How long are kittens blind when born?

Kittens open their eyes about seven to ten days after birth. At first, the retina is poorly developed and vision is poor. Kittens cannot see as well as adult cats until about ten weeks after birth. Kittens develop very quickly from about two weeks of age until their seventh week.

Are kittens blind at birth?

They’re Born Blind and Deaf Kittens are born with their eyes and ear canals closed, Simpson describes. Their eyes will open in about seven to 14 days, and their ear canals will open between 10 and 14 days old. All kittens are born with blue eyes, she adds. Their true iris color will be evident by 8 weeks of age.

How do I know if my newborn kitten is blind?

Symptoms and Types

1. Clumsy behavior (e.g., bumping into objects, tripping, falling)
2. Decreased or absent menace response (i.e., does not blink when a hand is waved toward the eyes)
3. Impaired visual placing responses (e.g., extends the paws incorrectly when trying to approach a nearby surface)

How do you treat blindness in cats?

The treatment for acute onset blindness will vary according to the underlying cause, but may often involve use of medications (eg, tablets to reduce blood pressure or relieve inflammation). In some cases the underlying cause of the blindness will be reversible and normal vision may return.

Why would a cat go blind?

A wide variety of conditions can precipitate sudden blindness in a cat, including a burst of bleeding into the eye’s interior or a traumatic blow to the head. In rare cases, a cat’s ingestion of an antibacterial medication called enrofloxacin has also been shown to damage the feline retina and cause sudden blindness.

Can I touch a newborn kitten?

Take it slowly, and make sure she is okay with it before you touch them. Either way, they really should not be handled that much at all until they are about 2 weeks old. If you do handle them, be sure to either wear gloves or wash your hands thoroughly before and after.