How long can nursing mother be away from kittens?

I'm asking because Veruca is doing the same thing as the poster who's cat is driving them crazy. She is so vocal, and in escape mode everytime we go in to see her. She only had her babies a week ago so I don't think she should be in heat already. She just wants to get out of the room so badly. I let her in the adjoining room last night and she didn't want to leave. I just can't give her reign of that room too, because there are too many dangerous hiding places for kittens in there. She is feeling much better. She was jumping up on everything! LOL! I didn't know she was a jumper! When I got her 2 weeks ago she was so fat she could hardly move!

I can't let her meet my resident cats until she has seen a vet. When will she be able to leave her kittens for an outing to the vet? I just want to get her shots and tested for Feline Leukemia (sp?) right now. At least after that I won't have to worry so much about her if she escapes the room. (A vet trip would take about 1 hour and a half total.) All of my cats are indoor only so she won't be going outside again. I just want to let her come out of the room sooner than 10 weeks from now. I fear she will get hositle by then!

I would wait until the kittens stop nursing. I asked my vet when she can vaccinate my cat, she said after the kittens are weaned. But ask your vet and see what they say.

Originally Posted by AngelKitty06

I would wait until the kittens stop nursing. I asked my vet when she can vaccinate my cat, she said after the kittens are weaned. But ask your vet and see what they say.

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It's going to be a long 9 weeks!

It's not unusual for feral mothers to be separated from their kittens for 24+ hours if they are trapped for spaying while they are nursing. The kittens do just fine. From my own experience, I once found a litter of 2 week old kittens who had been outdoors without their mother for 24 hours when the daytime temperature was only about 40 degrees. Kittens are really tougher than we often give them credit for.

There should be no problem with taking mom to the vet and leaving the kittens for a few hours. But it wouldn't be a bad idea to take the kittens along so the vet can give them a checkup too. Plus you never know - you may meet someone in the waiting room who wants to adopt the mom or one or two of the kittens when they get old enough!