We’re adopting a beautiful Maine Coon kitten from a responsible breeder. (YEAH!!!) The litter of kitties was born in February. The breeder has informed that the kittens were weaned by the mommy cat and are eating solid food right now.
He would like to know if we would like to adopt our new kitty next week (when she turns seven weeks old) or give her more time with mommy and wait until she’s ten weeks old.
What would you do? The other cats I’ve owned were all either adopted at at least twelve weeks or as adults. Any advice is most appreciated.
As long as you have the time to spend with the kitten and bond with it early, there is really no reason to wait. If not, then wait until it is a little older and more secure in its sense of self.
Cat behavior books I’ve read advise taking the kitten from the mother between 8-14 weeks. Before 8 weeks, they are still learning socialization skills from mother and littermates. After 14 weeks…I honestly don’t remember what happens after 14 weeks, but I’m guessing it’s just easier for a younger kitten to adjust.
I got one of my cats from the pound when she was 6 weeks old. She should not have been taken away from her mother that young, though she was weaned. She had trouble gaining weight, and has attachment issues. Namely, she follows me around squawling for attention, and then when I try to give her some, she runs away and hides. She also has an oral fixation, maybe from early weaning, and sucks on things like blankets and wool socks.
My other cat I acquired at the same time but from a different litter. He was 8 weeks old, and had no issues with feeding or attachment.
Let the kitten have more time with it’s mother to learn catly manners. It is well worth it to wait. Some cats end up with odd behaviors if they are taken from their mother too soon, and the socialization stage is very important. I’m looking askance at the breeder (a bit) just from the fact that they are offering to let the kittens leave the mother at seven weeks of age. (I thought that most kittens weren’t fully weaned until 8 weeks of age too?) Mostly because I’d wager the breeder realizes that socialization is important, so I wonder why she’d even bring up the option.
Yeah, wait. I have an early solo kitty and she has oral and attachment issues too. Doesn’t like to be on the other side of a closed door from me, chews on anything she can get her teeth around, has a huge mean streak and holds a grudge. But, she is also a very human-oriented cat. She tolerated petting by old people and kids like a champ. She is very popular at nursing homes and will walk on a leash and likes going hiking and camping as long as she is with her people (me). She was a rescue and raised at a vet clinic.
Think of it this way, you are already getting a cat with a very loving, cuddly personality. Do you really want a GIANT lap cat later on, who insists on sharing your pillow, and nursing on your nose, or eats your fuzzy warm blankets? Maine Coon cats do get rather large. You have researched, or been taught how to care for their coats and claws also, right?
Since this is likely to be a large cat, I’d rather err on the side of prudence, and let the cat socialize more before taking it home. Nothing like a 20 pound psycho pet to make one wish they hadn’t read Stephen King.
Oooooh I’d wait. I admit my opinion is probably biased, but…
When I was 12 years old, my father took my brother and I out to a man’s house who was giving away free kittens - they were obviously too young, and my father insisted they stay with their mother for a while longer before we took them, but the man said he would drown them in a couple of days because he “didn’t have time for kittens.” We decided they’d have a better chance with us than with this guy, so we took them home.
Despite all of our efforts and vet’s constant advice (the vet was wonderful, held our hands through the whole thing, helping us take care of the kittens, giving us some sort of formula for free, etc), due to various complications, both kittens died within two weeks. One had some kind of litterbox problems (the vet said something about it being due to lack of proper mother’s milk), the second died several days later while we were all asleep at night - he climbed onto the loveseat somehow, and tried to jump off. His little bones couldn’t take it. I’ve never cried so hard for any animals in all my life. Hell, it still hurts. Even though leaving them with that man would have been certain death, we still feel guilty for everything that happened, always wondering if we could have done more. Always, always wishing our little tale of caution could have had a happy ending.
Please wait the extra time. Your kitten may be fine and healthy enough to take home, but if you can wait, please do. All the time they can have with their mother is worth it.
Thanks. You’re all confirming what I thought. We’re going to wait a while longer and let kitty hang out with her mommy.
Zabali_Clawbane the breeder’s making me a little nervous, too. He has a nice rep but I haven’t gotten a satisfactory answer from him about why he feels comfortable letting the kittens go so early.
My guess? The sooner he gets rid of her litter, the sooner she will go into heat, and the sooner he can breed her again. More litters equals more money.
I got a Maine coon cat as a kitten and had her for 18 years, and she was a great, great cat. She stayed with her mama until she was almost 10 weeks old, and I–who was 10 years old at the time and jumping with impatience–thought it was just forever. But she was probably the best cat I ever had (despite the fact that, being a somewhat immature 10-year-old, I dressed her up in, er, doll clothes, etc.)
So without knowing which of many factors made her such a great cat (including the doll clothes?) I would recommend leaving her with the mama kitty at least a couple more weeks.
I loaned my kitten once or twice in her " imprint-weeks" to let her get used to the things I wanted her to get used to, like riding on trains and in cars. Both of best worlds.
No. Cats can become pregnant while nursing, even. Since this cat’s weaned her kittens, she’s more than able to go into heat at any time. Doesn’t matter if she’s got a litter or not. Cite.
