When do feral kittens leave their mother?

Do feral cats abandon their kittens?

So feral cats abandon their sick kitten as an act of desperation. Sometimes it looks as if the mother has abandoned her kittens, when in fact mother cat was hit by a car or died from sickness. Orphaned kittens have a better chance of survival than abandoned kittens, because the orphans aren’t necessarily sick.

How long does it take for a mother cat to forget her kittens?

Mothers generally start this process after four weeks and finish it by 12 weeks at most. If you remove the mother’s kittens in that time, the kitten might not live up to being a well-adjusted cat.

Where do feral cats hide their kittens?

In general, cats will look for places that are quiet, low on traffic from humans or animals, and difficult for other animals besides the mother cat to reach. Examples of locations where mother cats hide their kittens are: Under porches. Under homes if the cat has access to the crawl space.

Should you take kittens away feral mother?

For health and nutrition reasons, you should wait until the kittens are at least 4-5 weeks of age before taking them away from their mother. Kittens who are 5-8 weeks old will take approximately two to four weeks to be socialized.

Is it OK to touch feral kittens?

A mother cat will NOT “reject” kittens that have been touched by humans. If there are signs that mama cat has been back but she is afraid of you and runs away, she is probably feral, meaning she was born outside and has never been around humans, and should stay outside with her kittens.

Do cats know they are siblings?

Cats do know that they‘re related. As stated, cats can recognize their father and mother, and siblings, based on their smell. That’s why cats can live in a group with their siblings and mother while young, even though they‘re not pack animals once they become adult cats.

Do momma cats get sad when their kittens leave?

When her kittens first leave, your cat may be a little upset. She might search the house looking for them or meow expecting a response. The kittens, however, may have a little more trouble with the process. Sometimes a kitten may refuse to eat or seem depressed for several days after leaving his mom.

What does a mother cat do with a dead kitten?

Bury the kitten into the ground



Sometimes a mother cat will dig the ground where it will bury its dead kitten. It will then cover the body with mud and might lay on the spot for several hours. But for some mother cats who have other kittens to attend to, they will simply remove the dead kitten and abandon it.

What to do if you find a feral kitten?

Do NOT take the kittens to an animal shelter. See if a friend or family member can care for them, or contact local rescues, animal protection groups, or advocates. You may be able to find such advocates near you through Alley Cat Allies’ Feral Friends Network^®.

How long will a feral cat leave her kittens?

If the mother cat returns…



If mom cat returns, but is not comfortable around people, and the area is relatively safe, leave the kittens alone with mom until they are weaned (5-6 weeks).

What do you do with a feral kitten?

If a kitten seems feral, use a humane trap to catch them — don’t try to pick them up by hand! This not only protects you, but also protects the kitten, who will have to go through a quarantine or worse — euthanasia — if they bite someone. Protect yourself and the kitten by using a humane trap.

How do you calm a feral kitten?

If the kitten stays calm, pet it gently on the head from behind. Never approach from the front. A hand coming at the kittens frightens them which may cause them to hiss or bite. If the kitten remains calm, grip it securely by the nape of the neck, put the towel on your lap and set it on the towel.

How do you get a feral cat to trust you?

These 6 steps will help you turn that frightened neighborhood kitty into a new furry friend!

1. Let the cat make the first move.
2. Keep her coming back for more.
3. Slowly desensitize her to life with humans.
4. Respect her space.
5. Consider a calming remedy to help her with the transition.
6. Be patient!