Kitten Age Chart: How Old Is This Kitten?
Most people arrive here holding a kitten they did not plan on having an hour ago. Take a breath. Age determines everything about what the kitten needs tonight, and four quick checks will get you within a week or two.
Kitten teeth age chart
Teeth are the most reliable single sign, because they arrive on a tight schedule and you can check them in seconds.
| Teeth you can see | Age |
|---|---|
| None, gums only | Under 2 weeks |
| Baby incisors (the tiny front teeth) | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Baby canines (the little fangs) | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Baby premolars, behind the fangs | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Full set of 26 baby teeth | About 8 weeks |
| Adult incisors replacing baby ones | 3.5 to 4.5 months |
| Adult canines coming in | 4 to 5 months |
| Full set of 30 adult teeth | 6 to 7 months |
Kitten weight by age
Healthy kittens gain fast and steadily. The 100 grams per week rule holds surprisingly well for the first two months, then growth stretches out.
| Age | Typical weight | Milestones |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn | 90 to 110 g | Eyes and ears sealed, crawls toward warmth |
| 1 week | 150 to 200 g | Ear canals begin to open |
| 2 weeks | 250 to 300 g | Eyes open, blue, vision still poor |
| 3 weeks | 350 to 400 g | Ears up, first teeth, wobbly standing |
| 4 weeks | 450 to 500 g | Walking, beginning to lap and try soft food |
| 6 weeks | 650 to 750 g | Playing and pouncing, weaning well along |
| 8 weeks | 900 g to 1 kg | Fully weaned, running, first vaccines due |
| 12 weeks | 1.2 to 1.5 kg | Ready for a new home by rescue standards |
| 6 months | 2.7 to 3.2 kg | Adult teeth in, adolescent lankiness |
| 12 months | 3.6 to 4.5 kg | Adult. Switch to adult food |
Found a kitten? Do these three things first
One: check for the mother before rescuing. A warm, clean, sleeping kitten usually has a mother nearby, and her milk beats anything in a bottle. Watch quietly from a distance for a couple of hours if the kitten is safe where it is. Two: if the kitten is cold, crying constantly, dirty or in danger, bring it in and warm it slowly against your skin or with a towel wrapped bottle. Never feed a cold kitten. Three: estimate the age with the checker above, because it decides the menu. Under about 4 weeks means kitten milk formula from a pet shop, fed warm, every 2 to 4 hours. Cow's milk causes diarrhea and makes things worse. From 4 to 5 weeks you can begin soft food. Ring a local rescue or vet the same day, both for supplies and for backup.
Kitten age FAQ
How accurate is aging a kitten by its teeth?
Within a week or two through the baby teeth stages, which is as good as anyone can do without paperwork. It gets vaguer after 8 weeks until the adult teeth start arriving at 3.5 months, which is when weight and body proportions carry more of the estimate.
The kitten's eyes are blue. Does that mean anything?
All kittens open their eyes blue. The adult color starts washing in from about 6 to 7 weeks and settles by 3 months or so. Permanently blue adult eyes belong to certain breeds, so blue eyes plus adult teeth means breed, and blue eyes plus baby teeth means young.
When can a kitten leave its mother?
Twelve weeks is what vets and rescues recommend. Eight weeks is a common legal minimum. The extra month teaches bite control and cat manners, and it shows in the adult personality.
At what age does a kitten become a cat?
Twelve months for most cats, which is when they can move to adult food. Big breeds like the Maine Coon keep broadening until age 3 or 4, but they stop being kittens at a year like everyone else.
When do kittens need their first vaccines?
Core vaccinations start at 6 to 8 weeks, with boosters every 3 to 4 weeks until about 16 weeks. If you have taken in a found kitten of vaccination age, that first vet visit covers this along with worming and flea treatment.
Now you know the age. Next question: how much food?
The kitten feeding chart turns age and weight into meals per day and amounts, from weaning through twelve months.
Kitten feeding chartRelated cat calculators
Sources: Cornell Feline Health Center; Merck Veterinary Manual, kitten development and dentition; Alley Cat Allies kitten progression guidance used by rescues. Last reviewed August 2026.