When Can Kittens Leave Their Mom? Timeline for Weaning Kittens

Did your cat just give birth to a litter of kittens? Or did you find one on the streets and wonder if you should bring it home? It is important for a kitten to spend the first several weeks with its mother. Unfortunately, unaware of this knowledge, many cat breeders sell their kittens for adoption too soon.

Kittens need the first twelve weeks of their life with their mom, or else they may develop behavioural and/or health issues.

This article is all about the initial stages of a cat’s life, its development, and what to do if you have a neonatal kitten at your hands.

When Can Kittens Leave Their Mom? Timeline for Weaning Kittens

Kittens should not be adopted before the age of 12 weeks as they need these first several weeks with their mother. During this period, kittens are reliant on their mother. The following are the developmental stages of a kitten:

0-4 Weeks

This is known as the neonatal stage of kittens. Their survival depends entirely on their mother at this point in their development. Newborn kittens cannot open their eyes for the first week of life. They need mom to keep warm, as they cannot regulate their body temperature. They are also exclusively on their mother’s milk and must be fed every two hours. They need help with defecation and micturition, so their mother licks their genitals to stimulate them to poop and pee. Their mother also constantly cleans them, as kittens are most vulnerable to disease in this stage of their lives.

Kittens start teething in the second half of the first month of their lives. It’s a good idea to buy them teething toys, as teeth erupting from their gums can cause soreness and pain.

4-8 Weeks

During the second month of their life, kittens are more energetic and inquisitive. They rely on their mother less for survival and more for learning the basic skills of life. This is also when they wean off their mother and start taking solid foods. Their mother will teach them how to use the litter box, for which you will need to arrange a low-entry, shallow container.

They are trained to hunt, which, although not necessary for domestic cats, is still an intrinsic part of their primitive nature. Their mother will hiss or growl at things they are not supposed to eat, teaching them to stay away from non-edible and potentially dangerous items. Lastly, their mother teaches them how to communicate, as cats are dominating creatures, so this skill is vital for them to move into adulthood.

8-12 weeks

At this stage, cat breeders think it’s okay to give away or sell a kitten. Kittens at this age can feed themselves, clean themselves, use the litter box, and are generally very playful and energetic. However, an extra month with their mother is vital for them to have a healthier, well-rounded life.

Also Read: Where Should Kittens Sleep at Night? – First Night

What Happens When a Kitten Is Removed From Its Mother Too Soon? Why Is It Important Kittens Stay With Their Mom?

If a kitten is removed from its mother too soon, it makes them vulnerable to illnesses, as its mother’s milk helps them develop a robust immune system. It also changes the way they see the world, so they develop behavioural issues, such as:

1. Aggressiveness

Cats have a primitive, wild nature. They have developed timid behaviour due to domestication, where they have learned not to hurt their owners or other pets with their claws or teeth. This altered behaviour is taught to kittens by their mother. While roughhousing with each other, kittens learn how to play without hurting each other. Without this training, they simply did not receive this grooming. Hissing and lashing out are normal because they perceive their new surroundings as dangerous.

2. Fear

When kittens are young, they explore the world around them, knowing their mom has their back. This gives them a sense of confidence. They observe the way their mom is around humans and register that their owner is safe. Without this crucial time with their mother, your cat might develop a sense of constant fear and anxiety. New people will scare of it easily, and adjusting to a new environment will take longer. It might not even warm up with you quickly. It takes increased patience and time for your pet to adapt to you and realize you will not hurt it.

3. Weak Immune System

Kittens need their mother’s milk for ideal growth and development. The ones that do not receive enough mother’s milk will have an underdeveloped immune system. This leads them to be more prone to frequent infections and diminished growth. It can also lead them to develop structural diseases like arthritis later in life.

4. Adjustment Problems

Kittens who have separated from their mother too early might have difficulties with cat-related behaviours. They watch their mothers and pick up the skill of using a litter box from them. They also learn to groom themselves from mom, so both of these things are affected, and your new pet may have a problem doing both.

How Long Should a Kitten Stay With Its Mother?

It is commonly known that a kitten can be separated from its mom at the age of 8 weeks. However, this is far from the truth. Kittens need the first three months of their lives with their mother, which is 12 weeks. This ensures they become well-rounded, healthy cats.

Check Out: When Do Kittens Start Eating Food And Drinking Water?

What to Do if Your Kitten Was Separated Early From Its Mother?

If you have found an abandoned kitten, fear not. While the task seems daunting, with a little patience and a lot of care, you can successfully give this little creature a chance at life. In accordance with the age of the kitten, you should provide different amounts of care.

If Your Kitten is 0-4 Weeks Old

If your kitten is 0-4 weeks old, it needs you for everything. You need to arrange a kitten milk replacer, ensure it is warm to the touch, and feed it to your tiny pet every two hours, even through the night. Then, after every feed, use tissue paper or a cotton ball and gently rub its genitals so it may pee and poop.

• Make sure to keep it warm, as kittens cannot maintain their body temperature. You will need towels, a shoe box, and a hot water bottle or heating pad. Kittens of this age only wake up to eat, pee and poop; they sleep the rest of the time. If you make it past this stage, give yourself a pat on the back. This stage is the one that requires the most effort and care.

If You Have a Kitten From 4-8 Weeks Old

If you have a kitten from 4-8 weeks old, you will need to transition it to solid food. Start with wet canned food mixed with kitten milk replacer(KMR), as dry kibble is too hard for their baby teeth. Decrease the amount of KMR once they get used to canned food. At 6 weeks, you can transition to soft dry cat food to ultimately get them to eat dry kibble.

Intresting Reading: Do Kittens Need Wet Food?

Litter Train Your New Pet

You will need to litter train your new pet. You can start as early as three weeks when you see your baby pet defecating on its own without any stimulation. Arrange a litter tray with short walls, or cut out the base of a box during litter training. Buy unscented paper-based litter, as kittens put everything in their mouths. You can stimulate your kitten on top of the litter box. Once it pees or poops into the litter box, it will associate the urine smell with its place to pee. Keep the box nearby, not more than 10 feet from your kitten, so they can easily find it.

Develops Social Skills

You must play with your kitten frequently so that it develops social skills. This also develops a bond between you and your pet. Take your kitten out in your garden to explore new things and build its hunting instincts.

Also, Check Out: My Kitten is Weak And Sleepy How to Care for a Sick Kitten?

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line on When Can Kittens Leave Their Mom

Kittens should not be separated from their mother before the age of twelve weeks. They have plenty of time to develop into strong, self-assured, and independent cats that know exactly how to use the litter box, take care of themselves and engage in play and hunting. Additionally, they have improved their human and animal interaction skills.

If you’ve found an orphan kitten or adopted one before they’re ready. You’ll need to offer them a little more love and attention, but with enough effort, you can give them the same level of attention their mother does. Your kittens ought to be content, healthy, and thriving in no time!