In 2015, my husband and I found a trash bag on the side of the road.
Inside were baby kittens cold, fragile, and fighting for life. We didn’t know
their age, but we knew instinctively what had to happen: keep them warm, bottle
feed them, and stay close. That moment changed everything. What we learned
through trial, error, and late-night research became the foundation for this
guide. If you’ve just found a kitten and feel overwhelmed, I hope this article
helps you the way others helped us.
At three weeks old, a kitten is entering a critical developmental stage.
Their blue eyes are still prominent, ears begin to point upright, and baby
teeth start to emerge. Vision and hearing are improving, and they’ll begin walking,
exploring, and even testing out the litter box. A healthy kitten at this age
typically weighs between 350–450 grams (12.8–14.1 ounces).
Introducing Food
You can begin weaning by offering a mix of wet kitten food and kitten
formula. This can be served in a shallow dish or fed via kitten-specific
bottles. A general guideline is 4 ounces of milk per pound of body weight per
day. For example, a 3-pound kitten would need approximately 12 ounces of
formula daily, divided into multiple feedings.
Essential Care Tips for 3-Week-Old Orphaned
Kittens
Feeding Schedule Feed every 6–8 hours,
dividing total intake across feedings. Offer milk replacement formula in a
shallow dish to encourage weaning. Introduce a moist, chewable mix of warm
formula and high-quality kitten food 4–6 times daily. Avoid cow’s milk, which
can cause digestive upset.
Hydration: Provide fresh, clean water
at every feeding. Rinse and refill the water bowl regularly, and sanitize
weekly.
Warmth: Use a low-setting heating pad
wrapped in a towel until kittens are 4–6 weeks old. Ensure the bedding is warm
but not hot, mimicking the warmth of a mother cat.
Cleanliness: Use clean newspaper
for bedding during the first week. Avoid soft cloth bedding, which can pose suffocation
risks for newborns.
Weight Monitoring: Kittens should
gain about ½ ounce (14 grams) daily or 4 ounces (113 grams) weekly. Weigh
kittens every 12 hours for the first two weeks, then daily until weaned. Continue
weekly weigh-ins until at least 8 weeks of age.
📚 Supporting
Resources
- Feeding Orphaned Kittens – VCA Animal Hospitals
- Best Friends Animal Society – Feeding and Weaning
Orphaned Kittens
- Caring for Orphaned Kittens Under 3 Weeks – WikiHow
If you’ve just opened a trash bag and found life inside, or if you’re
staring at a tiny kitten wondering what to do next know that you’re not alone.
We’ve been there. And every ounce of care you give matters.
