When Do Stray Kittens Leave Their Mother
Before you do anything remember never separate kittens from their mother cat.
When do stray kittens leave their mother. Neonatal kittens are still. If the kittens are too young to survive without their mother s milk it s best to leave them where they are. Mom may be too nervous to approach with you close by so ensure that you are watching the kittens from a distance. Learn what to do when you find kittens outdoors.
Don t waste too much time before making the next move for the kittens safety. Once the kittens are fully weaned around 10 to 12 weeks old they are old enough to move away from their mama. You want the mother to find them when she returns. First of all there is no set age on when the separation should be done.
Don ts with stray kittens unless you absolutely must you should leave the kittens outdoors if you suspect they still have a mother. Timeline for weaning kittens. Helping orphaned kittens will first require some detective work. If you do not see a mother nearby keep and eye on the kittens from a distance for several hours to see if their mother returns.
This does not mean that this is the time that the kittens can go home though. Provide food water and shelter for the family. The time varies from one kitten to another since several factors come to play. If the mother returns to her healthy and safe kittens they should stay where they are.
Mama cats frequently leave their kittens in a safe place while out hunting for food. One of the biggest mistakes people make when finding stray kittens is taking them away from their mother. The next month of life is still full of essentials for a growing kitten even if it isn t consuming its mother s milk all of the time. The organization can trap the feral mama spay her and release her to her kittens.
When kittens are first born they are completely. If their mother returns leave them be. Learn more about kittens and their needs as they grow in our kitten guide. Strays can be rescued and considered for adoption but your best option with a feral is to contact a group that does tnr or trap neuter release.
However a kitten is typically ready to leave his mother at about 8 to 12 weeks of age.