What age can kittens leave their mother?

There’s nothing more exciting than bringing a kitten home, but timing is everything when it comes to their wellbeing. While kittens may seem independent at just a few weeks old, they should stay with their mother and littermates until at least 8 weeks old – ideally 12 weeks.

This extra time is a crucial part of their physical, social, and emotional development, and will help them grow into happy, well-adjusted cats.

The kitten development timeline

0–4 weeks (Neonatal Stage)
Newborn kittens are completely dependent on their mum for warmth, milk, and care. Their eyes and ears will slowly open, but they can’t regulate their body temperature or move much yet.

4–8 weeks (Socialisation Stage)
This is the stage where your curious kitten will begin exploring, playing, and eating solid food, though they still need milk from their mum. This is when they learn crucial social skills too, like coordination, how to interact with their littermates, and how to play!

8–12 weeks (Independence Stage)
By 8 weeks, a kitten will be fully weaned, but staying with their mum for another month helps them hone their hunting, play, and communication skills. This extra time will also boost their confidence and help them adapt to new environments more easily.

Why 12 weeks is ideal

While 8 weeks is the minimum, keeping kittens with their mum and siblings until 12 weeks will set them up for a healthier, happier future. Here’s why:

• Health: Extra time with their litter helps strengthen their immune system and makes sure they grow properly.

• Social development: They’ll learn boundaries, social cues, and gentle play by spending time with the other kittens.

• Better Behaviour: Staying with their littermates longer will help reduce the risk of rough, boisterous behaviour like biting, scratching, and aggression, as they learn proper interaction through play.

Signs a kitten is ready to leave the litter

Before welcoming a kitten into your home, make sure they’ve hit these all-important milestones:

• Fully weaned: Eating solid food without needing milk.

• Litter trained: Using the litter box on their own.

• Healthy weight: Kittens should be growing steadily and be strong and active.

• Social confidence: They should be comfortable interacting with humans and other pets without fear or caution.

What happens if a kitten leaves too early?

Separating kittens from their mother too soon can lead to serious health and behavioural issues, such as:

• Health problems: They may have weaker immune systems and struggle with digestion or eating solid food.

• Behavioural issues: Early separation can cause anxiety, aggression, poor social skills, and even problems with sucking, grooming, and litter box use.

• Difficulty bonding: Without proper time with their mum and littermates, kittens may struggle to form strong, trusting relationships with humans or other animals.

Patience is worth it

As tempting as it may be to bring home a tiny kitten at just a few weeks old, patience is key. Giving kittens 12 weeks of quality time with their mum and siblings will help make sure they grow into healthy, well-adjusted cats who are ready to thrive in their new homes.

If you’re thinking of adopting a kitten, always check with a reputable breeder or shelter that they’re ready to leave. After all, a happy start will lead to a lifetime (or nine) of purrs, play, and companionship!