When can you separate kittens from your cat? When can you take a kitten to a new home?

From the first day of birth, the basis of a kitten's life is mother's milk. The immune system Kittens until they reach three weeks of age are not able to produce antibodies (immunoglobulins) that can protect them from infections. But one day, any baby has to grow up and switch to “adult” food. When can a kitten be separated from its mother so as not to cause harm to its health?

The meaning of mother's milk

Milk helps kittens resist pathogens in the youngest period of life - it is very rich in antibodies (provided that the mother cat was vaccinated no more than a year before mating). Thus, mother's milk strengthens the kitten's immunity.

In the first weeks, kittens should have an exclusively dairy diet. On average, a cat feeds its babies 12 times per day. The recommended period of breastfeeding is from one to three months. The completeness of a kitten’s immunity largely depends on how long it has been fed its mother’s milk.

Cat milk replacers

Although better nutrition For kittens, mother's milk is the main source of life; life sometimes has its own way, and it is not always possible to plan when to tear the kitten away from its mother. It is good if it is possible to place a kitten on another cat that has recently given birth. But the likelihood of this is low, since quickly finding a nursing cat is very difficult. Therefore, the optimal solution in such a situation is a cat milk substitute.

Milk from different animals is approximately the same in composition, but the ratio of components is different. Any milk consists of more than 70% water. But the levels of fat content, proteins and lactose in cat milk are much higher than those of a cow or, for example, a goat.

The fat content of cat's milk is about 11%, while cow's or goat's milk is only about 4%. The protein content is also at least 11%, in the milk of cows and goats - 4%. Lactose content in cat milk is lower and amounts to 3%, while in cow and goat milk this figure is 6%.

All this suggests that milk from other animals is not suitable for feeding kittens. And here a cat’s milk substitute comes to the rescue, the ratio of components in which is carefully verified and as close as possible to real milk.

In addition to fats, proteins and lactose, it contains substances necessary for the normal development of the baby: minerals, vitamins and trace elements. The substitute contains such a component as taurine - an amino acid that is very important for the health of cats, as well as Omega-6 and Omega-3 - fatty acid. The lack of these substances for a kitten’s rapidly growing body threatens the development of various pathologies.

You will learn how and in what proportions to dilute the dry substitute mixture from the preparation instructions on the package.

At what age are kittens weaned from their mother?

You definitely shouldn’t separate your baby from his mother until he is 1.5-2 months old. After all, it is by this age that the mother cat will teach the kitten to eat on its own, wash itself properly and go to the toilet.

Like people, in cats the behavior of babies directly depends on the level of “culture” of the parents, primarily the mother cat. It is she who is responsible for the socialization of the kitten in the first stages of its development. And this is extremely important, because it is at this time that the kitten’s character and its behavioral model are formed.

When kittens are separated from their mother too early, they can grow up to be aggressive, distrustful and overly impulsive. Often, having not received the necessary “lessons” from their mother, they reluctantly accept the love of their owners and avoid playing with them. In a word, they grow up uncommunicative and withdrawn. Only your love, affection and patience can change this state of affairs.

To ensure that the new inhabitant of your home grows up mentally balanced and physically healthy, find out how and when you can take a kitten from its mother and get recommendations on how to

ASPCA*

Weaning refers to the process of transitioning kittens from feeding on mother's milk to solid food. During weaning, kittens gradually lose dependence on their mother's care and acquire the skills of social independence. Ideally, weaning breastfeeding must be completed entirely under the control of the mother cat. However, in many cases, kittens have to be taken away from their mother, disrupting the natural course of events.

When can you take kittens away from a cat?

At normal development kittens begin to be weaned from the cat at the age of four weeks, completely transitioning to self-catering by eight to ten weeks. Starting the transition from breastfeeding, remember not to give up milk too early. Most experts consider it safe to add solid food to the diet no earlier than the kitten opens its eyes, learns to focus its vision, and can stand firmly on its paws.

How long does it take to wean a kitten?

The process of weaning a kitten from a cat is usually completed within four to six weeks. During this time (at the age of 2-2.5 months), most kittens become completely ready to do without mother's milk.

When can you take kittens away from your cat?

It is important to remember that abrupt removal from the mother cat can have Negative influence not only on the health of kittens, but also on the development of their social skills. Kittens learn to eat, use a litter box, and communicate, in part by watching their mother. If possible, kittens should remain with their mother during weaning, as the cat will instinctively know what to do in case of complications.

When kittens reach four weeks of age, you can begin to move them into a separate room for a few hours to reduce their dependence on the constant presence of the cat and the continuous availability of her milk. Give it to them special place with litter tray, food and water. As kittens become more independent, they will be able to spend more and more time without the cat, gradually weaning themselves off breast milk completely.

How to wean a kitten from mother's milk?

Pour cat milk replacer into a shallow saucer. Do not use cow's milk as it can cause stomach upset and diarrhea in some kittens. Dip your finger (or bottle nipple when artificial feeding) into the prepared solution, let the kitten lick it, then lower your finger down into the saucer. Do not dip your kitten's nose in the saucer; he may inhale the liquid and develop pneumonia or other lung problems. When he learns to lap up liquid from a saucer, you can move on to feeding the kitten porridge, as described below.

While the kitten learns to eat from a saucer, you should continue feeding with milk. However, you should always offer food from a saucer first, this can make the gradual transition to solid food easier.

How to introduce kittens to solid food?

Mix high quality dry or canned food with cat milk replacer until the consistency of liquid oatmeal. When the kitten gets used to this food, gradually reduce the amount of milk replacer, adding food instead. By five to six weeks of age, the kitten should only be eating lightly moistened food. At this age, you can begin to constantly leave not available for kittens a large number of dry food and fresh water. By eight to ten weeks, kittens should usually be able to eat dry food.

What to do if a kitten is left without a mother?

As a rule, orphaned or bottle-fed kittens begin to be introduced to food a little earlier, at about three weeks of age, but otherwise the process proceeds unchanged. Start offering milk replacer not from a pacifier, but in a saucer, teaching the kitten to lap. Gradually move on to a gruel mixed from high-quality milk replacers and kitten food. As your kitten becomes accustomed to this food, gradually reduce the amount of milk replacer used. By five to six weeks of age, the kitten should be completely fed baby food.

Kittens can play with porridge, splash it on the floor and get their paws into the saucer before they realize that it is now their food. Be patient and do not interrupt the learning process - eventually the kittens will understand what you want from them. Prepare a soft, damp cloth to wipe away any remaining food from your kitten's head and paws after feeding. If the kitten has had a "bathe", gently dry it with a towel and keep it in a warm, draft-free place until it is completely dry.

* ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - American society on preventing cruelty to animals

So the dream came true: it rang out phone call, and you are informed that kittens have been born that you can pick up soon. Boy or girl? Black or striped? All the answers were found almost instantly, because the household members were already imagining what the new little pet would be like. Only one question remained unresolved: when to pick it up? When will that “soon” come?

Precious patience

Any owner is ready to pick up a kitten immediately - even a day after birth. But answer yourself:

Are you ready to undermine your baby’s immunity by depriving him of breast milk?
What is more important to you: your “I want” or a correctly formed digestive system at the baby's?

If the future owner has adequate answers to these questions, he will immediately understand one simple truth: It is not necessary to separate a kitten from its mother immediately, but only when it acquires the first skills of independence. Otherwise, the baby will not be able to form correctly and will be susceptible to various unpleasant sores.

Don't believe me? Let's look at the development of a kitten in sequence.

0 - 1 week

The tiny mustachioed toddler fits in the palm of your hand and weighs only 100 g. But by the end of the first week he has doubled his weight. Newborn kittens come into the world in a special bubble, which the mother cat immediately eats to cleanse and release the baby. After 5 days, the dried umbilical cord falls off, but the cat is still in the “fetal” state. He doesn't react to touch or noise and barely moves. All this baby can eat is mother's milk. And this makes sense.

IN breast milk contains a large number of special antibodies, which help the body “build up” immunity. And the abundance of vitamins contributes to the full development of organs and systems. Nature has made sure that babies feel their mother from almost a meter away. Under no circumstances should you pick them up - you can damage the fragile bones. And it would be even more blasphemous to try to open their eyes. They will open on their own by the end of the second week.

2 - 3 weeks

So, the little one’s eyes have opened, but he is still guided by his mother’s smell. He has no other reference points. The most important thing is not to catch a cold or overheat your baby. There should be no drafts or extreme heat in the apartment.

