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when kittens can leave their mother?

  • 02-05-2008 5:03pm
    #1
    sunshine rose
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 473 ✭✭


    hey all just wondering what is the youngest age that you can take a kitten away from their mother?:confused: any info appriceated thanks all ;)


Comments

  • #2
    Ruby Soho
    Closed Accounts Posts: 259 ✭✭Ruby Soho


    In theory it can be done as soon as the kittens are weaned, at approx 7 weeks, but its not recommended that they are taken until at least 10 weeks old, some breeders hold onto them for as a long as 12-13 weeks, whereas lots of them that you see advertised are as young as 8 weeks. I'm sure there'll be alot of people here to challenge that, but personally, I would wait until 10 weeks minimum. Once their are being handled and socialised with people regularly, I really can't see the harm in letting them stay with mum a little longer, if only for discipline / socialisation purposes.


  • #3
    sunshine rose
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 473 ✭✭sunshine rose


    thanks a million ruby soho :) didn't want to take the kittens to young as i know they can learn so much from their mother. the kittens are of a semi-wild cat and we want to get them as early as we can before they get too wild!:eek:


  • #4
    Ruby Soho
    Closed Accounts Posts: 259 ✭✭Ruby Soho


    If the mother is totally wild then I would definitely NOT leave it for 12 weeks as by then they will be pretty difficult too, but if you can handle them and get them used to you, you can take your time with it!


  • #5
    Our man in Havana
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29,473 ✭✭✭✭Our man in Havana


    If the mother is semi wild take them at 7-8 weeks maybe as early as 6 if they are eating kitten food from a saucer.


  • #6
    cotton
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 629 ✭✭✭cotton


    I've taken 6 week old kittens from a mum in a dangerous situation before. They were eating & also from a socialisation point of view, I felt it was best.

    Edited to add: I sound awful, I didn't leave mum behind, I trapped her a few days later & she went to KA.
    A few here know what happened afterwards.;)


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  • #7
    Rhinocharge
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,348 ✭✭✭Rhinocharge


    You can take feral kittens from 4 weeks. You must bottle feed them for 4 more weeks using kitten formula. The handling at this stage will imprint trust between them & a human handler.
    Domestic kittens can be taken from 7-8 weeks.


  • #8
    Hells_Belle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 132 ✭✭Hells_Belle


    If you can catch or trap the mum, and arrange to have her fixed before returning her to the wild, it would be a real service, too :)


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