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Why Must I Wait for a Kitten?

Home At Last Rescue does not offer kittens for adoption until they reach at least 12 weeks of age, by which time they will have been neutered and vaccinated. It is hard to wait when you see adorable kittens, but the wait is worth it.

Kittens shouldn’t be separated from their mother and littermates until they have been fully weaned and socialized. 

Kittens continue learning normal cat behavior from their mother until well into their tenth week, says Petful, so in order to give each kitten the best chance of becoming a well-adjusted cat, it’s best to wait until at least ten weeks before allowing her to go to a new home. You can also wait twelve weeks to allow time for the next important round of vaccinations in the kitten timeline. 

Kittens are ready to be spayed or neutered by six months of age. Many vets, however, will perform the procedure as early as eight weeks if the kitten weighs enough to safely undergo general anesthesia. 

Hill’s Pet: Charting Your Kitten’s Development 

 

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