josiespcah6ojsh
Cathlete
does anyone know what the maximum age a kitten can be separated? a friend of mine is taking in 2 kittens each one month old.
laura
laura
kittens separated from mother
- Thread starter josiespcah6ojsh
- Start date
That is way too young. The kittens should be at least 8 weeks old and preferably 12 weeks. They need to be eating on their own and learning "kitten" behavior from their mother and littermates. For example the litter box, socialization so they don't bite when they play. If they can stay with their mom for another month I would strongly recommend it. They still need to nurse so they don't develop inappropriate sucking behavior like your sweaters. Try to keep them with Mom. It is important for a healthy well adjusted kitten.
lifeverlasting78
Cathlete
I totally agree with Phyllis, 4 weeks is way too early for separation! My husband and I had the joy of raising kittens and I did any and all research we could on how to properly care for them and their mother, as well as what age is appropriate for separation. It's generally agreed that 8-12 weeks is best (12 being the best if you can wait that long).
Now, regretfully, we did let one of the kittens go at 6 weeks (against my better judgement!!) and she has some behavioral problems now (she's wild and bites A LOT! Not that she's biting because she is mean, but she doesn't know how to properly socialize.) She also doesn't groom herself well, if at all. These are things they learn from their momma and litter mates as they get older. She is happy and in a loving home though and does get along well with the other cat and dog that live there, as well as the humans, but there is no doubt that she was way too young to leave momma, and now it shows.
Also, I believe 4 weeks was the age we started introducing the kitties to soft kitten food. They are still sucking on momma too at this point and it is so incredibly important that they be weened off of momma and on to kitten food before separation!
I guess it depends on your friends circumstances as to why she is taking these kittens so young. Bless her for giving them a home!! But if they can stay with momma longer, please, please tell her that's what needs to be done!
Christine
Now, regretfully, we did let one of the kittens go at 6 weeks (against my better judgement!!) and she has some behavioral problems now (she's wild and bites A LOT! Not that she's biting because she is mean, but she doesn't know how to properly socialize.) She also doesn't groom herself well, if at all. These are things they learn from their momma and litter mates as they get older. She is happy and in a loving home though and does get along well with the other cat and dog that live there, as well as the humans, but there is no doubt that she was way too young to leave momma, and now it shows.
Also, I believe 4 weeks was the age we started introducing the kitties to soft kitten food. They are still sucking on momma too at this point and it is so incredibly important that they be weened off of momma and on to kitten food before separation!
I guess it depends on your friends circumstances as to why she is taking these kittens so young. Bless her for giving them a home!! But if they can stay with momma longer, please, please tell her that's what needs to be done!
Christine
cats_meow_0911
Cathlete
Are they orphaned? If they are not, they should stay with mom for another month. This is ideal for normal social development.
If they are orphans, 1 month isn't too hard to deal with. They can be fed kitten formula from a dish, and after a couple of weeks, a mush can be fed made with canned kitten food and formula. They don't have to be bottle-fed at 1 month of age.
If they are orphans, 1 month isn't too hard to deal with. They can be fed kitten formula from a dish, and after a couple of weeks, a mush can be fed made with canned kitten food and formula. They don't have to be bottle-fed at 1 month of age.
Hi,
It is my experience that this is too young if they're just being adopted; however, if they are abandoned or the mother has died, they most definitely can survive. I found one of my brood at 2 weeks and he is thriving. I know a couple that rescued two babies that didn't have their eyes open yet. The woman took the kittens every where, bottle fed them and they are alive today and very well adjusted.
If this woman is just taking them from the mother though, I do not recommend it because it's not in the best interest of the kittens. The kittens learn alot from the mother and if they are not weaned it can create behavioral issues that make the kittens unsuitable for indoor living.
Lori
It is my experience that this is too young if they're just being adopted; however, if they are abandoned or the mother has died, they most definitely can survive. I found one of my brood at 2 weeks and he is thriving. I know a couple that rescued two babies that didn't have their eyes open yet. The woman took the kittens every where, bottle fed them and they are alive today and very well adjusted.
If this woman is just taking them from the mother though, I do not recommend it because it's not in the best interest of the kittens. The kittens learn alot from the mother and if they are not weaned it can create behavioral issues that make the kittens unsuitable for indoor living.
Lori
josiespcah6ojsh
Cathlete
the 2 kittens are being taken care of by a neighbor.he also takes care of the mother.they are strays. i agree they are too young. so how long till just the kittens can be taken in?
laura
laura
cats_meow_0911
Cathlete
They should wait until at least 8 weeks old and the kittens are weaned.
josiespcah6ojsh
Cathlete
thanks! i will tell my friend right now. also,how old do they need to be to get spayed/nutered?
laura
laura
dorothyrd
Cathlete
My kitty's litter was abandoned at 3 weeks. The people who found them figured the mother got run over or something. We got Gizmo when he was just under 5 weeks and he was one pound. He was able to eat regular food, has no problems with socialation, in fact is a very mild mannered sweet cat. He also has no issues with the litter box, although I do think he thinks he is a dog because he has bounded to our golden and she to him. We got him fixed at about 4 months old, but did not declaw him. I have soft claws nail caps on him, and that seems to be working fine.
Peaceful Rainbow
Cathlete
I agree that waiting until at least 8 weeks is best. I would suggest though that if it's possible they should be handled to socialize them to people. They need to learn from their Mother, but they also need to start learning to accept human contact. Once past 8 weeks, the older they get the more feral they can become and the harder to catch.
lifeverlasting78
Cathlete
Hi Laura,
I believe it's 6 months. I know shelters do it when kittens are younger because it's more appealing to offer someone a kitten that is already spayed/neutered so the person adopting doesn't have to incur that expense. But since they're not shelter kittens, then 6 months.
Christine
kathryn
Cathlete
For spaying/neutering, our local shelter goes by weight (I can't remember if it's 2 or 3 pounds minimum). A quick call to a vet should get you an exact answer.
dorothyrd
Cathlete
Kathyrn is right, spaying and neutering go by weight not age. The vet told me kittens who are thriving gain about .25 pounds a week and once Gizmo was 3 pounds she said that I could think about scheduling the surgery. They recover fast when they are young, just like with kids!