This makes no sense!?!?

Question

ok well i have looked at all the qusetions about kittens and EVERYBODY says to get it at 8-12 weeks and if you are getting it earlier it has to be OFF it's mom's milk but my kitten, ruby, is eating dry food using the litter box for a week now and cleaning her self for 2 WEEKS, she also hasn't drank any milk from her mom for 3 days and she is pouncing on her littermates and playing! but the problem is i was told she is only 5 weeks which makes no sense and i can't weigh her so i cannot find out that way so i need help! i want to take her home! she followed all the rules, because she acts liek she is 8 weeks which i am positive she is not. she would be more like 6 weeks or just really advanced for her age but the thing is a lot of her littermates are still drinking milk? so i don't know what to do so i am asking yahoo and i hope it helps

Answer 1

It's best to wait until she's a full 8 weeks.  Even if she's "doing 8 week things", she's still going to learn a lot about manners and social interaction being with her mom and littermates for her full 8 weeks.  Be patient, you'll have a better pet for 10-20 years just by waiting two weeks.

Answer 2

Each kitten, just like humans, will develop differently, I usually say 6 to eight weeks, it's usually really hard to ween a cat off mom's milk if it is available for too long.  Take the cat home, if she is ready, she is ready!  

Answer 3

Hi Kylie,

I know that you must be really confused. You see that the little 5 week old Ruby is acting much older than what you think she is and feels like it is time for her to go home with you. But, you have to know that kitten develop at different rates but never far too far off from the recommended guidelines. She might be a bouncy, active, playful little girl and you think that she is ready for the world!

But inside, Ruby is still a young kitten that still need a lot of guidance from mom and also has to learn much from her litter mates. She is definitely the head of the class but that does not mean she has learn all there is to learn about kitty manners.

Ruby will learn a lot of things from mom and her litter mates that you will not be able to teach. She will learn that biting on mom will get a stare and a paw swipe from her, attacking her litter mates will make them not want to play with her, and all those are what she has to find out for herself in kitty kindergarten!

Although she appears to be advanced from her age, removing her from her family now will do more harm than good. You know the story of the goose that lay golden eggs? Because the farmer is impatient and wanted to get all the golden eggs, he slaughetered the goose hoping that he can get the eggs faster, rather than wait day by day. And because of this, the farmer lost his golden egg goose and no more golden eggs either! :( Now, that's shame.

So, I'd say, leave Ruby with her family for a few more weeks and when she does come home with you, she will be a great joy to have. A well mannered kitten is definitely what you want, not one that has quirky behavior that is hard to correct as a result of being taken away too early.

I know it is tempting to just scoop her up and carry her home right away, but if you love Ruby, you will wait for her to graduate.  

Answer 4

I have posted a link that will give you guidelines to determine the kittens age.  This may help you determine if the kitten seems to be 5 weeks.

Consider this.  The mother provides a ready food source, taking no effort.  Some kittens simply are 'lazy' and prefer the food come to them, rather than them making an effort.

Normally, the mother will be taking up to eight weeks to train and teach the kitten everything it needs in life.  Take a kitten away too soon, and you have to do that job.  And some kittens, if removed too early, continually suckle, and that can be annoying.  They suckle on your fingers, your clothes, your bed linens, etc.

Ruby may be one smart kitten, but waiting will pay more dividends than taking your kitten a couple of weeks too soon.

Oh, once you adopt your kitten, take Ruby to a vet to start a program of booster vaccines, and treating worms and probably ear mites.  Yes, kittens almost always have worms, and they get it through their mothers milk, and it is trivial to treat.

Probably the only kittens that would not have worms would come from a breeder, and if that was your kitten, you wouldn't be wondering about the age.

Answer 5

If you want her to not grow as healthy as she could, by all means take her now.

If you want her to grow up with developmental issues, by all means take her now.

If you want her to be scared and confused for quite awhile since you took her too early, by all means take her now.

If you're a mature person who understands that snatching a kitten when it's too young from it's mother is a childish, irresponsible and uncaring thing to do - then you'll wait till the kitten is at LEAST eight weeks old.

What's the rush?  Are you really that cruel that you'd take her too soon?  If so then you shouldn't be getting this kitten at all!  Your comments make you sound like a bratty ten year old child!  Is that how old you are?  If not then it's time to a bit of growing up and learning the word PATIENCE.

You obviously know VERY LITTLE about kittens if you think that it's odd that a kitten of 5 or 6 weeks pounces on littermates and plays.  "She acts like she's 8 weeks"?  Please - you have no idea what that even means!  Why don't you take this next three weeks to learn about kittens and cats so you'll be a better pet owner when she's ready to go home?

Answer 6

i would go ahead and take her home. we took our cat home at 6 weeks and it is doing just fine. good luck!!

Answer 7

8 weeks or older is best.  Not just for food and maturity (which is important - they are susceptible to disease when they are little) but also all that playing and socializing with littermates is teaching her important skills for later in life.  She needs that extra time with mom and littermates to grow and to learn how to be a cat.  That extra time is also good for learning the purpose of a litterbox.  It's an important time.

Answer 8

I know you want to take her home but please leave her with her mother for a couple more weeks.  You say she is "pouncing on her littermates and playing".  This is a crucial time for her.  Her mother/ brothers/sisters will be teaching her just how far she can push things.  If you take her away now she will not know the difference between playing and aggression and you are likely to end up with a cat who has behaviour problems.  

The time will soon go and she will be with you.  Trust what people tell you.  We see cats with behaviour problems every day of our lives and have to deal with the consequences.

Answer 9

This is a critical time for your cat to develop manners and to understand cat social etiquette. I watched a show once where a dog was biting his owners and the trainer found out he was purchased at 5 weeks of age. That is the age when playtime with littermates will teach a dog that they are playing too rough; this dog never learned that. Please be patient knowing it is for the best for your kitten. Use this time to get some sleep because when the kitten comes home, it will wake you up at night.