One of three isn't weaning off mum

Hi, we took in a stray expecting cat. We now have three beautiful kitties at 5.5 weeks old. Two of them are eating dry and wet food, however one of them is still nursing from mum. Am I being impatient or is this not normal? I have a home waiting for her, however have had to tell the new owner she will have to wait as she isn't eating solid food yet. I'm just wondering if I should start separating the kitten from mum from time to time? Not too sure what to do? I appreciate any advice I can get. Thank you x

Five and a half weeks is way too young to be separated from mom, because she still has a lot to teach them. Twelve to sixteen weeks is recommended. We've got a litter of 9-week-old kittens at the shelter who are still occasionally nursing, although they were eating wet food at 4 weeks. We've also got 7 younger orphans from 3 litters whose behavior (biting, roughhousing too much) shows just how important those extra weeks with mom are.

Do not rush this baby! The kittens should not be re-homed before eight weeks and preferably 12 so mom can teach them manners. They can have psychological problems if separated too young. Most kittens eat solids and continue to nurse for many weeks. It's normal. Why rush?

Hi, thank you for your comments. By all means I will not have any of the kittens homed until they are fully weaned. By separating them from mum time to time, I meant by an hour a day, maybe to encourage the little one to eat. I'm a first timer when it comes to weaning kittens, with the other two fully eating solids I thought it strange the third one not even accepting a slight lick of meat juice off my finger. Is there a point where I need to start worrying, even after a twelve week period, what if she's still nursing from mum?

I have been raising four kittens, all of whom I am keeping. Two of the four ate solids like a champ at 5 weeks but not before. The other two came along more slowly, a week or two later. All continued to also nurse mom until they were around four months old, but the nursing eventually became for comfort rather than food.

It's not strange at all that a kitten at 5 weeks is not interested in food quite yet. She will get hungry enough to try soon though because she'll need more than just milk to fill her up.

Nursing beyond 3 months is normal, but will be for comfort mostly. It doesn't sound like you have anything to worry about at all!