Why are kittens born blind?
A mother cat bears 2–8 cubs at once. A normal cat pregnancy lasts eight to ten weeks. Of course, the animal cannot carry such a number of kittens for a long time, which is why the kittens are born blind, and they learn to navigate in space and find their mother’s nipples by smell.
Newborn kittens are blind, they are also deaf and completely dependent on their mother cat.
After birth, kittens are deaf, cannot regulate body temperature, or empty their bladder and intestines on their own. Therefore, in the first days of life, babies are completely dependent on the mother cat.
Can a kitten be born with open eyes?
If the mother carried the cubs, then the early opening of the eyes can be called a natural process. But if the kittens were born with their eyes open, then it is better to show the babies to a veterinarian, who will determine whether their physiological development has completed. When this is not completed, he will prescribe special saline solutions to wet the eyes until the kittens begin to produce tears on their own (usually by two weeks of age). In addition, if necessary, you can use antibiotic ointments (for example, tetracycline ophthalmic ointment 1%). It is also important to ensure that the kitten is in a dark place, because bright light will be harmful to the eyes.
You can try to connect the eyelids with adhesive tape, so that the kitten's eye is closed with eyelids, as is the case in its natural state. Then the eyes will be properly moistened with tears.
It is imperative to care for the kittens at this time, since if there is no action on the part of the owner, they can go blind.
A kitten can be born with open eyes due to developmental anomalies, or in the absence of any abnormalities
It happens that the eyes of newborn kittens are open due to a congenital genetic anomaly. Unfortunately, in this case the animals are considered non-viable.
What to do?
A veterinary examination is necessary for an animal if the process of its epiphany is delayed.
If about 3 weeks have passed since the birth of the kitten, and its eyes are still closed, but there are no signs of inflammation, there is no need to worry, it is worth taking a closer look and observing, perhaps this is the individuality of its development. But if changes do not occur, and the eyelids are swollen and discharge appears, you cannot do without consulting a veterinarian. In addition, veterinarians recommend helping your kitten in the following ways:
- Soured eyes are wiped with a cotton pad dipped in weak black tea. If the problem is inflammation of the mucous membrane, the result of such rubbing will be visible within a few days. First, slits will appear, and gradually the eyes will open completely. You should not try to force your eyelids apart.
- If the obstacle is fused eyelids, then it can only be solved surgically. In addition, you need to do a daily eyelid massage.
The eyes of all cat breeds, without exception: British, Scottish, Sphynx and just ordinary ones, are very sensitive. During the period when kittens should begin to open their eyes, it is necessary to protect the babies from bright sunlight. And it is important to remember that each kitten, even from the same litter, may differ in development from its brother. If nothing is bothering him, there is no need to panic. Just wait a couple of days and his eyes will open.
When do kittens' eyes open?
Normally, kittens' eyes open on the 6th–14th day. However, this process depends on several factors.
Individual characteristics
The process of opening eyes in kittens may depend on the individual characteristics of the mother and babies. So, kittens can see the light later due to diseases of the mother cat or insufficient milk production in her body. If there is not enough of it, then the eyes will open later.
Gestation time
When born at less than eight weeks of gestation, the kittens' eyes will open around the 14th day. If the cat carried babies, then they may well be born with open eyes, as mentioned above, or open them on the 5th–7th day.
Breed
Expect late eye opening in kittens of the following breeds:
- Persian;
- British;
- Scottish.
These kittens will see the light of day no earlier than 10–14 days after birth. But the eyes of babies of the following breeds will open quickly:
- Devon Rex;
- Cornish Rex;
- Siamese;
- ragdoll;
- Thai;
- sphinx (3 days after birth).
These kittens open their eyes on the 5th–7th day or are already born sighted.
According to statistics, short-haired cats begin to see earlier than long-haired ones.
Photo gallery: cat breeds whose kittens quickly open their eyes
Devon Rex kittens will quickly delight their owners by opening their eyes Cornish Rex kittens open their eyes 5–7 days after birth
Siamese kittens will quickly see the light after birth
Ragdoll kittens are sometimes born sighted
Thai kittens' eyes open around the sixth day after birth.
Sphynx kittens open their eyes earlier than others - on the third day after birth.
Floor
Usually, cat girls open their eyes earlier than boys. However, soon the seals catch up with the female cats, and sometimes open their eyes earlier, and the difference in the development of animals of both sexes becomes unnoticeable. This feature is difficult to explain - statistics show this.
Lighting
It is recommended to place the box with the cat and kittens in a dark place, since here the babies’ eyes will open earlier. But in a brightly lit room this will happen later.
All newborn kittens have dull blue eyes. Usually by one and a half months this feature disappears, and the real color of the babies’ eyes can be seen.
On what day do kittens open their eyes?
The day when newborn kittens begin to be seen does not come immediately after the birth of the fluffies.
At first, they vitally need a mother, whose task is to care for and protect their offspring. By and large, the moment when kittens' eyes open depends on the overall development of the animal. Some purrs grow up quite quickly, but some take longer in this process. So it is obvious that all the frameworks and norms that exist in this matter are quite subjective. Each animal is individual and develops at its own pace.
Veterinarians have identified average values - it is believed that kittens open their eyes between the 5th and 15th day of life. This does not happen in one day, but gradually. At first, babies open their eyes slightly. Through narrow slits they learn to analyze the brightness of the light around them. At the same time, the pupils remain completely motionless, since the nervous system of animals and the speed of transmission of what they see to the brain are not yet fully developed.
