How soon after birth can I touch newborn kittens?

You can touch newborn kittens right after birth, but they are fragile, so be very gentle to avoid injury. Also, a new mother is strongly maternal and may scratch or bite if you touch the kittens without care, so observe her mood first. Finally, mothers identify kittens by scent; if a kitten carries a strange smell, the mother may abandon or even kill it, so wash your hands and rub them with something from the nest to pick up a familiar scent before touching, avoiding foreign odors on the kitten.