Can a kitten leave it's mum at 3 weeks?

zaksmum

Neighbour just got a cute little kitten which she got yesterday...BUT it's only 3 weeks old today!:eek:

I'm more of a doggy person so don't know that much about cats...but don't they have to be about 8 weeks before leaving their mums?

This kitten was SO tiny, and my neighbour knows for sure that it's only 3 weeks old as they were born on the owner's birthday, who's a friend of hers.

Seems far too young to leave it's mum.

gettingready

Jesusssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss - of course NOT

katydo12

oh no it should'nt of left its mum till 8 weeks. Kittens mums teach them how to clean/groom themselves, how to feed and how to use the litter tray. I presume just the same with dogs??

It's sad that people do this

NoAngel

No!!! Too small

gettingready

Does it even eat by himself at this age?

What food does it get?

Needs a substitute milk so young if the owner of the mum was stupid enough to give it away at this age.. words fail me, poor little mite

gettingready

WHY was the kitten given away so young? Any valid reason? Not that I can think of any - unless mum rejected it?

WHY did your neighbout took such a tiney baby away from its mum?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

No.

BUT.

And that's a BIG BUT.


If the mother has rejected her litter or has been unable to cope with a large litter, then it is possible to rear a kitten yourself.

It's extremely hard work. And nerve wracking, to say the least.

But I've done it. And it would have appeared to be a terrible thing to somebody else who didn't necessarily know the full story.

gettingready

Would the person in question know how to hand rear such a young one - this is my worry...

As some of you may rememnber we lost one of Lucy's litter at 4 weeks... he was so tineyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy, can not imagine a 3 week old being taken away from his mum unless:

1) Mum rejected it
2) Person taking the baby cat KNOWS what they are doing

Mayflower10cat

I have an FB friend who's hand rearing a tiny kitten she found (almost dead) on the street - 3 weeks old or less? She has been feeding it cat-formula milk from a vet. day and night on demand. It's been very ill with cat flu but so far, bless, it's survived.

If your friend knows what they're doing rearing such a young kitten, I wish them well. If not, then head straight to the vet for urgent advice.

jen007

Argh. No. No. No. No.

I'd suggest taking it to a vet, if she doesn't know what she's doing. Plus even if you know what you're doing, it's good for the support.

Why on earth people insist on giving away these babies so young is beyond me.

moggymutt

The only justification for taking a kitten is mum too ill or injured or that mum has rejected the kitten.

We've had a very few kittens eating solids at about 3 weeks of age, but normally its 4-5 weeks before they even think of solids.

Tell your neighbour to buy proper kitten milk from the vets, and Panacur paste for kittens, to start worming it.

Even if the mum had had too many kittens to cope with, alternately hand feeding and then letting mum feed would be better.

Check the kitten does not still need stimulation to wee and poo, and make sure that its bottom is clean.

Get your neighbour to tell her friend to get the mother cat neutered, since it appears that she has lttle interests in kittens' welfare.