However, after a couple of days, kittens begin to clearly understand the difference between light and shadow. During this period, their eyes acquire a soft blue tint. Many veterinarians advise limiting the pet's movement during this time, keeping them only in a dimly lit room. Bright light can harm the fluffy's still weak eyesight.
After about 10-12 days, kittens open their eyes and begin to explore the world around them. Since then, they have already sensed movement, shown interest in objects, and generally behaved quite actively. However, this does not mean that vision has completed its formation. Animals' eyes continue to develop for several more weeks. This can be noticed by the change in shade on the pet's iris.
Stages of the eye opening process in kittens
The opening of the eyes in babies occurs gradually:
- First, a small crack appears, usually on the inside of the eye.
- Soon the iris becomes completely visible.
- The eyes remain cloudy for a week after opening, so it is not advisable for the kitten to go out into bright light. Usually, the mother cat herself takes the baby out of the shelter when the time comes, or asks the owners to do so.
When I was about 10 years old, my girls and I were nursing blind kittens whose mother cat had died. We bottle fed them. I remember well that the kittens’ eyes began to open unevenly - I was then afraid that they were festering and the process was not going well. In fact, everything was normal, as neighbor Baba Anya told us about. And the next day we saw that the babies’ eyes were completely open. True, the impression still remained that the kittens were blind - it took about another week and a half for them to feel more confident.
At what age does this happen?
The most important event for a cat's baby is the opening of its eyes. The process begins at approximately 2 weeks of life and lasts about 7 days. At first, babies slightly open their slits - their eyes, which become wider every day.
For the first 7 days, newborns do not see or hear anything around. At the beginning of life, it is necessary for them to be in a dark room; bright light negatively affects the development of the visual organs. After opening, the eyes are cloudy, with motionless pupils, until they begin to respond to stimuli and transmit signals from the optic nerves to the brain. After 2-3 days, the pupil becomes mobile, and the membrane of the eyes becomes transparent. After the eyelids open, kittens begin to move more and pay attention to objects that are interesting to them.
About problems and the need to call a veterinarian
Don't panic if the kittens' eyes haven't opened within two weeks. Wait another week and then start taking action.
If the kittens’ eyes have not opened 3 weeks after birth, then you need to contact a veterinarian
Fusion of eyelids
A long absence of eye opening in kittens may indicate fusion of the eyelids. If this problem occurs, the doctor will recommend a light massage. If it does not help, then a simple operation will be required, which is done under local anesthesia. An anesthetic is injected into the corners of the animals' eyes, after which a specialist cuts the eyelid with a sharp scalpel. At the end of the operation, the veterinarian recommends treating the eyes with a special solution (usually a 2% boric acid solution).
Suppuration
When suppuration occurs, the kittens' eyes are washed with tea leaves or medications from the pharmacy - saline solution, boric acid solution, etc. A veterinarian can tell you in detail how to use them. In some cases, he takes the discharge for analysis, thanks to the results of which it is possible to select effective drugs to treat the animal.
Birth of a blind kitten
Kittens are born blind in the full sense of the word quite rarely. If the baby was born blind, then over time his hearing and sense of smell will become well developed, which will allow the kitten to navigate in space and exist separately from its mother. It has been noticed that even the mustache of such animals is noticeably longer than that of their sighted counterparts. If the kitten was born blind, then surgery and treatment will not help.
Expert advice
Veterinarians and experienced felinologists advise animal lovers who decide to get a kitten to do the following:
- Once pregnancy is established, the cat is switched to premium dry food or higher and is provided with sufficient food.
- At 2 weeks the baby's incisors erupt, and from three weeks the animal can chew granulated food. From this moment on, kittens are given dry food. By the age of two months, the cat's mouth will be armed with twenty-six teeth.
- For the safety of the babies, they are given a special playpen for kittens.
- The area around the cat's den is covered with carpet.
- Before the babies get stronger and begin to leave the nest, dangerous objects are removed.
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If the kitten is injured, call a veterinarian. You cannot hesitate, otherwise the cub will die or become disabled. Transport to a hospital may worsen the injury. The cat is kept motionless until the doctor appears.
What to do after kittens open their eyes
Caring for babies' opened eyes is necessary. Clean eyes without discharge indicate the health of the kitten. Sometimes dirt can get into the eye or one of the other cats will scratch it, causing inflammation. To exclude such a result, you need to examine your eyes daily and wipe them with a clean cotton pad with boiled water or tea leaves. It’s better to contact a specialist who will recommend special eye drops for kittens. Diamond Eyes or Iris are usually prescribed.
The procedure is carried out as follows:
- Wipe the kitten's eyes with a cotton pad from the inside to the outside.
- Secure the kitten and place the amount of medication recommended by your veterinarian into the inside of the eye.
To prevent inflammation during the first time after the kitten’s eyes open, a special medicine is instilled into them.
- Pat your eye with a dry cotton pad.
With daily care, kittens get used to it and calmly tolerate this procedure. The doctor will schedule an individual time to continue this treatment.
Treatment with tea leaves and instillation is especially necessary until the kitten begins to fully see and confidently navigate. And after that, you can simply examine his eyes every day and, if a problem arises, immediately begin treatment with the help of a veterinarian.
Eye care
Newborn kittens have virtually no immunity, so their eyes, in particular, are at risk. Therefore, it is recommended to help the cat care for the babies. While the eyes remain closed, you can wipe them with a soft towel dipped in chamomile infusion or a light solution of furatsilin.
Attentive attitude, as well as knowledge of how long it takes for kittens to open their eyes and what can affect this, allows the owner to track pathologies at an early stage, and, if possible, eliminate the causes of the problems by consulting a doctor.
