When Do Kittens Stop Nursing In The Wild

Kittens under two weeks are especially dependent on their mother s milk to get the nutrients they need to survive.

When do kittens stop nursing in the wild. This is now the cue for the weaning process to begin. The weaning process usually continues for about another month until the kittens are fully weaned between eight and 10 weeks of age. Kittens usually begin the weaning process around 4 weeks of age according to the general consensus. If they are nursing and their eyes haven t opened they are under 2 weeks.

It s best to leave them with mom until they re weaned. This is completely normal behavior and just means that the little kittens are growing up. During this time the kittens will still occasionally nurse on their mother but they will also start to eat liquid kitten food. According to the american society for the prevention of cruelty to animals aspca a mother cat typically stops nursing their kittens when they are around 4 weeks old.

By nine weeks the kittens are clearly showing an attachment to their caregivers cuddling on laps and seeking out attention. Most rescue groups wait until kitten are 8 weeks old before adopting them out but that s primarily to ensure they are neutered which can be done as early as 8 weeks. When do kittens stop nursing. During this time she will refuse to nurse them as often if at all because they are growing teeth making it very uncomfortable for her.

The entire process generally lasts for about a month. It is not typical for a momma cat to abandon her kittens. Visit our kitten guide. Kittens begin to nibble at wet food at 4 weeks of age and are fully capable of eating on their own at 6 weeks.

Once kittens reach between 3 weeks and 4 weeks old mom will naturally begin to wean them for up to four more weeks. This why it s critical to be sure that the mother is not around before disturbing the kittens. Hint for determining the age of nursing kittens.