how old do kittens have to be before they can leave their mother?

Answer 1

Minimum 8 weeks but preferrably 12 and after they've had their innoculations

Answer 2

the governing council of cat fanciers (GCCF) say 13 weeks minimum. Personally I would say no younger than 9 weeks. Kittens take much longer than puppies to be fully independant off mum. Removing them too early can cause mental problems such as clothes sucking, wool eating etc.

"The GCCF strongly recommends that no kitten should be permitted to go to a new home before 13 weeks of age. At least seven days prior to this, the kitten should have completed a full course of vaccinations, including a health check, given by a Veterinary Surgeon or by a listed Veterinary Nurse under the direction of a Veterinary Surgeon. The breeder should ensure that kittens are house-trained, inoculated and in good general health."

Answer 3

6 weeks is the earliest, but I would not recommend taking them away that early. I always recommend 10-12 weeks to everyone, by this time they are eating normally, usually litter trained, and know good cat behaviour.

However, we did get out kitten at 6 1/2 weeks, personally, I believe it was FAR too early, but the people took it away at 6 weeks and kept it in a room where he couldn't see him mum or siblings, so we took him at 6 1/2 weeks, and he is perfectly okay. He is a little mischievous but that's expected in kittens, and he knows how to use the litter box :) He hasn't had any accidents on the carpet.

Answer 4

It depends, If the mom is someone's cat then yea 8-12 weeks is a good time.
But if the mom is a feral cat, you'll have much better chances of getting a tame kitty if you take the cat at 4-5 weeks and bottle feed the kitten with KMR until they can learn to eat real food.
I've done this, and let me tell you it's a 24/7 job so I don't recomend it to anyone with a busy life!

Answer 5

If you want your cats to grow up to be their healthiest and live a nice long healthy life then it is best if they're separated after 10-12wo. If you are trying to get rid of them now do not separate them any sooner than 8 wks. They will grow up much healthier if you leave it up to the momma cat to decide when they stop feeding, if at all possible.

Whatever you do, do not EVER give a kitten/cat or puppy/dog cows milk. They are highly allergic to it. Their bodies cannot digest it properly and it causes damage to their intestinal walls, GI Track, colon and bowels. It would be like you getting the stomach flu only it lasts much longer, and they rarely throw it back up. That's not to say that it never happens because it does.

Answer 6

8 weeks is the norm, but if you're a breeder and the kittens are pedigrees they should be fully inoculated before leaving home which would then make them about 12 weeks old.

Answer 7

8 weeks but pedegree kittens 12 weeks. My little kitten is 10 weeks 12 weeks now and I've had him since he was 8 weeks. Watching him grow is fantastic!

Answer 8

The youngest I got one of my cats from her mum was 7 weeks, and that was only because I knew the breeder, but I have to say out of my cats she is the cutest and sweetest cat she looks as if she is a cross between a fox, squirrel and kitty but on the bad side everything is on her terms, cuddles etc, if she don't want to be touched then she will attack big style, and she is hard work when it comes to tablets or brushing as she will attack. So I wouldn't recommend taking them away from their mums at the earliest 8-9 weeks but if poss then about 12 weeks. Mum keeps them in line you see but if they are took away they are led to believe they are the boss lol .

Answer 9

about 8 weeks .. but preferable when the little kitten is eating by herself .. dry and soft food .. not before the kitten is able to eat alone otherwise the kitten will have some difficulty eating all kind of food

Answer 10

Twelve weeks is the best time. By then, they will have learned how to be social, use the litter box and be independant. Before 12 weeks, they still rely heavily on their mother.