A Kitten Can Leave Its Mother by 12 Weeks of Age – Dr. Cutler Explains

What age should a kitten leave its mother?

It’s tempting to want a kitten all to yourself soon after they’re born. But whether you’re adopting a kitten or placing kittens in a forever home, it’s important to know how old a kitten needs to be before leaving the care of their mom.

If a kitten leaves mom too early, they may develop health and behavioral issues later in life, says Dr. Janet Cutler, Ph.D., our Certified Cat Behaviorist. Here’s how old a kitten needs to be before leaving their mother—and why it’s so important.  

When can a kitten leave its mom?

Without human intervention, a kitten would naturally leave its mom around the four-month mark (17 weeks). But separating a mom from her kittens that late in age rarely happens due to many factors, including the overpopulation in shelters. “The mom starts gradually increasing the amount of time she is separated from her kittens by six to eight weeks of age,” Dr. Cutler says. “The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends six to nine weeks of age as an ideal time for a kitten to go to a new home.” Other studies suggest separating a cat from their mom at 12 weeks of age greatly reduces health and behavioral issues in adult cats.

Benefits of staying with the mother and siblings

When Momma Cat is with her litter through the crucial socialization and growing period, she teaches them manners like socialization and using the litter box. She’s also passing antibodies and important nutrients to her kittens through her milk, giving her litter a head start to a healthy life.

Weaning

The only food the kitten consumes during the first few weeks of its life are milk which contains all the nutrients the kitten needs. Milk constantly changes to meet the kitten’s demands and life stage. The first milk is known as the colostrum, which is thick and full of antibodies to protect the kitten.

  • 4-5 weeks – Kittens begin eating small amounts of food (which should be soft, such as canned), but they are still very much dependent on their mother’s milk.
  • 6-8 weeks – Kittens are now eating 4 small meals a day, but still nursing from mom periodically.
  • 9-12 weeks – Some kittens may still be nursing at this age but can get all the nutrition they need from commercial cat food. Nursing is mostly for comfort.

Immunity

When a kitten is little, he or she gets antibodies via its mother’s milk which helps to keep the kitten safe from infection. From 8 weeks of age, a kitten will have THREE vaccinations, spaced 4 weeks apart (6-8 weeks, 10-12 weeks, 14-16 weeks). The reason for this is that maternal antibodies can affect the effectiveness of a single vaccine, and these antibodies wane at different times in different kittens. Ideally, a kitten will have received at least two vaccinations before going to a new home.

In addition, kittens moved into a new environment may be exposed to pathogens from other cats that they haven’t encountered. Giving them time to develop a strong immune system can keep them safe.

Developing social skills

Kittens learn cat behavior from their mother and siblings. This includes body language, grooming, litter box habits, how to play, and boundaries. There is no better way to learn these skills than from members of their own species. Have you ever watched littermates play? They are rough and tumble, but if a kitten pushes a sibling, or mum too far, they will be quickly put in their place with a swipe, a bite, or a hiss.

Most kittens removed from mom will grow into well-adjusted adults, especially if they have plenty of positive human interaction in those formative weeks. To reduce the chances of behavioral issues and raise a well-rounded kitten, plenty of time with mom, siblings, and humans are important.

5 signs a kitten was separated from its mother too soon

According to Dr. Cutler, removing kittens from their mother’s care too early could increase the chances of medical and/or behavioral issues. If you spot these signs in your cat, they may have been weaned from mom too early. If any of these behaviors are new or out of character for your cat, it’s recommend they see the vet.

1. Increased aggression

In a study of over 5,000 cats across 40 breeds, researchers found that cats weaned before eight weeks of age display aggression toward humans and other cats, even when provided with sufficient enrichment. The critical socialization period for kittens is between two and eight weeks of age. Removing a kitten from their mother and littermates too soon decreases the likelihood that the kitten understands how to socialize with other cats and humans.

