Separating kittens and their mum

L
Lilisasai Icon representing the flag French
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Hello,

I’m looking for some advice and people's experiences. You really can't just wing it when it comes to being a breeder! 😂

My cat (who we rescued 5 days before she gave birth; she was a stray) had three kittens on the 14th of November, all boys.

They’re nearly 12 weeks old now.

I wanted to know when I can rehome them. I see "3 months" mentioned everywhere, but my cat is still happily nursing them; she’s always looking for them and even "hunts" socks and clothes to bring to them. She rarely nips them, only when they're being really naughty or getting on her nerves.

I'm quite anxious about the adoption process; I'm worried she won't be ready to let them go and will spend the whole day meowing and looking for them.

We've decided to keep one and see how they get on living together. If she ever starts getting aggressive with him, I'll find a new home for the little lad. The thing is, she’s very maternal. She's also quite vocal, so I'm worried about the noise once the others have gone... (At one point, she was so overwhelmed she spent all night calling for her kittens even though they were right next to her – I was seriously sleep-deprived).

On top of that, the kittens are absolute terrors! When they're not sleeping, they're constantly running and jumping everywhere, play-fighting or just playing. I assume this is normal for their age? But when it happens at night, it's really tough. The issue is I prefer keeping them in my bedroom at night because they've learned to use the stairs and I'm terrified they'll bolt out the front door when someone comes in, so my nights are very restless.

So, my questions are:

- At what age should they be rehomed?

- How will she handle the separation?

- Is it a good idea to keep one?

I’m looking forward to your replies and stories. It’s a lovely gift to see kittens born and watch them grow up, but it really is hard work at times. Final word for anyone who hasn't done it yet: get your cats neutered! Otherwise, be prepared to spend a lot of time cleaning your house...

Translated from French
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3 answers
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    • Blue_Cat
    Blue_cat Icon representing the flag French
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    Evening, So, the kittens aren’t even 2 months old yet. There’s no reason to separate them from their mum; three months together is the bare minimum for her to socialise them properly. And I agree with Kelinda—if she’s meowing even when they’re right there with her, she’s back in heat. You can obviously keep one of the little ones yourself, and there’s a good chance they’ll get on well with their biological mum. But do make sure to get him neutered BEFORE he’s 6 months old, to prevent spray marking and him trying to wander off in search of a mate. And yes, healthy kittens are always very energetic. It’s only if they’re the opposite that you should be concerned.
    Translated from French
    L
    Lilisasai Icon representing the flag French
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    It takes 3 months for proper weaning. If they were born on 14th November, they are nearly 2 months old, not 3 – you must have made a mistake. She’s just putting them in their place and teaching them what’s allowed and what isn't for their own good. No, once they're weaned, she’ll start leaving them to fend for themselves. She’s probably meowing because she’s in heat; she could already be pregnant again if she’s been going out or if there’s a tomcat nearby. The little ones are still too young, but if you keep one, you’ll need to get the mum spayed and the kitten neutered, otherwise they’ll just have more babies. And yes, kittens are hyperactive – one is enough, let alone three! The vet I went to told me to get her spayed once the kittens are 2 months old. I’ve got an appointment this Wednesday, so that’ll be that problem sorted.
    Translated from French
    K
    Kelinda Icon representing the flag French
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    It takes 3 months for them to be properly weaned. If they were born on 14th November, they are almost 2 months old, not 3 – you must have made a mistake with the dates. She’s just putting them in their place and teaching them what’s allowed and what isn't for their own good. No, once they’re weaned, she’ll start to distance herself so they can learn to fend for themselves. If she’s meowing, she’s likely calling as she’s back in season. She could even be pregnant again already if she’s been outside or if there’s a tomcat nearby. The kittens are still too young, but if you keep one, you’ll need to get the mum spayed and the kitten neutered, otherwise they’ll just end up breeding. And yes, kittens are hyperactive – one is a handful, let alone three!
    Translated from French

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