# Very stoopid question about the cuteness of kittens **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 23, 2019, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258 "2019-01-23T10:24:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/1 "2019-01-23T10:24:52Z")
Basically, do you consider VERY young kittens to be all that cute. I’m talking about literally day old, still wet behind the ears young kittens. Their eyes are still closed, they have no clue what to do with all those legs and all they can do is mew for their mama. Poll coming. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/2 "2019-01-23T10:33:16Z")
To me, less cute than romping kittens, but still cute. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/3 "2019-01-23T11:37:56Z")
Not cute until their first pounce. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/4 "2019-01-23T11:38:36Z")
No, [newborn kittens](https://goo.gl/images/XQGQyP) aren’t cute. After three or four weeks they get pretty cute, though. Newborn humans need a few days themselves before they become anything much to look at. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/5 "2019-01-23T13:23:45Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > No, [newborn kittens](https://goo.gl/images/XQGQyP) aren’t cute. After three or four weeks they get pretty cute, though. Newborn humans need a few days themselves before they become anything much to look at. Bwhaaaaaaa???That is two handfuls of adorableness. I only wish there was sound so I could hear the mewing. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/6 "2019-01-23T13:51:27Z")
Naah, they’re only cute to me once the eyes have opened. Otherwise we’re in naked mole rat territory. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/7 "2019-01-23T14:56:06Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Newborn humans need a few days themselves before they become anything much to look at. Days? I was thinking a couple years. Human babies are basically fleshy blobs. That is why they get mixed up at the hospital. And I say this as a father of two kids. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/8 "2019-01-23T15:05:26Z")
Newborn kittens are cute, but I don’t think kittens really achieve their peak cuteness until they’re at least 3-4 weeks old. It lasts until maybe 3 months–when their eyes are open, but they have roly-poly bodies, short legs, and stubby pinkie-finger-length tails. And they do that war-dance, arching their backs and bouncing on their toes. After about 3 months, they have a growth spurt; legs grow longer and the stubby tail suddenly shoots out full length. The whole body proportion changes. By 4-5 months, all the baby-ness is gone. Still cute, but what you have at this point is a miniature cat. ETA: My avatar is Charley, when she was about 6-7 weeks old, right after I brought her home. She’s 4 years, and 15 pounds, now. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/9 "2019-01-23T17:15:42Z")
I voted ‘cute’, but really, all newborns look like spider monkeys to me. Which means, so ugly it seems cute. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/10 "2019-01-23T18:26:30Z")
Marvelous and awe-inspiring for all sorts of cat-worshipping reasons. But about as cute as breakfast sausages (not cute). ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/11 "2019-01-23T18:30:04Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > Basically, do you consider VERY young kittens to be all that cute. Yes. Next! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/12 "2019-01-23T19:03:46Z")
They’re not cute until they’ve learned to climb up my pant leg and into my loving arms. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/13 "2019-01-23T19:10:18Z")
I like 'em very new and very tiny. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/14 "2019-01-23T19:11:37Z")
Mate, I find baby _centipedes_ cute. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/15 "2019-01-23T21:24:29Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Bwhaaaaaaa???That is two handfuls of adorableness. I only wish there was sound so I could hear the mewing. Very enthusiastic agreement here! Gimme all of 'em!! ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/16 "2019-01-23T22:19:28Z")
No. Once they’re up and wobbling around, they are adorable, but I’ll leave the kittenoids to the momma cat, who usually doesn’t want people around 'em anyway. Unless you’re breeding high-dollar pure-bred cats, please get your furry pals spayed or neutered. There’s way too many feral cats out there. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/17 "2019-01-23T22:29:01Z")
Not yet at peak cuteness, but yup - cute from birth. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/18 "2019-01-23T23:55:18Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > They’re not cute until they’ve learned to climb up my pant leg and into my loving arms. See how cute they are when they do that and you’re not wearing pants. 😛 Not so cute. I’ve got the scars to prove it lol ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/19 "2019-01-24T00:02:08Z")
[Microkittens! With squee!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOAJ0HPZIVU) ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258/20 "2019-01-24T01:30:49Z")
I would agree with what others have said, that very young kittens aren’t the absolute cutest, but they’re still cute. If you showed me a group of newly-hatched maggots, my reaction would be “Oh, gross!” whereas the very young kittens in the picture **elfkin477** linked to may not be as overwhelmingly cute as [these guys](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ALIM0852.JPG), but the **elfkin477** kittens still activate my “Ooh, kittens!” response, not my “Oh, gross!” response. (And according to the photo captions, [these little guys](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Macicky.jpg) are only five days old, and IMHO they already look awfully cute.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-stoopid-question-about-the-cuteness-of-kittens/828258.md?page=2)