The study noted that aggression is typically a defense mechanism when experiencing stress. Therefore, kittens weaned early are likely reacting to an increase in perception of stress or anxiety.

2. Anxious behaviors

Examples of anxious behaviors that may be related to early weaning include:

Researchers found that cats weaned 12 weeks or older are less likely to show signs of anxiety, confirming the previous findings. But, the study states, this may depend on when the kitten experiences their first stressors. When introduced to a moderate level of stressors while weaning, a kitten may be less likely to display anxious behaviors—even when weaned early.

3. Inability or difficulty in adjusting behaviors

If your cat is downright stubborn or displays obsessive behaviors, they might have been weaned too early, researchers say. Early weaning is thought to cause changes in the brain development of cats, specifically the development of neural circuits in the brain. This abnormal brain development could lead to behaviors that pet parents might caulk up to stubbornness. For example, in the study mentioned above, cats weaned at a younger age display a decreased behavioral extinction, an increase in compulsiveness or obsessive behavior, and an increase in behavioral inflexibility.

4. Overweight or obese

Has your chonk gone on a diet but nothing seems to work? Researchers say early weaning could be to blame.

Early-life feeding habits have a big impact on the development of the digestive system, a cat’s eating behaviors, and dietary patterns. In a study of 69 cats, researchers concluded that kittens weaned after six weeks of age were three times less likely to be overweight as an adult. It’s thought that kittens weaned earlier are deprived of leptin, a hormone that inhibits hunger. Without leptin, early weaned kittens are thought to have immature systems that control fat accumulation and body composition.

5. Prone to Illness

A queen’s milk is vital to a healthy start to life. Her milk isn’t just passing on important nutrients—it’s providing the kitten with maternal antibodies and providing beneficial microbes for intestinal immune system growth. Even if orphaned kittens are being fed formula with all the nutrients they need, they may be prone to stunted growth and illness into adulthood.

When is early rehoming beneficial?

Sometimes a young kitten must be fostered or adopted before they’re physically, emotionally, or mentally ready to leave mom. This includes orphaned or rejected kittens. A home with loving caregivers, who spend the time working on socialization will help the kitten develop into a well-rounded adult cat. The focus of this article is to highlight the importance of waiting until a kitten is ready to leave its mother and siblings, but this is not always possible. A loving home is an ultimate goal for all kittens, regardless of background.

Tips for seaparting a cat from their mother

Having been with their mom and littermates for the first weeks to months of age, separating can be stressful for the kittens and their mom. Here are some tips for a smooth transition to forever homes:

  • Don’t take a kitten away from their mom too early. Studies suggest that kittens are most suitable for leaving their mom at 12 weeks of age. 
  • Encourage the kittens to practice being away from their littermates and mom by separating them in a familiar location for a short amount of time. While separated, be sure to give everyone positive associations like play, pets, a treat, or mealtime.
  • Many shelters don’t allow kittens to be rehomed separately due to socialization needs. If not already enforced by your selected breeder or shelter, consider taking home two kittens instead of one.
  • When ready to go to their new home, send the kitten(s) with something that smells of their littermates and mom—like a favorite blanket they slept on or a toy they all played with.

My story of adopting a young kitten

I adopted a 6-week-old kitten many years ago. This poor little lad looked so scared and alone in his cage, and I felt the need to get him out of there. I paid $6 and took him home. The second day there he vomited roundworms all over the floor. Roundworms can and do happen in kittens, but when they are raised properly, they will be routinely wormed so this kind of thing can’t happen. He was seen by a vet the following day and aside from roundworms, was given a clean bill of health and by then I had decided to keep him.

The kitten grew into an adult with several behavioral issues. He had no idea how to interact with other cats, he constantly sprayed furniture, and he suffered from petting-induced aggression. Based on study findings, I believe the behavioral problems were due to his being taken away from mum way too early.

Kittens are kittens for many months, letting yours stay with mum and siblings until 10-12 weeks ensures that you will get a well-rounded kitten, but he will still be young enough to enjoy much more time as a kitten. It is worth waiting the extra four or so weeks to avoid a possible lifetime of behavioural problems.

