Kitten Update: 5 Weeks Old!

Welcome back to the blog and the next instalment of our #EightPreciousWeeks campaign!

Precious and her kittens are doing well - the kittens are now being separated from Precious for a little while during the day, and they are getting more curious... they have learned how to get through the cat flap into the back pen to play!

Precious and her kittens having some independent time

Sapphire using the cat flap!

Topaz investigating the back pen

As you know, our Eight Precious Weeks campaign is all about sharing the importance of kittens staying with their mum during their first eight weeks of life - it's essential for their health, happiness, and long-term well-being. We've been following our lovely cat Precious and her kittens Onyx, Sapphire, Ruby, and Topaz to highlight how staying with their mum has helped them grow into strong, healthy kittens... if you haven't already, make sure you go back to Week 1 to read all about their journey!

This week, we want to share some advice on what to look out for when buying a kitten from a breeder. Of course, we would always encourage people to think about adopting first - adopting a kitten is rewarding for both you and your new kitten, especially if they’re looking for a much-needed second chance!

If you choose to look into adopting a kitten from Cats Protection, you can be sure that your cat will be ready to go to its new home. It will also be, where possible:

wormed
treated for fleas
vaccinated
microchipped
neutered

Of course, we know that there will be times when people will choose to buy instead of adopt, for a variety of reasons, so we want to keep people as informed as we can! If you do choose to buy a kitten from a breeder, you’ll need to be sure that the kitten is well looked after and in good condition. As we know, kittens shouldn’t be removed from their mothers until eight weeks old, but it isn't always easy to know how old a kitten is! One thing to look out for is how the kittens are behaving - kittens at eight weeks old should appear bright, engaged, and sociable.

Onyx

We don't recommend buying kittens through online listings, adverts or on social media. Although it might be tempting or seem easy, particularly during these current times, buying online means that it isn’t always possible to guarantee that you are buying from a reputable breeder, and your kitten could end up with future health issues.

It can be hard to know exactly what to look out for, and unfortunately there are unscrupulous people out there who want to make money at the price of a kitten’s health. To make sure you are fully informed on what to look for if you do decide to visit a breeder, download our handy Kitten Checklist for a comprehensive guide: