I've had conflicting advice on this one. Most websites seem to say 6-8 weeks. is this right?
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When can kittens be given away?
- Thread starter yunnermeier
- Start Date
I would wait until the kittens are between 10-12 weeks. Also, I wouldn't give them away unless you know the person.
http://www.cathobbyist.com/articles/...yist/Free.html
I would at least charge a small adoption fee. You can always call it the "spay the mother" fee.
Katie
IMHO opinion, six weeks is far too young. Between six and eight weeks there is still vital socialization going on where they learn from their mum and siblings how to bahve appropriately. Sometimes a few late-bloomer might not be weaned totally yet or know what the litter box is for.
I have a litter of five week olds ATM and I can tell you right now that another week will not make them ready for new homes yet. I'm holding on to them until they are ten weeks old, but I suppose eight weeks is the earliest I'd be comfortable with giving them new homes.
Rose
I have a litter of five week olds ATM and I can tell you right now that another week will not make them ready for new homes yet. I'm holding on to them until they are ten weeks old, but I suppose eight weeks is the earliest I'd be comfortable with giving them new homes.
Rose
Breeders don't send their cats home until 12-16 weeks. So at least wait until 10-12. A kitten learns a lot from its mom and siblings in those vital weeks between 6-10.
Wrong! At that age they are barely weaned to solid foods and using the litter box consistently. Its better for several reasons to keep them for a MINIMUM of 10-12 weeks. My rex kittens didn't leave till minimum of 4 months old (16 weeks).
Up till 10-12 weeks, the kittens need time to socialize with other adult cats, with each other and to be totally weaned from mom and using the litter box consistently. Any younger then that and the new owners (unless they've raised young kittens) will have more problems in both areas.
Up till 10-12 weeks, the kittens need time to socialize with other adult cats, with each other and to be totally weaned from mom and using the litter box consistently. Any younger then that and the new owners (unless they've raised young kittens) will have more problems in both areas.
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- #6
I was wondering the same thing because the kittens are only 11 days old now and I can't imagine them walking, eating normally by 6 weeks or so!
As I'm a foreigner in the Netherlands and most of my friends are also foreign (and cannot commit to a pet), I have to give the kittens to strangers . I am however charging a minimal fee of 20 euro and I also gave negative answers to people I wasn't comfortable giving our kittens to (for eg. one girl wanted to give a kitten to her boyfriend for his birthday.. I don't know, but I just don't feel comfortable with that). However I did find 4 nice families and exchanged plenty of emails with them. They're even willing to travel 2 hours to pick which kitten they want (but not take home as they're too young) so I reckon they really want a kitten
As I'm a foreigner in the Netherlands and most of my friends are also foreign (and cannot commit to a pet), I have to give the kittens to strangers . I am however charging a minimal fee of 20 euro and I also gave negative answers to people I wasn't comfortable giving our kittens to (for eg. one girl wanted to give a kitten to her boyfriend for his birthday.. I don't know, but I just don't feel comfortable with that). However I did find 4 nice families and exchanged plenty of emails with them. They're even willing to travel 2 hours to pick which kitten they want (but not take home as they're too young) so I reckon they really want a kitten
Are these kittens with their mom?? Use the euros to pay to have mom fixed once the kittens are rehomed.Originally Posted by yunnermeier
I was wondering the same thing because the kittens are only 11 days old now and I can't imagine them walking, eating normally by 6 weeks or so!
As I'm a foreigner in the Netherlands and most of my friends are also foreign (and cannot commit to a pet), I have to give the kittens to strangers . I am however charging a minimal fee of 20 euro and I also gave negative answers to people I wasn't comfortable giving our kittens to (for eg. one girl wanted to give a kitten to her boyfriend for his birthday.. I don't know, but I just don't feel comfortable with that). However I did find 4 nice families and exchanged plenty of emails with them. They're even willing to travel 2 hours to pick which kitten they want (but not take home as they're too young) so I reckon they really want a kitten
Katie
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- #8
I just want to add that I don't think we are irrresponsible cat owners (OK it's not my cat, it's my boyfriend's ) . We did go to the vet to get he spayed but the vet said to come back when she's a year old. She then got raped (well i think it was consensual actually) by the neighbourhood stud (who was also too young to get spayed) when she ran out one day.
We will definitely get her fixed when the kittens have been given away.
We will definitely get her fixed when the kittens have been given away.
ok cats can be spayed at 8 weeks old. I would highly recommend finding a new vet. Waiting until a year is ABSURD. I know you are in another country and things may be a little different. But many times it is the vet recommending to wait until 6 months which is even crazy to do since a cat can get pregnant at 5 months old. Please find a new vet, a low cost clinic or just tell your vet you want her spayed immediately and if you absolutely cannot, then obviously keep her inside at all times until she can get spayed.
Sounds like a very irresponsible vet....cats can be fixed as early as when they weigh 2-3 lbs. Our rescue fixes kittens at 10-12 weeks of age.
Katie
Different countries do have different customs on age for spaying. It is rare to find a vet in the UK who will do it under 6 months. But a year does seem a bit excessive. The important thing is to get it done as son as possible after the kittens are weaned as she could become pregnant again within a week or two of giving birth. Meanwhile keep her in at all costs.
ive mentioned before i cant find a vet in the uk that will s/n until kittens are 6 months i even fibbed and said that i was keeping all 3 kittens of different sexes i was told to keep them seperated until they were old enough ( i think i need to move country lol)
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can you post a picture of the kitten? How old is he/she?
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This thread is from 2006. The OP probably won't answer as they haven't been back since then.
Hey there, We have recently gotten a kitten and I was told by the private breeder that the cat is eight weeks old which already made me suspicious coz like the ppl before me mentioned that's rather early. Yesterday at the vet I was shocked when the vet said the cat looks even younger than that-there goes " professional breeding". He is in good hands now but I feel bad for em that he was separated so early. If we wouldn't have taken him someone else would have , for those who are concerned why Id support her then.
I feel like 12 weeks would probably be the best however Im not a professional breeder so I wouldn't really know. <3
I feel like 12 weeks would probably be the best however Im not a professional breeder so I wouldn't really know. <3
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Richi The Cat - I worked at a shelter and we didn't adopt the kittens out until 12 weeks to make sure they were healthy. So 12 weeks to me seems appropriate.
