When Do Feral Kittens Leave Their Mom

Mom cats move their kittens often and she may be in the midst of moving them and on her way back to these seemingly abandoned kittens.

When do feral kittens leave their mom. Outdoor or stray moms sometimes scatter their kittens to avoid predation. Other times you may have encountered a feral or stray with her litter nearby and are probably wondering if there is anything you can do. It is easy to wean them now and they are just the right age for handling and intensive bonding with humans. One goes to.

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. Male feral cats will sometimes join together to defend a common territory. It s best to monitor a nest for a couple of hours to see if she comes back. During their first few days of life not only are the kittens both blind and deaf but they are dependent on their mom to regulate their body temperatures for food and even for stimulation to be able to potty.

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 is not unusual for a mom to leave her kittens for several hours looking for food. Once the kittens are fully weaned around 10 to 12 weeks old they are old enough to move away from their mama. 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.

Or she may be out looking for food. It is especially common among cat owners with unspayed queens and animal minders in shelters where cat litters are common. The weaning process usually continues for about another month until the kittens are fully weaned between eight and 10 weeks of age. If we do not find the kittens until they are at least 4 5 weeks old or older we raise them without their mother.

During the first week of life mommy cat will leave her babies for only a few brief times each day. Female feral cats will band together to raise their kittens and form colonies that add to their safety. During this time the kittens will still occasionally nurse on their mother but they will also start to eat liquid kitten food.