The kitten continues to gain weight up to 250-350 g, by the third week it is already trying to crawl towards its mother. His legs move funny, like those of an incompetent swimmer. Sometimes the baby reacts to loud sounds. May open eyes or turn head. If there are children at home, you need to strictly explain to them the rules of behavior with animals, especially such small and fragile ones as kittens.

4-5 weeks

The babies have already developed their first teeth, they are trying to walk and even play. If you separate them from their mother cat for a long time, the kittens will begin to squeak, “cry” and worry. The role of the mother is still strong and irreplaceable. The cat washes, licks and feeds its cubs. By the end of the 4th week, it is recommended to give the cat the first worm prevention.

Five-week-old babies are already trying to wash themselves. They can begin to be given their first complementary foods - thus preparing the babies for the “adult” table, where there will be no breast milk.

6 - 10 weeks

If at this age the kitten has not yet been separated from the cat, he can learn the important skill of using the litter box by repeating everything after his mother. By 8 weeks, the cat cub is quite capable of understanding what’s what and calmly relieving itself in the litter box. But this is not so common luck; sometimes you have to wait longer.

The kitten is becoming more and more curious. At this age, he may eat chemicals or poisonous house plants. The baby needs an eye and an eye! By 10 weeks, make sure your baby has all her vaccinations.

A ten-week-old baby can be separated from its mother, but only if there are good reasons for this. The whim of the new owner is not enough. The kitten will experience enormous stress, which may further affect its character.

12 weeks

A three-month-old kitten is already fully formed and has acquired all possible skills. He navigates the house independently, runs around knocking down rugs, and can eat any food. He no longer needs his mother's milk, and the cat is reluctant to feed such a hero.

You can hand the baby into the good hands of the new owner and not worry that the baby will become nervous. Yes, in the first 2-3 days the baby will worry, but not critically. He will quickly get used to the new place and will soon get used to his surroundings and household members.

What can a 3 month old cat do?

contact with other animals;
eat solid food;
go to the litter box (if the mother cat or the previous owner taught it);
respond to affection;
run to the owner's call.

There is a myth among some inexperienced cat breeders: The sooner you give the kitten to new hands, the better and faster it adapts to the new place. Agree, this only applies to adults: if a cat lived in the same apartment for ten years and suddenly found itself in a new place, it is unlikely to want to succumb to re-education.

But young kittens, despite the flexibility of their character, are entirely dependent on mother's milk. And the sooner to give such a baby to new house, the more sickly the pet will grow, the more passive and fearful it will be.

Do you really love cats and have decided to adopt a little kitten? Then, before doing this, ask when you can give the kittens to the breeder without compromising their health. Some believe that the sooner you take a kitten away from its mother cat, the sooner it will get used to its owners. This is a big misconception.

There are certain skills that a cat must teach a kitten. The baby must learn to eat, use food, and take care of his hygiene. In addition, it is very important social adaptation kitten This means that he must be raised by his mother, not by a human.

From the age of one and a half months, the cat begins to raise its cubs, who at first fight and play with their sisters and brothers. Then the time comes for the kitten to sort out the relationship with its mother. And then the cat can, sometimes very harshly, in our opinion, stop the presumptuous child. During the process of rearing, a cat sometimes bites the kitten’s whiskers to make it less oriented in space. She can drive the baby away by hitting him with her paw, thereby indicating his place in the cat hierarchy. This introduction of a kitten into society ends at about two months. And already at this time you can give the kittens to a new home.

There is another reason why you shouldn’t give up a kitten early - vaccination. Of course, it is unlikely that anyone will vaccinate a purebred kitten, but purebred babies need to be vaccinated at two months. By this age, their innate immunity to various diseases, which they received with milk from a vaccinated mother. At eight weeks of age, the kitten is vaccinated, and at approximately twelve weeks, revaccinated. How long after vaccination can kittens be given away? At this time, the kitten’s body is very vulnerable, and moving to a new home is very stressful for him. Therefore, for two weeks after re-vaccination, the kitten must still live next to its mother.

How many months are kittens given away?

Minimum age for handing over a kitten to new family is two months, but it is better if this is done after fifteen weeks, when the baby is already fully adapted to life without a mother. So if you want to take healthy kitten and not have problems with him in the future, you need to decide at what age kittens are given or adopted.

