350 to 450 g. From there, you could add 100 grams per week.. Obviously, this is a very general rule of thumb that may work for a healthy kitten.

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Question

Is weight the best way to tell a cat's age?

Natalie Punt, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. Natalie Punt is a Veterinarian and the Founder and CEO of mPet- a smart phone app for pet owners to store, manage and transfer their pets medical records and health information. She specializes in small animal emergency and general medicine and veterinary practice economics. Dr. Punt holds a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from The University of California, Davis, an MS in Biochemistry from The University at Buffalo, and a DVM from Western University of Health Sciences.

Natalie Punt, DVM

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

It depends on the case. It's not always easy to be certain, as different breeds of cats will have different weights. Also, nutrition can influence a lot the weight of the pet, so that may complicate things.

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I found a kitten whose eyes and ears are just open. He drinks milk well, and I suspect he's about 3 weeks old. When should I start giving him kitten food?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Try to give him KMR (kitten milk replacer) rather than cow's milk. The mother cat starts to wean her young from about 4 weeks of age, so keep going with the KMR for another week or so. First make sure he can drink KMR from a bowl rather than a syringe, and then add some KMR to canned kitten food to make a thick gruel or soup. As the kitten learns to drink this, gradually thicken it up by reducing the amount of KMR.

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How can I tell if a kitten has been rejected by its mother?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

A good mother is usually attentive to her kitten and comes running if the kitten cries in distress. A rejected kitten is likely to be hungry and cold, which will make it cry. If the mother ignores her baby's distress then she is either confused (not all female cats know instinctively how to care for a kitten) or she has rejected it.

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Question

How can I tell how old a cat stray is?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

This is difficult because there are no reliable age-related marks on the teeth, such as there are for horses. Aging an adult cat is a combination of looking at their size (are they still growing or have they stopped), their demeanour (how playful are they) and the state of their teeth. Unfortunately this is inexact because other factors such as the cat's diet will have an impact on how much tartar is present and the health of the mouth. If possible, get a vet to check out the cat as they should be able to give you an indication of age.

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Question

Can a kitten have stunted growth?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Yes. If the mother cat is sick during pregnancy or deprived of nutrition, then her kittens may not grow properly in the womb. Likewise, a newly born or young kitten that doesn't receive appropriate food may not grow as well as it should and be stunted.

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