Before separating a kitten from its mother, we must consider some details that are of utmost importance for the correct physical and psychological development of the feline Separating him early can lead to behavioral problems and even serious nutritional deficiencies.
Although there is no exact date, a kitten is usually separated from its mother around 8 or 12 weeks of age, an age that can vary depending on the specific case.
In this article on our site we will explain why it is so important to respect this time, we will help you identify the appropriate time and we will explain how to do it. Read on and find out when kittens can be separated from their mother:
Why shouldn't we separate a kitten prematurely?
To really understand why it is not good to separate a kitten from its mother early, it is essential to review some basic aspects of the growth of a feline:
Breastfeeding, essential for proper development
Just after the birth of the litter, during the first two or three days, the mother will nurse them with the first milk she produces, colostrumIt is essential that any puppy receives it because, in addition to nourishing them abundantly, colostrum provides immunoglobulins, immune defenses that will protect him from any infection
After this time, the cat will feed them with lactating milk, a source rich in nutrients and that will also offer them some immunity to minimize the risk of infection. In addition, it also provides them with hormones, enzymes and other essential substances for their growth
Every kitten should be fed with the milk produced by its mother, except in very specific cases, such as rejection, death or an illness of the mother that prevents her from caring for them, only in these cases should we feed a kitten puppy ourselves, always consulting with the vet.
The importance of kitten socialization
From the second week of life and up to approximately two months, the kitten is mature enough to start exploring its environment and to start its first social relationships. The kitten is in the middle of the "sensitive period of socialization".
During this stage, the cat learns to relate with members of its species, dogs, humans, with the environment and, in definitively, with any external stimulus that is going to be frequent in his adult life. A well socialized cat will be sociable, friendly and will feel safe in its future environment, will be able to interact with all kinds of living beings and will not develop future behavior problems, such as aggressiveness, excessive shyness or others.
Tips to separate the cat from her mother
From 4 weeks, and progressively, we must encourage our kitten to start weaning To do this we will offer small portions of soft and smooth food, such as wet food that is prepared in the form of small pieces of meat or fish as well as pâté. You can find puppy cans in the market.
During this stage they still depend on their mother, and it will not be until they are 8 weeks old that they will begin to feed regularly with this type of food.
When the cat is two months old, we will begin to offer him various daily food rations, combining wet food and dry foodTo ensure that they can ingest it, we can soak the feed in fish broth without s alt, which will provide flavor, extra nutrition and allow them to eat it without difficulty.
Finally, around 12 weeks, the mother can continue nursing the puppies, but it is the right time for them to start eating on her own, fully weaning them. At this time we will be sure that our cat will not suffer from any nutritional deficiency.
At this time and to ensure a good adaptation to their future home, it would be advisable to teach the kittens to use the litter box, as well How to teach them to use the scratcher. Everything they can learn, including games and various activities, will be positive for their mental stimulation and future fitness.
The separation of the kitten and its mother
Even if they are weaned, we cannot radically separate the kittens from their mother since she could suffer from mastitis, an infection of the mammary glands due to the accumulation of milk. We must carry out the separation progressively, that is, separating her kittens one by one.
In principle, if we have waited until they are 12 weeks old, the mother will instinctively know that her puppies are independent and that they can survive, so it will be rare for her to suffer an episode of sadness. However, if we separate them before time, we can face severe depression in the cat, who will desperately look for the puppies around the house. In these cases, it is highly recommended to wash the cat's "nest", as well as all the utensils, blankets and cushions that may harbor her scent.
