Research overview: thermotaxis and thermal sensing in neonatal kittens

Newborn kittens cannot regulate their body temperature well and depend on sensing warmth to stay close to their mother and littermates. This overview surveys neonatal thermotaxis, the tendency of young kittens to move toward warmth, which helps them locate the mother and the nest and avoid dangerous cooling. Thermal sensing is among the earliest functional senses, operating alongside smell and touch before vision and hearing mature. The survey relates thermotaxis to the vulnerability of neonatal kittens and to the suite of early senses that guide survival behaviors like finding the nipple. It discusses the importance of warmth for kitten health. Understanding neonatal thermotaxis highlights how temperature sensing guides the behavior of the youngest kittens. It complements accounts of early olfaction and tactile sensing, showing that before a kitten can see or hear, it navigates toward warmth, with thermal cues helping ensure it remains in the safe, warm environment it needs to survive.