Handling Newborn Kittens

by James Glover
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How old do newborn kittens need to be before they are handled? (Lisa - Nevada)

This as much depends on the mother as it does their age. As with dogs, your relationship with her is very important. If she is comfortable for you to be in the vicinity of the nest you can safely try to stroke the kittens. Under normal circumstances you should avoid too much handling but just enough to make them used to human contact from as young an age as possible.

Never move them out of sight of the mother and if she behaves abnormally or over-anxious try again in another few days. To begin with, you may like to hold one for her to lick (as if you are assisting her with her duties!) and it may also be useful to help them arrange themselves at milking or, when they are slightly older, to stop them from being so aggressive with their mother!

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Readers' Comments (Newest to Oldest)

tjwawl

California

Junior Member

Added on April 6th, 2009
I have had cats as pets for 72 years and as a youngster I was told not to handle a kitten too much, especially under its stomach as too much handling can disorient a kitten's organs even to the point where it can die. So, I have always handled kittens only occassionaly and try to keep it's legs and paws under it when I hold the kitten. Now I don't know whether overhandling can be fatal, but why risk that possibility?

tjwawl