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I'm about to adopt two new kittens. I know they will be with me for the next 18 plus years. I had two cats that I adored who lived that long. When they came to us (one through local shelter and one at our doorstep) I didn't know anything about choosing cats. This time around I've been doing alot of reading. I just read a statement that says to have the greatest chance of getting well adjusted cats, be sure they stayed with their mother and siblings for at least 7 weeks.

It seems like the great majority of kittens available have been fostered or are in shelters. Most likely they did not stay with their mother for 7 weeks. (I will check of course, but what I see online doesn't indicate that.)

Do you think I'll have a difficult time finding kittens that fit this category? I am looking for grey or calico sibling tabbies.

Thanks much
Ginny

Hi Ginny,

I sincerely hope that you will have your new babies for at least 18 years, but please remember that the average lifespan for an indoor cat is 15 years. I had one cat live to be 18, and one that lived to 19, and I have one now who is 17, but unfortunately, this doesn't happen as often as we would like.

Anyway, it's very true that it is best for kittens to be with their moms for at least 8 weeks. These days reputable breeders do not allow kittens to go to their new homes before 12 weeks. This may sound odd, but the extra time with mom really helps kittens to grow up to be well-adjusted cats. They learn how to be social with other cats, play with them, and learn (hopefully) good habits from mom. Of course, in many cases, this isn't possible.

I adopt according to need and take in cats and occasionally kittens that have special needs. They are all rescues of some kind or another and I only know the "family history" of one of my cats. I have never gone out to look for a cat or kitten, as they are very good at finding their way to me!

You can tell a lot about a kitten by observation and spending time with it. If I were going to pick from cats at a shelter first I would observe how they behave around other cats. Then approach the cage slowly and watch the kitten's reactions. A well adjusted kitten would tend to be friendly and happy, and purring non-stop. They come to the front of the cage immediately when they see someone there and stick their little paws out through the bars. Look for signs of good health, such as clean eyes and noses, and, if possible, watch the kittens eat to see how their appetites are.

I think the "worst-adjusted" kitties are the ones who are single kittens who lost their moms at a very early age. I adopted my Jonny Cat at only 4 weeks, and he has never been a very affectionate cat. Plus he is easily frightened and doesn't seem to know how to act around other cats. It's difficult for him to bond with me and the other cats, although there are a couple that he does better with. He can be unpredictable, too.

You are going to be a wonderful mom to your future kittens. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

Regards,
PHKitkat

Although a kitten can survive without Mom from about 6 weeks on, she still has a lot to teach them and they have a lot to learn from her and their siblings. At 6 weeks they are usually eating on their own but most are still nursing a little, especially at bedtime and before naps. Most people now believe that kittens should stay with their Mom until 12 weeks old at which time they are usually independent of her and no longer nursing at all.
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I have just read the same thing that 12 weeks is recommended. I have been on the web and the phone all morning and none of the public shelters/rescue groups have moms and babies together nearly that long. I think it's going to be impossible to find unless I go to a breeder or have a stroke of luck finding kittens in the newspaper. I think it's too bad the shelters can't keep them together if it means more adjusted cats. I would imagine many a cat is given away due to it not being "well adjusted."

Thanks for you input.

Ginny

I was presented with my first cat, Samantha, when she was only 6 weeks old. She was from a 'free to good home' ad. Pam got her for me as a surprise. Neither of us knew any better at the time. She's a very well adjusted cat and I've never had any problems with her. The only difference that I've noticed in her from the others is, she's very possessive of me. I am HER mother. She is always with me and loves to be in my lap. She follows me from room to room. This is fine with me because she's my baby and I love to baby her. She is the alpha cat and she and Simba constantly fight for this position.

If a person is giving away kittens at 6 weeks, they're going to give them away or sell them whether or not you take one or two. Being younger than 12 weeks would not stop me from getting a kitten. Samantha is a kneader, but so are her two daughters who I have, KatyKatt and Katrina. And they were allowed to nurse as long as they wanted. It's probably genetic. Simba is not related to them but he both kneads and humps. He starts out kneading and ends up humping. I doubt if that has anything to do with the age they were taken from their mother.
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