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When Do Kittens Open Their Eyes and Ears?

Eyes start opening at about 8-12 days and are fully open by 2 weeks; ears open around the same timeFact

A kitten is born with eyes closed and ears folded. Cats Protection puts eye-opening anywhere from 5 to 14 days; the ASPCA says eyes begin opening at 8-12 days and are fully open by 2 weeks, when the ears are open too. Let each kitten open at its own pace.

Applies to: Newborn to about 3-week-old kittens, whether with a mother or being hand-raised.

Steps

The newborn baselineFact
  • At birth the eyes are shut, the ears are folded down, and the kitten cannot stand
  • Eyes open gradually over a few days rather than all at once
  • One eye may open a little before the other, which is normal
  • Newborn eyes look cloudy blue-grey and vision is poor at first
When the eyes actually openFact
  • Cats Protection gives a window of 5 to 14 days old
  • The ASPCA narrows first opening to about 8-12 days
  • Eyes are usually fully open by roughly 2 weeks
  • Don't try to pry eyes open or hurry the process
Ears follow a similar clockFact
  • Ears are folded at birth and open around the two-week mark
  • By about 3 weeks the ears start to point upright
  • Hearing, like vision, is weak at first and sharpens over the following weeks
  • Eye and ear opening together is a useful sign a kitten is near 2 weeks old

Normal vs keep-watching

Normal: Eyes opening any time between 5 and 14 days, sometimes one eye first, with a cloudy blue appearance and poor early vision.

Keep watching: Watch each day for both eyes fully open by around 2 weeks and ears beginning to lift by week 3.

When to contact a vet. If eyes are still fully sealed well past 2 weeks, or you see swelling, bulging, pus, crusting or discharge sealing the lids, contact a vet promptly, as neonatal eye infections need treatment before the eyes are even open.

What changes this answer

  • Whether the kitten was premature or underweight
  • Presence of eye discharge or infection
  • Whether the exact birth date is known or estimated

Common mistakes

  • Manually opening a kitten's eyes because they seem late
  • Assuming blue eyes at 2 weeks are the permanent color
  • Ignoring pus or crusting as just sleepy eyes

Sources

Real questions cat owners ask

  • Why is only one of my kitten's eyes open?
  • Should newborn kitten eyes look cloudy or blue?
  • What do I do if a kitten's eyes are gunky or stuck shut?
Record the date both eyes were first fully open; it helps anchor the kitten's estimated age. Set up your Cat Passport.

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