New Born Kitties! Question

tanyaMax
tanyaMax Posts: 524 Member
edited November 2024 in Chit-Chat
my kittens are 2 days old...anyone know if i can touch them? can't wait till their eyes open :0)

**Or at what age it is safe to touch them?

Replies

  • Sl1ghtly
    Sl1ghtly Posts: 855 Member
    I would think they would be easy to catch?
  • elenathegreat
    elenathegreat Posts: 3,988 Member
    Always heard they shouldn't be touched until their eyes were open, but I really think it depends on the disposition of the momma cat...
  • sc1572
    sc1572 Posts: 2,309 Member
    Of course you can touch them! Just be careful you don't do it too much, or the mom might not be around much to take care of them, or the opposite, she might be very protective. Always let the mom see you while holding them. Plus, make sure your hands are always clean since they're so young. I volunteered at a shelter growing up and fostered a lot of kittens. Some were only a few days old and I had to hold them to bottle feed them. :)
  • Myndi73
    Myndi73 Posts: 270
    You can touch them if the momma cat knows you. If she doesn't and you touch them, you may end up bottle feeding, but that rarely happens.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Always heard they shouldn't be touched until their eyes were open, but I really think it depends on the disposition of the momma cat...

    I would go with this.

    I never had newborns, but my sister took in a semi-feral pregnant stray, and she was able to handle the kittens right away.
  • nahralynn
    nahralynn Posts: 125 Member
    We always held our kittens after the first day and they were cleaned up!
  • kittzle
    kittzle Posts: 190 Member
    I can't answer this question unless you post an adorable picture!

    (Really it usually depends on the momma, but I've always played with baby kitties. Just be very gentle and hold them close. They'll cry less if they feel warm and secure.)
  • scapez
    scapez Posts: 2,018 Member
    Newborn kitties....squee! :heart: :heart:
  • NewTeena
    NewTeena Posts: 154 Member
    I've picked up newborn kittens before without the mother having issues. The last litter my mom's cat had there was one kitten that couldn't break the sac it was born in and just didn't seem to be breathing, I assisted that kitty, and now he's a very loving, intelligent 10 y/o brat.
  • thinmintme
    thinmintme Posts: 63 Member
    Important: wash hands before and after handling kittens. You don't want to transfer too much scent, oils, germs etc.
    And as long as the mother is fine with you approaching her litter, it should be fine.

    Good luck! Kittens are such wondrous little creatures.
  • lmalaschak
    lmalaschak Posts: 346 Member
    Always heard they shouldn't be touched until their eyes were open, but I really think it depends on the disposition of the momma cat...

    This. If your cat is super tame and attached to you she probably won't mind much. The big thing about not touching the kitties is that it sometimes makes the mother move them to a place where you won't be able to bother them. On the farm that happened a lot...if we found and handled a litter of kittens, the next day the "nest" would be in a different place. I guess there could be some concern about the mother rejecting them if they smell like you've touched them as well, but I think the issue is more about the mother taking them away to a more "secure" place. Obviously you have to be super gentle...I don't like picking them up a lot at all for the first week or so just because they look so delicate! But touching them shouldn't be a problem if they're house cats and confined to your space.
  • kittzle
    kittzle Posts: 190 Member
    Also.... If there are any children around, I would be very VERY cautious about allowing them to hold baby kittens on their own until they're several weeks old just for the kitten's safety.

    When my brother's cat had kittens, she kept trying to hide them all over the house so my nephew wouldn't touch them. He was only allowed to pet them with one finger.
  • mama1229
    mama1229 Posts: 57
    I have always held and touched the kittens as soon as they were born. Actually helped deliver some litters:sick: I have never had a problem with the mothers rejecting them because of human scent. If the mother is your cat it would be a safe bet that she won't mind you picking up her babies.:bigsmile:
  • Cait_Sidhe
    Cait_Sidhe Posts: 3,150 Member
    It's fine to touch them. Just remember they have no immunity so wash your hands beforehand.
  • tanyaMax
    tanyaMax Posts: 524 Member
    Thanks everyone for your replies :0) i really appreciate it
  • Johnnyswife
    Johnnyswife Posts: 1,447 Member
    Always heard they shouldn't be touched until their eyes were open, but I really think it depends on the disposition of the momma cat...
    Yes. If she's nervous than stay out of her way and leave them alone, or she'll hide them away to keep them safe. If she lets you pet them a little than go for it. I handled my cat's kittens when they were newborn cause she decided I was gonna be her mid wife and had them on my bed! :noway: they have no fur when they are born so they feel weird, but still look cute!
  • RileeMarie
    RileeMarie Posts: 113
    i agree it depends on the mother cats demeanor and your relationship with her. when my cat had her babies a few years ago i was right there with her the whole time, helped her through the process. she was great and ok with me handling them, however, she still tried to move them after week or so. even though she was in a room all by herself she still wanted to move them to another room.
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