Opinions vary on this. Most feline behaviourists agree that the ideal age for a kitten to be passed to a prospective owner is between 7 and 9 weeks. Many professional pedigree cat breeders release kittens at 12 weeks, arguing that the kittens are much more socialized to each other and have been introduced to and handled frequently by humans. Many rescue kittens have been influenced negatively by early separation from the litter mother (prior to or at 6 weeks), as well as by the potential of feral influence in the original mating that produced the litter. This is either because owners bring a litter of unwanted kittens into the rescue centre too early or, when they are first discovered, the kittens are often assumed to have been abandoned when the litter mother is actually away or is trying to lure investigators away from the nest area.
The kittens’ learning process will continue for as long as the litter mother remains with them. Extended time with the litter mother and siblings often improves socialization with and tolerance towards other cats, which can be important in later life. Basic skills developed by extended interaction with the litter mother include stalking, pouncing and prey-kill behaviour, which are taught through feline play activity. Kittens should be introduced to as many aspects of human life as possible to help in future socialization with their owners.
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KITTEN DEVELOPMENT |
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Age |
Behaviour |
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3 weeks |
Litter mother and kittens begin to interact. She grooms them, and prevents them from becoming over-demanding and aggressive. Kittens begin to explore just outside the kittening box. |
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4 weeks |
Kittens begin accepting semi-solid foods and can be taught to use a litter tray placed close to the kittening box. |
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6 weeks |
Kittens are learning through play. They explore progressively further away from the kittening box. |
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8 weeks |
Kittens are fully weaned onto solid food. First vaccinations can be given around this time. |
5 responses so far ↓
1 susan // Sep 16, 2007 at 1:05 pm
We let Kittens go between 9 and 12 weeks, though we have let one go at 8. We keep them that long as my mother and father want to make sure they will be alright without their mother, plus my mom never wants to let them go
Sue
2 Gmom // May 11, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Do Ragdoll kittens mature slower than other kittens, or is this an old wives tale?
3 luigi // Jun 29, 2009 at 3:50 pm
i have 5 kittens they are all ginger they eat tesco cat food and they are only 5 weeks old it is quite funny my dog likes to play with them and looks after them the kittens are mad and they run around the house mad my mom has to catch them before they run out the house because they are mad andy murray is on tv they are doing a mexican wave haha funny !!
4 sandrar // Sep 10, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
5 Romana // Dec 19, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Q: Do Ragdolls mature slower than other kittens?
A: Yes, it is certainly true that some breeds mature slower. I breed Birman cats and have also raised Russian Blue cats, and my experience is that they are really not ready to leave their original families until they are about 12 weeks old. That is also the age when they can be de-sexed, which I always combine with micro-chipping.
On the other hand, I am also active in cat rescue, and domestic (mongrel) kittens seem to reach the same stage of maturity already a few weeks earlier. However, I do not consider them ready to leave their mother until they are at least 8 weeks old, and they also need a caring human for socialising.
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