How long can a mother cat be away from her kittens?

It depends on the kittens’ age. They will need to spend nearly all of her first week of life with her. Over the following three months, the amount of time will rise until the kittens are prepared to go.

Kittens need a lot of love and care, particularly in their early weeks of life. Although the mother may occasionally disappear for a short while—a few minutes, perhaps longer—she will always return.

Kittens can progressively spend longer periods apart from their mother as they mature and gain greater independence. Since the mother is the one most suited to care for her kittens, it is crucial to make sure she has unrestricted access to them while they are little. Until they are at least 12 weeks old, kittens should ideally remain with their mother.

You are here because you have inquiries concerning kittens and their need for a mother. Perhaps you’re worried since your cat occasionally leaves the kittens alone because she recently gave birth to some kittens.

Maybe you have seen a feral mother out hunting who leaves her litter unsupervised. Perhaps you’re wondering when kittens are old enough to move out of their mother’s house. When a mother cat separates from her kittens, is it okay? We have all the answers that you’ve been searching for, so keep reading.

Key Takeaways:

When do moms stop being there for their kittens? Mother cats usually stay with their kittens until they are between 8 and 12 weeks old, though they may go for brief periods as early as a few weeks after birth to hunt and eat.
When do kittens stay with their mother? Kittens should ideally spend 12 to 16 weeks with their mother to acquire appropriate social behavior and abilities.
How much time does a mother cat need to forget about her kitten? Once a kitten is weaned and separated from its mother, their bond becomes weaker. The relationship typically fades dramatically after a few weeks to months of separation, however, the amount of time it takes to “forget” can vary.
When do stray cats part from their young? Because of the difficult circumstances of living outside, stray cats frequently abandon their kittens at an earlier age—typically around eight weeks. Although they adhere to identical principles, survival needs frequently have an impact.
When may kittens get away from their mother? About 8 to 12 weeks of age is when kittens can be weaned and begin to leave their mother; however, staying with mom until 12 to 16 weeks can aid in social development.

You may also interested: Do mother cats miss their kittens?

How Long Can a Mother Cat Be Away from Her Kittens?

Weeks one and two

The mother cat will only occasionally leave her kittens during the first week of their lives. She might duck out of the nest where she is nursing her babies to use her litter box, have a bite to eat, or just stretch her legs and look about for any potential dangers.

In the wild, feral cats will, if necessary, leave their kittens to hunt, but they will always make their way back to the nest. Because you’ll be there to make sure she has food and water handy, a domestic cat has it much simpler.

To weigh and examine the kittens for indications of disease or pest infestation, it is acceptable at this point to temporarily remove them from their mother. Due to their extreme fragility, flea infestations and other common disorders can cause significant harm to newborn kittens.

In a tragic situation I read about, the cat owner thought that by caressing the kittens, the mother cat would reject them. The entire litter perished as a result of the kittens’ severe flea infection. Kindly keep an eye on your kittens to ensure they are growing and staying healthy.

Weeks three to five

The mother cat will be able to spend more time outside playing by the third week or so. Though they still require their mother, the newborns should be a little more mobile and self-sufficient now. They can walk short distances and have their eyes fully open.

They could wish to do some exploring because they’re inquisitive about their environment. At this point, playing with the kittens a little longer is acceptable as long as it lasts only a few minutes. Cats can be socialized by being handled, petted, and possibly even enticed with teaser toys.

Weeks six to eight

Mother cats will begin to wean their kittens at this time. In the wild, the mother cat would return to the nest with prey so that her kittens could eat it. Offering the kittens a small amount of solid food that has been mashed with kitten milk—available at pet supply stores—will help.

Even though she will want to keep an eye on her kittens, the mother cat will likely be spending more time away from them at this stage. She will begin teaching her kitten’s other feline wisdom and how to use the litter box during this time. Play with the kittens as often as possible to help them form pleasant associations with people.

The Young Adult Cat

A kitten will start to grow more and more autonomous at eight weeks of age. They can now avoid their mother for extended periods, but they will still come back to play and engage with her. The mother cat provides the kitten with a lot of assistance in the form of confidence and a variety of feline life skills.

Kittens are nearly fully grown adults by the time they are 12 weeks old, while they still have a lot of growing to accomplish.

While some breeders prefer to wait until the cat is at least 16 weeks old, many more allow kittens to go to their new owners at this age. I think there’s a lot of sense in holding off for that additional month.

Having their mother around gives kittens a great deal of confidence as she makes them feel protected and allows them to become accustomed to interacting with people. According to my observations, young kittens who are taken from their mothers typically exhibit more troublesome behavior and are more timid.

They also appear to be less robust and healthy. My British Shorthair, who I coated at 16 weeks, was worth the wait.

When Should Kittens Be De-sexed?

Another issue at hand is de-sexing, sometimes known as spaying or neutering. An ethical breeder would hesitate to give a new owner of a British Shorthair kitten, for example, unless the new owner was well-known in the cat community as a responsible and compassionate person with a ready-to-go cattery.

It is intolerable to consider sending a kitten to be a backyard breeder’s victim. Even with non-purebred cats, you should try to prevent unwanted kittens and shield the growing cat from any health problems that cats as a whole are prone to.

For this reason, before going to a new home, kittens are usually spayed or neutered. Five months is when most veterinarians prefer to perform this. Young kittens who are spayed or neutered are known as pediatric de-sexing, and it is usually only done when there is a medical need for it.