The cat owner will not be alone. The cat has been around for a long time faithful companion person, his psychotherapist and doctor. Cats help relieve stress and relieve anxiety. People have a belief that loving owner the cat “pulls” diseases out of him. There are a lot of doubts about who is better to adopt - a stupid kitten or adult cat. Each option has undeniable advantages. In this article we will look at what age to take a kitten home and why.

Optimal age to move

Kittens are often purchased through online advertisements. Thoroughbreds are offered starting from 3 months of age. There are often offers to adopt 5-7 month old kittens. Pseudo-pedigree animals without documents of origin are sold as early as 3-4 weeks of age. Kittens from 3 weeks old are placed in “good hands” for free. Usually these are kittens from domestic and outdoor cats whose owners for some reason did not neuter.

At what age is it better to take a kitten home is an important question. Professional breeders claim that at 3-4 months the kitten is completely independent of the cat: it licks itself clean, knows the litter box, uses a scratching post following the example of its mother, eats and plays independently. The main thing is that the cat no longer feeds the kitten with her milk. Perestroika gastrointestinal tract was smooth and natural, the kitten switched to “adult” food without stress. He is not afraid of people, plays with pleasure and cuddles up to them.

The baby, previously separated from his mother, suffers without her milk. He finds it difficult to digest industrial feed or natural food, which is fraught with vomiting, diarrhea, and refusal to eat. He doesn't know how to lick himself or wash his paws. Because of this, his eyes may become sour and respiratory diseases often occur. Such a kitten is still poorly oriented in space and is not able to use the tray - it simply does not remember where it is. Relieving needs in different places, the kitten gets used to being unclean, and this habit is difficult to break. When a kitten has a need to sharpen its claws, it will satisfy it using the owner's sofa, wallpaper or doors, because there is no one to show it to the scratching post.

At older ages, kittens are usually taken from breeders. These kittens attend exhibitions from 10 weeks, receive diplomas and are prepared for an exhibition career and breeding. The cost of an exhibition animal is much higher than the price of a kitten without diplomas and titles. A kitten that is unsuitable for exhibitions and breeding is usually already neutered at this age, and breeders sell it for a low price. Castrated purebred kitten– an excellent solution for those who want a pet from healthy producers that meets breed standards, but do not plan to breed.

So when is the best time to adopt a kitten?

You can bring a cat child into a new home when he is ready to live without his mother. Here are the signs of his independence:

He was at least 3 months old.
He no longer suckles the cat's milk.
Knows the litter tray and scratching post.
Licks and washes itself.
He eats well, is well-fed, and his weight is within normal limits.
He is not afraid of a person, shows curiosity and interest in him.
He received his first vaccinations and developed immunity under familiar conditions.

Why can’t a kitten be given away early?

We have already discussed at what age it is preferable to adopt a kitten, but why exactly is it dangerous to adopt a kitten? small pet? In a new place, a kitten of any age always experiences stress. The older the child, the faster and more painlessly he will come out of stress state, carried away by a toy or new family members. Little kitty has problems with eating, sleeping (the mother always licks and feeds the kittens before bed), does not yet know how to play and, due to her age, is afraid of new people, animals, sounds and smells of the new home. Fears can take hold, and an already adult cat will flinch at the sound of a moving elevator or the creaking of a gate in the yard.

If the kitten is so young that it has not yet had its vaccinations, it is at risk of becoming ill due to stress. It is also possible to catch an infection in a new place, since he does not yet have his own immunity, and he no longer receives immune bodies from mother’s milk.
Veterinarians do not recommend vaccination immediately upon arrival, since stress can provoke a sharp decline immunity, and the animal will die or become seriously ill from the administered vaccine.

Teething will additionally weaken the body. The baby will become restless, begin to meow pitifully, and refuse to eat. This process is with the mother will go where calmer.

In addition to the age-related nuances listed above, there is also this: if a kitten is taken away from a cat early, the cat will still continue to lactate. Unclaimed milk will stagnate in the mammary glands, which in the future can provoke mastitis, mastopathy and even a tumor of the mammary glands.

If other kittens remain with her, they will in any case not be able to consume all the milk produced. And it’s really bad if a cat is deprived of all her kittens, because she can’t even get rid of part of the milk herself. Most likely, the owners will have to buy the cat hormonal drugs to stop lactation.

The question of what age is best to adopt a kitten is something everyone decides for themselves. Recommendations to take a baby at 3-5 months do not guarantee that there will be no problems with him at all.