At what age should you get rid of kittens?

In general, try to wait until the kittens are weaned, about 8 weeks. Even if you’re hand-raising the kittens (no mother is around), you should still wait 8 weeks before giving them away.

Is it OK to give kittens away at 8 weeks old?

It is a common misconception that kittens can be separated from their mothers as early as 8 weeks old. However, kittens separated at this time are still at risk for developmental, social, and health issues. Instead, kittens should remain with their mothers until they are 12-14 weeks old.

What age can kittens be separated from mom?

It’s important to separate the kittens from the queen when they’re ready. Don’t separate them before they reach eight weeks of age, as they will still be learning from their mum.

Is 8 weeks too early to adopt a kitten?

At most shelters and rescues, kittens can be adopted starting at 8 weeks. Breeders will often wait until the kitten has been with their mother for at least 12 weeks, with many breeders waiting until 14 weeks.

Is it bad to take kittens away from mom?

When can kittens be separated from their mother?

Expect to separate the kittens from their mother when they are around 12 weeks old. 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.

Why would a mother cat abandon her kitten?

If the mother has no experience and she is stressed because of lack of food or frightening experiences can cause her to abandon one or all of the kittens. If the cat is feral, handling the kittens can cause the mother to abandon them especially if they are afraid of people. In some rare circumstances, a cat might kill one or more of her kittens.

What age should you adopt a kitten?

Shelters will generally adopt out kittens from the age of 10+ weeks, once they have had their vaccinations and are old enough, weigh enough to have been desexed. Most breeders keep kittens until they are 12 weeks of age. Some will be kept until 16 weeks, especially the oriental type breeds such as Siamese .

What to do if you find stray kittens?

Place the kittens in a small box lined with blankets or towels and keep them in a room separate from other pets. Kittens can easily become chilled, so place a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel or a heating pad on low temperature in the box.

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