Content
- Why shouldn't we separate a kitten prematurely?
- Breastfeeding, essential for proper development
- The importance of kitten socialization
- Advice for separating the kitten from its mother
- The separation of the kitten and its mother
Before separating a kitten from its mother, we must consider some details that are of paramount importance for the correct physical and psychological development of the feline. Separating it prematurely can lead to behavioral problems and even serious nutritional deficiencies.
Although there is no exact date, we usually separate a kitten from its mother. around 8 or 12 weeks of age, an age that can vary depending on each case.
In this article by the Animal Expert we explain why it is so important to respect this time, and we help you identify the appropriate time, explaining how you should do it. Keep reading and find out when can you separate the kittens from their mother.
Why shouldn't we separate a kitten prematurely?
To really understand why it's not good to separate a kitten from its mother prematurely, it's essential to review some basic aspects of feline growth:
Breastfeeding, essential for proper development
Right after the birth of the litter, for the first two or three days, the mother will feed the kittens with the first milk she produces, the colostrum. It is essential that any puppy receives it since, in addition to feeding them abundantly, colostrum provides immunoglobulins, immune defenses that will protect them from any infection.
After this time, the cat will feed the kittens with nursing milk, a rich source of nutrients and that will also offer them some immunity to minimize the risk of infections. In addition, it will also provide them with hormones, enzymes and other substances essential for your growth.
All kittens must be fed with their mother's milk, except in very specific cases, such as rejection, death or an illness of the mother that prevents her from taking care of them, only in these cases should we feed a new kitten. -born, always consulting the veterinarian.
The importance of kitten socialization
From the second week of life and until approximately two months, the kitten is mature enough to start exploring its surroundings and start its first social relationships. The kitten is in the middle of the "sensitive period of socialization".
During this step, the cat learns to relate to members of their species, dogs, human beings, with their surroundings and, ultimately, with any external stimuli that may be frequent in their adult life. A well-socialized cat will be sociable, friendly and will feel safe in its future environment, will be able to relate to all types of living beings and will not develop future behavior problems such as aggressiveness, excessive shyness and others.
Advice for separating the kitten from its mother
From 4 weeks onwards, and progressively, we must motivate our cat to start weaning. For this you should offer him small portions of soft and soft food, such as moist food that comes prepared in small pieces of meat or fish as well as pâtés. You can find cans for puppies in supermarkets.
During this stage still depend a lot on your mother, and only after 8 weeks of life will they start to eat regularly with this type of food.
When the cat is two months old, it should start offering several daily servings of food, combining the wet food and the dry food. To make sure they can infer it, you can soak the feed in a salt-free fish broth, which will give it flavor, extra nutrition and make it easy for them to eat it.
Finally, around 12 weeks, the mother can continue to breastfeed her kittens but it is the appropriate time for them to start eating on their own, being completely weaned.
At this stage, and to ensure a good adaptation to their future home, it would be recommended to teach the kittens how to use the litter box, as well as teaching them to use the scratcher. Everything they can learn, including games and various activities, will be positive for their mental stimulation.
The separation of the kitten and its mother
Although they are weaned, we cannot radically separate the kittens from their mother as she may suffer from mastitis, an infection in the breasts due to the accumulation of milk. We must carry out the separation progressively, that is, separating the kittens one by one.
In principle, if we have waited until 12 weeks of life, the mother will instinctively know that her offspring are independent and that they can survive, so it will be rare for her to suffer an episode of sadness. However, if the kittens are separated from the mother too soon, the cat may experience severe depression, which will desperately search the house for the kittens. In these cases, it is highly recommended to wash the cat's "nest", as well as all utensils, blankets and pillows that may have her scent.
