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Original poster

Would it put you off a kitten if it was rejected by its mother at 8 weeks ?

39 replies

Kittencuddler · 19/10/2025 22:57

Would this put you off ? as ideally the kitten stays with mum until 12 weeks

The mum stayed with them until they were 8 weeks

but then she started getting stressed and had had enough of the kittens

so other related adult cats are spending time with the kittens showing them the ropes

all adult cats seem very healthy and well and all the kittens seem lovely
breeder seems lovely and all very professional with a great set up

OP posts:
FeatheryFlorence · 19/10/2025 22:59

No, I would love it more.

ozarina · 19/10/2025 23:00

❤️

Littletreefrog · 19/10/2025 23:01

Nope. Sometimes mum cat is just done with them. Through a series of unfortunate events we ended up with a single kitten who was 6 weeks. Our totally unrelated resident cat became Auntie and all was fine.

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Blappengrap · 19/10/2025 23:01

My kitten is 4 months. He and his siblings were removed from their mum at 3 weeks as she wasn't caring for them and they were hand reared.

He's a lovely cat, but I think it helps that we have an older one who is teaching him cat behaviour and plays with him a lot.

FenceBooksCycle · 19/10/2025 23:10

The word "breeder" would put me off. A scatterbrained owner who didn't get around to organising the spaying in time, an escapologist cat who found a way to meet her lover when on heat, and a litter of unexpected and unplanned kittens who need a home and then mum will be getting spayed asap - that's the kittens you want. I wouldn't want to give any money to the kind of human who exploitatively treats a cat as a kitten factory to sell at a profit. I am sure the kitten itself is lovely, every kitten is lovely. There is no such thing as an unlovable kitten. The choice to be made is about what you want your money to support.

Original poster
Kittencuddler · 19/10/2025 23:39

Littletreefrog · 19/10/2025 23:01

Nope. Sometimes mum cat is just done with them. Through a series of unfortunate events we ended up with a single kitten who was 6 weeks. Our totally unrelated resident cat became Auntie and all was fine.

Yes that's the impression I got the mum cat was just over the kittens and needed a break.

OP posts:
Original poster
Kittencuddler · 19/10/2025 23:40

FenceBooksCycle · 19/10/2025 23:10

The word "breeder" would put me off. A scatterbrained owner who didn't get around to organising the spaying in time, an escapologist cat who found a way to meet her lover when on heat, and a litter of unexpected and unplanned kittens who need a home and then mum will be getting spayed asap - that's the kittens you want. I wouldn't want to give any money to the kind of human who exploitatively treats a cat as a kitten factory to sell at a profit. I am sure the kitten itself is lovely, every kitten is lovely. There is no such thing as an unlovable kitten. The choice to be made is about what you want your money to support.

Your entitled to you view of course, but I only saw love and a very professional caring set up

OP posts:
Original poster
Kittencuddler · 19/10/2025 23:41

It's actually an uncle cat that's helping the kittens now for the next few weeks

OP posts:
Iliketulips · 20/10/2025 08:20

My boys were rescue kittens. I didn't get them until five months though as two out of three needed medical treatment, and by the time they were happy with them both, it was neuturing time. They were kept in a cage all that time, although, they lady looking after them did go and play with them every day, make a fuss over them.

None are lap cats (our last two were, although the boy less so). Could be that male cats are less likely to be lap cats, but we do wondering if it's because they didn't have the advantage of spending a lot of time in a home with people.

They absolutely love attention though, one in particular likes sitting next to us. They're not lap cats, but if I'm in bed in the morning one of them is usually lying on my chest purring at me adoringly.

dementedpixie · 20/10/2025 08:23

I got my 2 at 8 weeks. Are you thinking there's a problem with the kitten due to its mother rejecting it?

Original poster
Kittencuddler · 20/10/2025 08:28

dementedpixie · 20/10/2025 08:23

I got my 2 at 8 weeks. Are you thinking there's a problem with the kitten due to its mother rejecting it?

No she’s got fed up of all the kittens

OP posts:
Namechang44 · 20/10/2025 08:39

Got mine at 7 weeks, since then I’ve been mama.

