What Age Should Kittens Leave Their Mum
While caring for neonatal kittens can seem daunting it is completely do able and incredibly rewarding.
What age should kittens leave their mum. Your cat s chances of being healthy well socialized and properly developed are dramatically increased by allowing it to spend extra time with its mother and littermates. The time varies from one kitten to another since several factors come to play. In many cases kittens begin eating strictly solid foods at around 8 weeks and then may be ready to leave their mothers for good. First of all there is no set age on when the separation should be done.
While you probably don t want to bring an older cat home if you are looking for a long term pet you also do not want to bring home a kitten too early as this can do more harm than good to the cat. A kitten should stay with his mother until a minimum of 10 weeks but preferably 12 weeks. Even though kittens are relatively independent by 8 10 weeks and can survive without their mother there are health and social benefits to staying with the mother and siblings. Ideally kittens should go to their new home around 12 weeks of age.
You can care for the kittens yourself right from the comfort of your home. While some kittens can go home earlier the closer you wait until 12 or 13 weeks the better off the kitten will be. However a kitten is typically ready to leave his mother at about 8 to 12 weeks of age. If mom hasn t returned for 12 hours and the kittens appear healthy it s time to step in and be their hero.
While most kittens are weaned by 8 10 weeks most experts recommend leaving kittens with their littermates until 12 13 weeks so they can be properly socialized. It s not just about food it s about growing up a socially comfortable and normal little beastie too. 8 weeks the organization cats international recommends keeping kittens with their fellow litter mates and mothers until about 8 weeks in age. When is the right time.
Also kittens should receive their first vaccinations prior to leaving their birth home something that cannot be achieved at eight weeks old. Expect to separate the kittens from their mother when they are around 12 weeks old. How soon should kittens leave their mothers.