Hope is not lost for kittens who are separated from their mother too early, but it may take time and patience to help them adjust and grow into healthy and happy adult cats, which is all we want for them.

Where to adopt a kitten

The best place to adopt a kitten is a rescue organization or a registered cat breeder. This greatly reduces the reach of backyard breeders, pet farmers, and animal traders. Rescue organizations take in homeless cats and kittens, desex, vaccinate and ensure the kittens are socialized. Pet shops (unless affiliated with an animal rescue organization) support backyard breeders and pet mills. Pet mills are commercial breeding facilities that produce puppies and kittens whose parents live in horrendous, cramped conditions with only one purpose, to pump out more babies.

Frequently asked questions

Can kittens stay with their moms their whole lives?

Kittens can live with mom for their whole lives. But mom might not act like the mom she was when her kittens were little. Just like human moms, she’ll need some independence. Don’t be surprised if she acts more like a littermate than a queen.

When do kittens stop nursing?

According to Dr. Janet Cutler, Ph.D., Certified Cat Behaviorist at Cat World, kittens usually wean (stop drinking milk from their mother) between four to eight weeks of age. Kittens might occasionally nurse after this age, but it’s more likely for comfort than nutrition.

What is the ideal age to adopt a kitten?

“The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends six to nine weeks of age as an ideal time for a kitten to go to a new home,” says Dr. Janet Cutler, Ph.D., Certified Cat Behaviorist at Cat World. Other studies suggest weaning and rehoming kittens at 12 weeks of age greatly reduces health and behavioral issues in adult cats.

Do kittens miss their mom?

Having been with their mom and littermates for the first weeks to months of age, separating can be stressful for the kittens and their mom. Some kittens show signs of separation anxiety when leaving their mom or littermates. This is especially true if the kitten is weaned too early. To reduce separation anxiety when weaning and separating kittens from mom:

  1. Don’t take a kitten away from their mom too early. Studies suggest that kittens are most suitable for leaving their mom at 12 weeks of age. 
  2. Encourage the kittens to practice being away from their littermates and mom by separating them in a familiar location for a short amount of time. While separated, be sure to give everyone positive associations like play, pets, a treat, or mealtime.
  3. Many shelters don’t allow kittens to be rehomed separately due to socialization needs. If not already enforced by your selected breeder or shelter, consider taking home two kittens instead of one.
  4. When ready to go to their new home, send the kitten(s) with something that smells of their littermates and mom—like a favorite blanket they slept on or a toy they all played with.

Do mom cats get sad when their kitten leaves?

Queens don’t mourn their kittens when they leave the litter as a human mom would. If their kitten is taken away early, they may display instinctive behaviors of searching for the kitten and calling to them. When the kitten leaves, the queen might display similar behaviors for a few days but should return to a normal state of behavior soon.

What are some tips to encourage the weaning process?

You can begin weaning kittens around four to five weeks of age. To begin the process, mix kitten formula with wet kitten food and warm water. The mixture should be a thick soup consistency. Using your finger, gently dab the mixture around their mouth, allowing them to taste it on their own terms. Once they become interested in the soupy mixture, after them the food in a bowl, encouraging them to lap it up. They’ll likely try to eat by suckling at the mixture on the plate—they’ll figure it out!

If your kitten is successfully eating the wet food mixture by week five or six, you can reduce the amount of formula, cutting it out completely. As they grow you can also reduce the amount of water in the wet food and continue feeding them wet food or slowly transition to kibble.

Do abandoned kittens think you’re their mother?

When caring for an orphaned kitten, you will need to carry out all the duties a queen would have done. This includes stimulating the kittens, feeding them, keeping them warm, and teaching them socialization skills and routine care. You might never release the maternal pheromones that a queen does, but the orphaned kittens will likely develop an attachment bond with you.

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