Ruggerlass · 20/10/2025 08:49

Adopt don’t shop. There are lots of lovely kittens in need . I adopted my kitten from the RSPCA who did a home check etc before allowing me to adopt him. It makes me so angry that people treat animals like a commodity which is what breeders do in my opinion. If you really must buy from a breeder check that they are licensed and the kittens have all been health checked. I presume also the breeder has asked questions about your home set up.

AnnaMagnani · 20/10/2025 08:53

I would not get kittens from a breeder unless you are specifically wanting a particular breed.

I had 2 kittens that left their mum too soon. One was fine, the other has lifelong mental health problems that with hindsight were obvious from the first day we saw her in rescue. We love her but she is hard work.

All kittens are lovable, adult cats less so, especially when they are high maintenance.

herbalteabag · 20/10/2025 08:57

No, I would want it more! Our kittens we got as children were 8 weeks, which was seen as normal then. Current ones were 3-4 months.

Tanya285 · 20/10/2025 08:58

When there are so many cats and kittens in rescues desperate to be adopted why would you buy one?

TheTortiePuffinNeedsHerBreakfast · 20/10/2025 09:02

I think if the mum has rejected all of them, it's different to her rejecting a specific one. If she doesn't want to be a mum, then the kittens themselves are probably fine, but I do think they know sometimes if an individual one is weaker or ill.

user1471548941 · 20/10/2025 09:05

We think one of mine came from similar- the rescue strongly suggested that his slightly odd behaviour was likely due to him being alone as a young kitten with no other cats to teach him. He has some other complexities due to being on the streets for about 4 years too. He’s absolutely gorgeous, completely daft and basically imprinted on my husband who he’s fixated with.

We love him to bits but ended up getting another cat to help him learn to play and “cat”, which worked well. He does however get awful anxiety about my husband going away (travels a few times a year for work) and he has to have some very expensive medication and cattery trips to alleviate (doesn’t get anxious in the cattery!!!).

I adore him and 90% of the time he’s living his best life, physically attached to DH so it’s fairly intense!

bobcat1987 · 20/10/2025 09:05

I got my puppy at 8 weeks he's now 12 and a half weeks once they were on food it was easier as they didn't want mum anymore but mum was there

VikaOlson · 20/10/2025 09:06

Tanya285 · 20/10/2025 08:58

When there are so many cats and kittens in rescues desperate to be adopted why would you buy one?

I bought a kitten because the local cat rescues wouldn't give us one due to no cat flap and small children.

FlatfacedCattypuss · 20/10/2025 10:05

I’ve fostered a few litters of kittens and the mother isn’t usually doing much mothering by eight weeks. The main benefit of a few extra weeks before adoption is the romping around and fighting and socialising with their litter mates and the development of confidence as they increasingly explore the world independently. These kittens sound like they’re very well socialised with other cats and with humans, so they’ll be grand!

PixieandMe · 20/10/2025 10:07

Why would it put you off?

When I collected my kitten (she is now 10 years old) the lady I bought her from told me that the mother cat had got fed up and starting to reject the kitten now so the timing was perfect. It's normal.

EmpressaurusKitty · 20/10/2025 10:09

If the mother’s had enough, I hope the breeder won’t make her have any more kittens.

I adopted my girl from a rescue when she was 5. She came to them pregnant & they thought she’d been used for breeding. She was bloody lucky to still be alive & healthy.

Iheartmysmart · 20/10/2025 10:21

I’ve been ‘adopted’ by a young kitten that was found abandoned with one other sibling and no sign of mum. She’s been with me for a few weeks now and the vet thought she was about 6 weeks old when I took her for a check up when I first got her.

The other kitten had already been taken home by someone else otherwise I would have had them both. So I’m currently mum and sibling!

No real issues though, it took a little while to get her used to a litter tray and it was a bit daunting for her being inside after been found in a barn but she’s a feisty little thing who is coming on amazing well.

Octavia64 · 20/10/2025 10:24

No.

i got three kittens from a breeder (posh breed of cat) and one was the runt.

he’s adorable and gorgeous.

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