The 16-week milestone is a good middle ground because most cats are large enough for the surgery at this point, but they are frequently too little at 12 weeks. A conscientious breeder will wait until the kitten is four months old before letting go of it so that it can be de-sexed and easily adopted by new parents.

Caring For The Nursing Female – Human Interaction

Make sure your pregnant cat is healthy by having her examined by a veterinarian. If your pet requires any additional appointments, your veterinarian will let you know. To ensure she doesn’t continue to have kittens, you should also arrange for that spay. To add to your cat collection, think about adopting.

A cat that is nursing or pregnant needs a lot of food. You may wish to serve her extra servings in addition to her regular meals. Poor nutrition is a bigger concern than obesity. Feed her at least three times a day; don’t let her free-feed herself as she may induce vomiting.

Additionally, you ought to guarantee that she has a private, secure space to give birth—a box in a room with little activity, for example. Make sure everyone is aware of her demand for privacy. Some cats choose the locations where they want to give birth.

It would be best if you generally let her have her way unless she’s selected a location that is intentionally unsafe or highly likely to be disturbed regularly. She has chosen a location that she believes to be safe, and if she is permitted to remain there, she will feel more at ease.

Where do cats hide their kittens?

Insecure mothers might exhibit a range of behaviors, including violence and territoriality, as well as destructiveness. In severe circumstances, the mother may reject or even murder her offspring. Her moving her kittens to another location—which might not be a nice one—is the more likely course of events.

I know of a few sad cases where a scared mother secretly put her kittens into an open cabinet or box room, where they remained trapped once the door was closed. In one instance, the entire litter vanished before anyone could locate them.

Keep your nursing mama cat content, comfortable, and serene so she can nurture her kittens into healthy adulthood. Don’t let this happen to you.

Frequently Ask Questions

Do newborn kittens nurse immediately?

Yes, kittens that are born nurse right away. They will begin breastfeeding as soon as they can do so since they have a strong innate need to drink their mother’s milk. This is vital to their life and well-being since mother’s milk provides them with an abundance of nutrients and antibodies that support healthy growth. It is imperative to take a five-day-old kitten to a veterinary hospital or a skilled foster caretaker who can bottle-feed it if for whatever reason it is unable to nurse (maybe because its mother has passed away or is unavailable).

Do mother cats remember their kittens?

Mother cats do indeed remember their young. They develop a deep bond with them and frequently keep looking after them long after they have flown the nest. Because of this, it’s crucial to exercise caution when bringing new cats into a home where there is already one. There’s a genuine chance that the two won’t get along and that the mother will grow angry toward the new cat.

When do kittens quit nursing?

Between 4 and 8 weeks of age, kittens cease nursing and become weaned. If a kitten is eating solid food and drinking enough water at four weeks old, they may be ready to be weaned. It’s possible that some kittens won’t be fully weaned until eight weeks of age. How much time should a kitten be fed? By the time a kitten is six weeks old, it is usually completely weaned.

Can kittens be left alone?

Although some individuals think that kittens can be left alone, it is usually not advised. Due to their high level of activity and curiosity, kittens might get into problems if left unsupervised. Kittens can get sick or hurt if they don’t have someone to look after them. Furthermore, young kittens are easily overheated or underheated due to their inability to control their body temperature. It is therefore best to have someone available to give them regular check-ins while you are away.

How long do cats nurse kittens?

Kittens usually require six to eight weeks to wean themselves off of their mothers’ milk. At four or five weeks old, kittens will begin to eat solid food; by the time they are completely weaned, they will be largely eating solid food.

3-week-old abandoned kitten – what to do?

Take the kitten to the vet as soon as you can, if at all possible. In addition to receiving a course of vaccines and deworming treatments, kittens should be spayed or neutered to avoid contributing to the problem of pet overpopulation. Ask your neighborhood animal shelter for assistance if you are unable to take care of the kitten alone. The personnel at many animal shelters are skilled in taking care of abandoned kittens and can arrange for the kitten to receive the required medical attention.

Can 7 week old kitten leave mom?

A seven-week-old kitten can indeed separate from its mother. When the kitten is 8 to 10 weeks old, fully weaned, and has received all of its vaccines, is the best time to do this. You can leave the kitten before 8 weeks, but it’s advisable to wait until the cat is at least 8 weeks old. Tiny kittens require their moms for socialization and sustenance, and they are still highly reliant on them.

Do kittens forget their mother?

Given the paucity of scientific research on the topic, there is no conclusive response to this query. Anecdotal data, however, appears to indicate that as kittens get bigger and begin associating with other cats, they do, forget their mother—or at least, they stop looking for her.

Do feral cats abandon their kittens (do mom cats abandon kittens)?

Indeed, savage felines do forsake their young. It’s critical to get abandoned or orphaned kittens to a shelter or rescue group as soon as possible because they don’t have a good chance of surviving on their own.

When can kittens see and hear?

Kittens begin to sight around the age of two weeks. And by the time they are a week old, they can hear.

When do kittens start walking?

Kittens begin to walk at the age of two weeks. Although each kitten will develop at a different rate, by the time they are two weeks old, they should be upright and actively moving about.

Do mom cats miss their kittens?

Mother cats do miss their babies. A mother cat places great importance on her kittens; they are her babies, and she devotes a lot of time and effort to raising them. She frequently exhibits depressive symptoms and may not eat or take care of herself as well as she typically does when they are gone.

Even after their babies have been taken away, some mother’s cats will still look for them. In one study, after being split up, 23 percent of the mother cats looked for their lost kittens for longer than a week. Thus, be ready for a very depressed kitten if you ever have to remove it from its mother!