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I have a kitten at my daughters house waiting to come home with me. Right now they are just shy of 6 weeks old...."Mom" is beginning to wean them already. They have been using the litter box and eating some wet food as well as nursing. When is the right age in your opinion to bring him home? Some information on the internet says never before 12 weeks of age in order that the kittens will have developed socialization skills. Also, there is a risk of behavior problems in kittens taken from their mothers too soon. I have three other cats so I wouldnt think socialization would be a problem. Thankyou for all opinions on this!

I personally think it depends on the kitten. Any where from 8 weeks to 12 weeks. I would probably go with 10 weeks if the kitten is weaned, using hte litter box and playing.
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

Hi There,

I think waiting until the kitten is 12 weeks old would be ideal, although I understand if you don't want to wait quite that long. There are things that a kitten learns best from his or her mom and littermates, and socialization is one of them.

Now that I've said that, I have several cats here that were adopted at different ages. None of the cats I took in as kittens were with their littermates until they were 12 weeks old. One of my boys was only 4 weeks old when I adopted him and he does have problems being around other cats. It's as if he doesn't know how to be one himself. On the other hand, I have a female that spend several weeks of her kittenhood in the hospital, in isolation and intensive care, and she is my most well-adjusted cat. She loves people, other cats, and is the sweetest little thing. So....you never know. I expected her to have a hard time relating to other cats and not like people because she had so much done to her as a baby.

Try to wait at least another 2-3 weeks before taking home your new addition. I can imagine how anxious you are getting!

Regards,
PHKitkat

12 weeks is best. The kitten is still a baby and has lots to learn from Mom about being a proper cat! I am sure that you are eager to have her but it is best to wait.
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Tessa Onyx, Foudini, Charlee, Spottie, ShyRaven, Buddy, Tuxie, Widdle Attila Sipowitz, Lizzie, Minnie, ET, Mylo, Penny (We be house cats at last), and Salem, Wicca and Marmalade (We iz also house cats, we guess)and the 5 porch kits also Riley da goggie and Alex da baby hamster too
Tabitha and Samantha..always in our hearts
A house without cats is like a garden without flowers

OHHHH you have NO IDEA how anxious I am to bring him home! lol---I lost my beloved just before his 12th birthday, back in March.He battled renal failure for three weeks and I couldnt see letting him go on any longer. He was given to me at 4 weeks of age and he DID have socialization problems. Also took me as his Mom and didnt like ANYone else! Probably why he and I were so bonded and so close.It absolutely broke my heart so badly. I was a complete basket case for three days.It gradually got better with each passing day tho. On April 22, my daughters cat had kittens. Which was miraculous, because she had had an injury as a kitten herself and never came into heat before this and she's 3 years old! She had 4 absolutely beautiful babes, mine was born breach...and he looks just like his predicesor !!!! So yes I can HARDLY stand the wait! But maybe this time around, we will have been able to do everything right this time, you know? Sorry to have rattled on, but being cat lovers yourselves, I have the feeling you understand! Thanks so much for the replies!

Oh trust me, I do know. I lost 2 of my precious angels in the last year. You will just have to go over to your daughters and whisper sweet nothings in his furry little ear until he is old enough to come home with you. And perhaps thank his Mom for having him for you and taking such good care of her kittens
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PHWildCat/Tessa and 21 cats, 1 dog and even a hamster
Tabitha, in my heart forever.... earned her wings 6/26/05, Samantha, the bestest whineameezer...earned her wings 4/7/06.
Cat Board Monitor and Chat Host
Pet Hobbyist
A house without cats is like a garden without flowers

I agree that 12 weeks is ideal, but 10 is usually all right.
At our shelter the kittens I foster usually go up for adoption at 8 weeks if everything is all right: they use the litter box dependablty, they eat enough on their own to sustain them. But that is because we are overcrowded all the time and there are younger kittens waiting to be fostered. They are not always adopted out immediately so they are AT LEAST 8 weeks old. I'd still prefer 10-12 weeks if possible.
Norma
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The Wiscats: "Every life should have [at least] 9 cats"! Or is it "Cheaper by the [almost] dozen"??
The Excellent Lady Sophie-Marie Wiscat-StLouie
Poucette-Noelle CCarlini-Rexford
Simba Wiscat
Henri le Chanceux Wiscat
Minette Wiscat-CCarlini
Monsieur Gervais le Blanc Wiscat
Annie-Claire Rexford-CCarlini
Andre-Guillaume Wiscat
Beau Wiscat
Giselle-Elizabeth SpankyRanch
Sylvie-Chantal la Joie Wiscat-SpankyRanch
~~ and varying numbers of foster kitties coming and going - right now Violet and four orphans: Ike, Mike, Spike, and Tyke ~~

I've adopted cats at all ages, the youngest being 6 weeks old and all have done fine. Socialization is not usually a problem if the kitten is being adopted into a home tha talready has cats.

The 6 week old was initially a foster that neede one on one attention due to weakness in his rear legs. He needed exercise play therapy and lots of TLC that he could only get one on one, but it seems that he was only fooling me! Looking for a permanent home, with me of course! He is coming along much better and learns everything he needs from his older brothers and sister. I though at such a young age he would miss momma or siblings, but he attached himself quite nicely to me!

Now, the one I adopted at 12 weeks is the biggest, most solid guy on the block and is also the biggest SCAREDY CAT! So I believe as long as they are loved, touched, held, played with and interacted with they will turn out just how they are supposed to! THey usually go through weaning between 5-8 weeks.

Good luck and it will be worth the wait however long you decide to!

Colleen
Michigan Cat Rescue
YokoGari, Claude LeMeiux, Chopper Boogotti, Honeybunny Boo and Twinkle the Wonder Boy