Newborn Kitten Care: A First-Time Breeder's Guide
By: Responsible Group Australia Updated 8 September, 2026
Breeding a litter of kittens is one of the most rewarding experiences for a cat breeder, but also one of the most difficult. The first few weeks in a kitten’s life are extremely important and can cause long term problems if not managed correctly. If you are a first time breeder, it is important to have a basic understanding of newborn kitten care in order to produce a healthy and thriving litter and to set the stage for responsible breeding.
Preparing the Nesting Environment for Newborn Kitten Care
Before your queen goes into labour, prepare a quiet whelping area. The whelping area should be in a calm area that is draped and relatively low traffic. Place a washable bed for the kittens in the whelping box. Newborn kittens are blind and deaf and entirely dependent on their mother for food and heat. For this reason, your whelping area should be set up to provide a safe environment for the newborn kittens and comfort for the queen.
Position your whelping area in a draft free environment away from extreme heat (direct sunlight) and household noises. A common error made by first time breeders is not understanding the sensitivity of the newborn kittens to temperature.
Maintaining the Right Temperature
Kittens cannot regulate their own body temperature for several weeks after birth. In the first week a temperature between 29-32°C should be maintained in the nest area. From about the 2nd week kittens start to move around and from this time the temperature can be gradually reduced to about 24°C by week four.
A heat pad set on low with a portion covered, so the kitten can remove itself from the heat if required, or a heat lamp (placed safely away from the box) can also provide a constant source of heat, especially at night. Very hot or cold temperatures can be dangerous to the kitten.
Feeding and Nursing
Newborn kittens should be allowed to suckle from their mother in the first few hours of life to ingest the colostrum. Colostrum is the first milk produced by the queen and contains antibodies that aid the kitten in early immunity. Make sure that all kittens are able to suckle and that weaker kittens are not being displaced by stronger ones.
If a kitten or queen is unable to suckle, a kitten milk replacer can be used with the proper feeding technique and prescribed by a veterinarian. Cow’s milk should not be given to kittens as it can cause severe upset in the digestive system.
Weighing and Monitoring Growth
Daily weighing of kittens is one of the simplest and most useful tools a breeder can use. Weigh each kitten at the same time daily using a digital kitchen scale and make a written record. Healthy kittens should steadily gain weight from the first day. If a kitten fails to gain weight or begins to lose weight, seek immediate veterinary care.
As a general guide:
- Birth weight: approximately 90–110 grams
- Kittens should roughly double their birth weight by around 10–14 days
- Steady, consistent gains (not just total weight) are the best sign of good health
Hygiene and Handling
Newborn kittens require stimulation from the mother to eliminate faeces and urine. The mother achieves this by licking the kittens; this also helps keep the nest clean. If you are hand-raising kittens, after every feed, gently stimulate elimination using a warm and damp cloth.
Ensure that the nest is clean and that the nest lining is changed regularly. However, try to minimise handling in the first two weeks. Only handle the kittens for health checks and if there is any required treatment. This will prevent stressing the queen and enable the kittens to bond and feed naturally.
Recognising Warning Signs
If you’re a first time cat breeder, it’s important to be familiar with the signs of a sick kitten. Look for:
- Constant crying or restlessness
- Cold to the touch or difficulty in maintaining body temperature
- Refusal to suckle
- Failure to gain any weight over 24-48 hours
- Vomiting, diarrhoea or difficulty breathing
Should any of these be observed, contact your veterinarian immediately. In many cases early treatment can make the difference between a recovered and a lost kitten.
The First Few Weeks of Newborn Kitten Care
- Days 1–7: Eyes and ears remain closed; kittens rely entirely on nursing and warmth from their mother.
- Days 7–14: Eyes begin to open; kittens start becoming more responsive to sound and touch.
- Weeks 2–3: Kittens begin to stand, take wobbly steps, and show more curiosity about their surroundings.
- Weeks 3–4: Weaning can begin gradually, alongside the introduction of a litter tray and soft, moistened food.
Setting Yourself Up for Success
Newborn kitten care is best learned by doing. Even experienced breeders are always learning from each new litter. As a first time breeder, the following are some of the most important things you can do:
- Establish a relationship with a cat knowledgeable veterinarian prior to the arrival of the litter
- Keep meticulous notes on food, weight and health of the kittens
- Network with other ethical and responsible breeders in your area
- Put the health of the queen and kittens first
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Whelping Kit
Whelping Supplies You Need for a Safe, Stress-Free Birth
Getting ready to welcome a new litter? A whelping kit gives you the peace of mind that you’re ready for anything. Whether you’re a seasoned breeder or welcoming your first litter, you need to be prepared.
Cat Birthing Kit Supplies
Cat Birthing Kit Supplies brings together the practical items breeders reach for around queening, including a premium queening kit, digital newborn scales, bulb aspirators, and stainless steel scissors with both straight and curved tips. There are also feeding essentials such as newborn milk bottles and calcium supplements, plus identification collars for telling kittens apart in a larger litter and soft microfibre towels for drying and handling newborns.
This collection is aimed at Australian cat breeders preparing for a queening, giving you core supplies in one place rather than sourcing them individually. It's a practical starting point for building a kit that suits your queen and litter size, alongside your own vet's guidance on what your particular cat may need.
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12-Piece Newborn Identification Collars for Pets
A$20.99 - A$33.99
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120ml Pet Newborn Milk Bottle Puppy Cat Feeder
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Digital Puppy Scales for Newborns, 1g to 10kg
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Milbemax Cat 0.5-2kg Broad Spectrum Allwormer
A$35.00 - A$275.00
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Pet Towels, Plush Edgeless Microfibre
A$28.99
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Premium Queening Kit, Cat Birthing
A$249.00
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Stainless Steel Scissors with Straight and Curved Tips
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Troy Nutripet: High Calorie Diet Supplement
A$24.99
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Troy Puppy and Kitten Worming Syrup
A$14.99
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Wombaroo Feeding Bottle, 100ml Plastic
A$4.00
