22/10/2026
✨ EDUCATIONAL FRIDAY ✨
Did you know that kittens are unable to urinate and defecate independently until they’re around 3–4 weeks of age? 🐱
When kittens are with their mum, toileting is taken care of for them! Mumma cats instinctively lick their kittens’ ge***al regions to stimulate them to urinate and pass faeces. This gentle stimulation is essential during their first few weeks of life.
And here’s another thing that might surprise you… Mumma cats will usually eat their kittens’ waste! 🤯
While this might sound a little gross to us humans, for mumma cats - it’s a completely normal maternal behaviour 💕
🍼 What happens when kittens are orphaned?
This is where foster carers step in!
When tiny kittens are separated from their mum, it becomes the carer’s responsibility to help them go potty. Using a soft tissue or baby wipe carers gently stimulate the ge***al area before each feed to encourage urination and bowel movements.
Without this assistance, very young kittens can struggle to eliminate waste, potentially leading to serious health complications ❤️🩹
As kittens grow and develop, they gradually learn to toilet independently. By around 3–4 weeks of age, most kittens begin to gain this ability, and this is also when they can start learning to use a litter tray. ✨
