When do kittens open their eyes?

At birth the eyelids are still fused, which protects the developing eye. Around day 7 you may notice a thin slit appearing at the inner corner, and by two weeks both eyes are normally fully open.

The process is gradual and slightly different for every kitten. Some open one eye a day or two before the other, and a small amount of crusting at the inner corner is common during this window.

Cats are born altricial, meaning the young are helpless at birth and depend completely on the mother. Closed eyes, sealed ear canals and limited mobility are all part of that pattern.

The fused lids protect the delicate surface of the eye while it finishes developing. This is precisely why the lids should never be forced apart: the tissue is thin, and tearing it can cause infection, scarring or permanent damage.

Newly opened eyes often look cloudy or blue-grey. That blue colour is normal and usually shifts to the kitten's permanent colour — green, gold, amber or copper — by about 6 to 8 weeks. Some cats simply stay blue-eyed.

You may also see a small amount of dried discharge in the inner corner. It can normally be wiped away with a warm, damp cotton ball, using a fresh one for each eye to avoid transferring anything from one eye to the other.

Kittens cannot focus well until roughly 3 to 4 weeks, and depth perception is not reliable until about 5 weeks, so they may bump into things or misjudge a step. This is normal clumsiness rather than a sign of a problem.

The ear canals open at around 2 weeks, which is why very young kittens barely react to sound. Startling reflexes and a proper response to noise usually appear over the following couple of weeks.

See a veterinarian if you notice swelling, pus, a crusted or glued-shut eye, a cloudy or bulging eye, or if the eyes are still closed at 14 to 16 days. This can be neonatal ophthalmia, a bacterial infection that responds well to ointment when treated early but can damage the eye if left alone.

Upper respiratory infections in kittens often show up first in the eyes, with redness, discharge and squinting. Because young kittens can deteriorate quickly, it is worth having any eye problem checked rather than waiting to see whether it clears on its own.

Keep the bedding clean and change it daily, since infection spreads easily in a warm, crowded nest. Wipe discharge gently with warm water, never with soap or human eye products.

Avoid flash photography directly in a kitten's face while the eyes are still developing, and keep very young kittens away from other pets until a vet has confirmed they are healthy. Handle them briefly and gently, supporting the whole body.