Wee kitty , with their lil ' mews andwaddly walks , just make us want to hold them as presently as they ’re bear and never let go ! However , it ’s vital to esteem and abide by their natural ontogenesis process . So when can kittens leave their mama ?
Renee Rucinsky , DVM , DABVP(F ) , is the possessor ofMid - Atlantic Cat Hospital and Feline Thyroid Centerin Queenstown , Md. She tells Daily Paws that for quite a while , " kitty need to be around their sib and mom to learn boundaries , how to interact with others — and how not to be annoying ! "
Here ’s how the timeline works .
Photo: kali9 / Getty
When Can a Kitten Leave Their Mother?
Ideally , kitten should bond with their littermates and Momma Cat ( name to by breeders as the tabby , which seemsabsolutelyappropriate ) for eight to 10 calendar week . Rucinsky say if siblings are adopted together , they can sometimes move on at 7 weeks old , but in a utter world , the whole kinfolk would remain together for at least nine weeks .
At 7 calendar week old , kittens have already experienced lightning - fast development :
" Developmentally , the time period between 4–7 calendar week [ old ] is crucial to a lifetime of being feline good citizens . If Momma Cat does n’t teach them way then , or if they are n’t uncover to people during that time , it ’s so much harder to have those jackpot be well - mannered and well - adjust , " Rucinsky says .
She append that when they leave the bedding too shortly , or if they ’re solo babies , they do n’t build essential social skills and normal behavior cue as they would from being in the whole group .
The American Animal Hospital Association ( AAHA ) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners ( AAFP ) greenback in theirlife stage guidelinesthat while kittens often inherit the personality of their Church Father ( also known as the tom ) , they learneverything elsefrom their mother . This include accepting solid food , bathroom habits , and " fear reception " to humans and animate being .
According to the guidelines , the " sensitive socialisation period " for kitty — experiencing new things and meet new people and animals — get down when they ’re 2–3 weeks old and endure until they ’re 9–10 weeks old .
Weaning Kittens
Unless you’refostering stray kittensand have beenbottle - feedingfrom the commencement , relief assured Momma Cat has this transition phase under control .
How long do kittens suck ? Rucinsky says some five to six weeks , with the frequency and amount bit by bit lessen as they learn how to eat solid intellectual nourishment . The weaning process depends on what ’s uncommitted for the kitty to eat and " how much the mama tolerates annoying babies trying to nurse ! "
But as early as 4 weeks old , the fiddling rapscallion become more rummy about what their mom eats , and she ’ll crusade them away . When this encounter , give Momma Cat a eternal sleep and help with kitten weaning by setting out tiny turn of particularly formulated kitten solid food : a one - to - three proportion of affectionate body of water to dry kibble or canned food . You’ll want a consistency like fine oatmeal mush . confer your veterinarianabout how toschedule these feedings , but the general approach is often referred to as " ad libitum , " which mean " as often as necessary or desired . " This might be around four times daily .
Create a feeding domain away from mommy with food on a flat discus so kitty can research and yes , make for with — and in — the nutrient . They ’ll shortly realize mom ’s kitchen is closed and these eats are all there is . She ’ll in all likelihood poke at them along between snooze as they get the hang of it . Still , kitty ca n’t leave her just yet , as they ’re suck up some of those other indispensable behavioral skill , but this stage is their launch toward independency .
What Happens If Kittens Are Weaned Too Early?
How can you help a cat ablactate too early ? It depends on the timeline . For model , if you have a home litter and something happens to Momma Cat in that vital four- to seven - week window , you ’ll become a foster computed axial tomography with all the parenting skills right out , include bottle feeding and square food for thought innovation , litter grooming , and socialization .
logical socialization helps reduce hostility , anxiousness , and fear in orphan pussy by acclimating them to their sib , other citizenry , and animate being . Without a mamma to swat away inappropriate antics , you ’ll have to trust onpositive reinforcement trainingtechniques supported by aids such as treats , pats , and toy dog to keep them on the right-hand track . A cat behavior advisor can walk you through the procedure . This construct it a small easy for kitties to venture into the world beyond 7 weeks old .
Nevertheless , kittens leave behind their mum too early might train some minor behavioural repercussions that become part of their eccentric . " If for some reason a kitty is weaned too ahead of time , they may have some tendencies to endeavor to give suck on material or fluffy things , kind of an oral fixation kind of matter . It ’s harmless most of the time and just makes them feelsoothed , " Rucinsky says .
Can Kittens Stay With Their Moms Their Whole Lives?
Rucinsky notes that it ’s fine if kittens grow up and live with momma . Momma Cat , on the other paw , might opt a different arrangement !
" Sometimes cat moms want their kids to grow up , go to college , and leave the nest , but overall , everyone can delay together , " Rucinsky says . " Likewise , some individual Arabian tea may desire more independence . There ’s not really a ' in force ' office with mummy Caterpillar and kittens . "
Diet and Nutrition for Cats . Banfield Animal Hospital .
The Keys to Kitten Socialization . DVM360 .
