Mama cat breastfeeding kittens at 5 months, is this OK?

ladyluana

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We took in a heavily pregnant homeless and malnourished cat a few days before Easter this year. She ended up having six kittens, the first of which heavily pregnant homeless and malnourished cat a few days before Easter this year. She ended up having six kittens, the first of which she had in my husband's lap while purring. We found homes for four of her kittens, two we kept and she had in my husband's lap while purring. We found homes for four of her kittens, two we kept and we recently spayed and neutered mama and her two kittens. At almost 5 months old, at almost 5 months old she is still allowing them to nurse, this seems very unusual. We make our own raw cat food, and everyone is doing good on this diet - very healthy with soft, shiny coats. Has anyone ever heard of a mother cat nursing indefinitely?
 
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ladyluana

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Sorry that post is so disjointed, I was using voice recognition on my phone and it kept messing up. That post was the result LOL
 

Sarthur2

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Yes, kittens will nurse as long as mom allows.

I have four kittens who are nearly six months old and they still try to nurse! Mom is dry now and walks away, but she nursed them until recently. Or maybe I should say she let them suckle because her milk dried up and I think it was just for comfort on their part.
 

mservant

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Your cat mother is a very caring and patient mama. 
  Many mothers will stop earlier than this but it is OK, and if she decides she has had enough or it is uncomfortable for her she will discourage the kitten/s.   I would tend not to intervene, just as with humans, as the kitten may still feel the need for comfort and doing this may benefit their confidence and reduce and anxiety behaviours in later life.  It is natural with different personalities that mother cats and kittens will vary in how long they are content to continue with the feeding and suckling.   I think the kittens will generally stop for them self once they are largely eating solids, and if stopped early, before they are ready, they may continue with the suckling but on other cats.

My current cat, Mouse, was an only kitten and had a very patient mama who played with him, taught him about how to be a proper cat, and also let him suckle and get a little milk when he wanted it right up until when I adopted him at 15 weeks.   I am sure she would have continued to allow him to suckle longer had he been there a few more weeks, and she did seem to still produce milk for him at that stage.  
 
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