• Weaning a kitten too early can cause problems.kitten image by AGphotographer from Fotolia.com
  
  

Age of Weaning

• Most kittens are fully weaned when they are 8 to 10 weeks old. For their first three to four weeks, kittens rely solely on their mother's milk for nutrition. Cat food is slowly introduced and increased in their diets until they are fully weaned from milk and eating only cat food. Removing kittens from their mothers before weaning can cause health problems. Some experts believe it's OK to separate kittens from their mother once they are fully weaned.
  
  

Proper Socialization

• Some experts believe that although a kitten might be fully weaned, keeping it with its mother for a full 12 weeks is best. This allows time for the kitten to learn valuable social skills.
  
  

Bottom Line

• It's best for kittens to be with their mothers until they are 12 weeks old, so that its new family will enjoy a properly socialized pet. However, this is not always possible. The next-best option is to keep the kitten with its mother until it is fully weaned.