When Should Kittens Leave Their Mum

Expect to separate the kittens from their mother when they are around 12 weeks old.
When should kittens leave their mum. Until they are about 4 weeks old the kittens are completely dependant on their mother. Kittens rely on their mother s milk for proper growth and development. The earliest a kitten can leave its mother while you may want your kitten to stay as long as is needed with the mother the conditions on ground may leave you with no option. In many cases kittens begin eating strictly solid foods at around 8 weeks and then may be ready to leave their mothers for good.
Even though kittens are relatively independent by 8 10 weeks and can survive without their mother there are health and social benefits to staying with the mother and siblings. The time varies from one kitten to another since several factors come to play. Wrapped in mommy s protective embrace with their brothers and sisters they are safe from all harm. A kitten should stay with his mother until a minimum of 10 weeks but preferably 12 weeks.
8 weeks the organization cats international recommends keeping kittens with their fellow litter mates and mothers until about 8 weeks in age. We have collected all the information you need to know about kittens between the time of their birth to the time when they are considered ready to leave their mother for your perusal. She will clean them keep them warm and safe and stimulate the bowl movements and bladder to help them urinate and defecate. While some kittens can go home earlier the closer you wait until 12 or 13 weeks the better off the kitten will be.
This first stage is all about basic survival. Why the wait is necessary. Despite this however you should ensure that the earliest your kitten leaves its mother is 4 weeks old. Ideally kittens should go to their new home around 12 weeks of age.
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. Your cat s chances of being healthy well socialized and properly developed are dramatically increased by allowing it to spend extra time with its mother and littermates. At around ten days to two weeks their eyes open although all they can see at that stage are blurry black and white images like me when i wake up in the morning.