When Do Kittens Stop Nursing In The Wild

This is completely normal behavior and just means that the little kittens are growing up.

When do kittens stop nursing in the wild. Visit our kitten guide. It is not typical for a momma cat to abandon her kittens. During this time the kittens will still occasionally nurse on their mother but they will also start to eat liquid kitten food. If they are nursing and their eyes haven t opened they are under 2 weeks.

This is now the cue for the weaning process to begin. However anywhere between the 4 to 6 week mark is acceptable. By nine weeks the kittens are clearly showing an attachment to their caregivers cuddling on laps and seeking out attention. This why it s critical to be sure that the mother is not around before disturbing the kittens.

Hint for determining the age of nursing kittens. Kittens usually begin the weaning process around 4 weeks of age according to the general consensus. Most rescue groups wait until kitten are 8 weeks old before adopting them out but that s primarily to ensure they are neutered which can be done as early as 8 weeks. The weaning process usually continues for about another month until the kittens are fully weaned between eight and 10 weeks of age.

According to the american society for the prevention of cruelty to animals aspca a mother cat typically stops nursing their kittens when they are around 4 weeks old. Weaning a kitten who still has her mother is quite different from weaning a kitten who has been orphaned. Kittens begin to nibble at wet food at 4 weeks of age and are fully capable of eating on their own at 6 weeks. During this time she will refuse to nurse them as often if at all because they are growing teeth making it very uncomfortable for her.

When do kittens stop nursing. It s best to leave them with mom until they re weaned. Want to learn more about kittens and how to care about them in the ninth week.