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Kittens should stay with their Mom until at least 10 weeks, thoroughly weaned. They learn all their skills from Momma Cat so never feel the rush to take them from the mother, as this can lead to serious problems for the kittens in later life.

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11y ago
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12y ago

You should not separate a kitten from its mother until it is 12-14 weeks old. The mother and litter mates will provide the best education and socialization for the kittens. Kittens with a very social mother are usually more balanced and inquisitive. They will learn all about grooming and litterbox-use. They are more obedient and can be corrected easier. If brothers and sisters are still present, kittens learn how to share and play, and how to groom each other. Kittens will usually stop nursing from the mother around 8 weeks old, at which time they will begin to find food for themselves.

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12y ago

Kittens should be 12-14 weeks old before leaving their mother. Any younger is much too early, as they have not yet learned vital socialisation skills that will help them develop into well-behaved adult cats.

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13y ago

Mother cats only eat their kittens if they are born dead. They do that to hide their presence from predators. They will not just eat them. Other toms will kill the kittens, however, so that the mother will mate with him and have his kittens. That can be prevented by keeping your cats and kittens indoors, safe from the other toms.

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15y ago

It is highly, highly doubtful that the mother would eat her kittens for any reason.

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Q: How old should kittens be before leaving mother?
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When should you get your mamma cat fixed after having kittens?

She can be fixed as soon as her kittens are weaned, at around six weeks of age. The mother will stop giving milk after she is spayed, so it is important you don't spay her before then.


How do you know if kittens are ready to leave?

Kittens should stay with their mother until at least 10 weeks, and continue nursing throughout this time. Kittens should usually stay nursing for 12 weeks, but the kittens' mother will normally stop them nursing when the time is right.


How often does she eat when looking after kittens?

A mother cat should always have plenty of food near by when she is nursing her kittens, she will eat as much as she needs.


When should a mother cat be spayed and will she leave the kittens?

It is recommended to spay a mother cat when the kittens are weaned, but be sure to check when your vet is most comfortable to spay her. The spay will not cause her to behave any differently to her kittens, but is advised to wait until the kittens are on solid food as the procedure can disrupt, or even stop, milk flow.


Can you touch kittens when they are 2 weeks old?

Yes, and this can help to socialize them to the smell and touch of humans. However, you should be very careful - the mother cat may not like you touching her kittens, and the kittens will be very fragile so you have to be very gentle. You should also limit your time touching the kittens to when the mother is nursing them so you don't interrupt their sleep - newborn kittens sleep the vast majority of the day.

Related questions

You have found 3 newborn kittens what do you feed them?

Before they have been weaned kittens drink their mother's milk, you should contact a vet for advice.


What do you do if a mother cat attacks her kittens?

I have never heard of this. If it should happen, obviously the kittens should immediately be taken from the mother and cared for separately. The mother should be taken to a vet to ensure that she is not ill.


Can kittens get worms from mom?

Not all kittens are born with worms. If the mother was wormed regularly and before the birth of the kittens it is unlikely that they will have worms. It is however highly recommended that kittens be wormed regularly and it is advised that this should be done monthly until they are 6 months old


How long would you have to keep kittens before they go to another family?

Kittens should be kept with their mother for 6-8 weeks. They should be on solid food prior to being removed from their mother. Some kittens ween easier and earlier than others, but the most important thing is the kitten is able to live off dry food before giving up its mom.


Should you keep the mother cat from her kittens?

NO! No you should not. That is cruel and unnecessary.


What if your kittens body feel so hot what should you do?

Let the mother of the kittens take care for it.The mother cat has a big responsibility for it.


How long before a shitzu pup leaves his mother?

Puppies and Kittens should all be sold at the youngest age of eight weeks.


How long should kittens be on milk replacement?

Until it is 6-8 weeks old, since that's when it would normally leave it's mother. Most kittens stop drinking milk a little before then.


When should you get your mamma cat fixed after having kittens?

She can be fixed as soon as her kittens are weaned, at around six weeks of age. The mother will stop giving milk after she is spayed, so it is important you don't spay her before then.


Should you handle newborn kittens before they open their eyes?

Probably not. The mother could be very protective and also if you are not very very careful you could hurt the kittens. But soon after they open their eyes I think it might be safer.


Can kittens live on the mother cats milk only for ten weeks?

Most kittens wean well before 10 weeks of age. Some kittens start to take an interest in their mother's food around 4-6 weeks, although some can take longer. Weaning is a gradual process and often takes several weeks. However, a healthy 10-week old kitten should not be on the mother's milk alone; by this age the kittens need extra sustenance and nutrients. The majority of the time, kittens are fully weaned from mother's milk and can be taken from their mother around 12 weeks.


How do you know if kittens are ready to leave?

Kittens should stay with their mother until at least 10 weeks, and continue nursing throughout this time. Kittens should usually stay nursing for 12 weeks, but the kittens' mother will normally stop them nursing when the time is right.