Research overview: neonatal olfaction and nipple finding in kittens

Newborn kittens are blind and deaf, so smell and touch guide their earliest survival behaviors, especially locating the mother's nipple to nurse. This overview surveys how neonatal kittens rely on olfaction and thermal and tactile cues to find a teat soon after birth, often returning to a preferred nipple identified by scent. The early functionality of the olfactory system contrasts with the delayed maturation of vision and hearing. The survey relates this to the developmental timeline of feline senses and to the importance of chemical cues in mother-offspring interaction. It frames neonatal olfaction as the first sense a kitten depends on. Understanding how smell guides nursing highlights the priority of chemical sensing in early feline life and connects to broader themes of sensory development. It shows that long before a kitten can see or hear, it is already navigating its world through scent.