When Do Feral Kittens Leave Their Moms

Feral kittens that are from the same litter may remain together for a time but they face disease cars predators and starvation that may separate them.

When do feral kittens leave their moms. The time varies from one kitten to another since several factors come to play. However a kitten is typically ready to leave his mother at about 8 to 12 weeks of age. First of all many people come upon litters of kittens outdoors and assume they ve been abandoned when in fact mom is nearby probably hunting. Plus the female kitten can be impregnated as young as 4 months old and have several litters a year.

She is pictured here with her daughter cookie in their new home in new malden surrey when the kittens are 5 6 weeks old and eating steadily the mother is spayed and if feral ear tipped and returned to her site. Hint for determining the age of nursing kittens. Once the kittens are fully weaned around 10 to 12 weeks old they are old enough to move away from their mama. An outdoor cat will pick a spot that is difficult to find and or get to in order to minimize any danger to her kittens from predators.

Kittens begin to nibble at wet food at 4 weeks of age and are fully capable of eating on their own at 6 weeks. Feral mother cats leave their kittens periodically but they re not abandoned. First of all there is no set age on when the separation should be done. If the kittens seem well fed are in a safe place and fall asleep after crying for a short while mom is probably around.

It s best to leave them with mom until they re weaned. It s best to leave feral kittens with their mothers in their outdoor homes until the kittens are no longer nursing. Outdoor or stray moms sometimes scatter their kittens to avoid predation. Coco is one of many feral cats who later reveal themselves to be ex domestic pets.

One goes to seek food and never returns. She may move her kittens to an area near her favorite hunting grounds or the food dish to make it easier for her little fur babies to have access to solid food.