Best Practices for Feline Breeding: Placing Kittens at Appropriate Ages (DRAFT)
By Amy Adolph
(December 2007)
I was recently asked why my kittens could not go to their new homes earlier then 12 weeks; after all, traditionally it had always been kittens were placed at 8 weeks, so what was the reason for changing?
I had heard that placing kittens before 12 weeks would create problematic behaviors, so this was an area I really needed to develop more understanding. Emotional behaviors are right up my alley, especially since I am a "human" mental health psychotherapist, working on my Ph.D in psychology. Embarrassingly, I knew less about the emotional aspects regarding the timing of placement for kittens, and slightly more about the physiological health component. I decided immediately that I should at least understand both the emotional along with the scientific reasons for a balanced holistic approach for developing a solid guideline.
I set out to determine how socialization and medical components worked together on the kitten's development when deciding appropriate age placement. What I learned inspired me to not only examine the topic of kitten behavior and placement, but to begin developing a series on Best Practices for Feline Breeding using research from accredited academia, scientific facilities, professional feline organizations, and experienced feline breeding experts.
A seminar on cat behavior from Cambridge University demonstrated that kittens removed early from their mothers “subsequently develop a variety of behavioural, emotional and physical abnormalities. They become unusually fearful and aggressive towards other cats and people, show large amounts of random undirected locomotor activity, and learn less well. Some develop asthma-like respiratory disorders.” (Bateson, Second edition, 2000). The research continues to suggest that socialization is influenced during the time of weaning which starts between the 9th and 16th week. During this time frame, the kitten’s behavioral patterns turn to playing from the nest, to a more exploratory type of play. This gradual transition helps foster kittens since security for learning their own independent skills (Bateson). In my own experience, as a breeder, I know that Siamese kittens rarely show maturity until after the 10th week (see picture below of 11 week kittens nursing). By maturity, I mean, fully using the litter box, eating solid food and water, and demonstrating a sense of individuality like sleeping in areas on their own without huddling together with their litter mates. The American Association for Feline Behavior with a panel of specialists cited that between the 9th and 16th week “kittens that have not had adequate social experience during early socialization and may have poor social skills and require extra effort to acquire good social skills. (Practitioners, 2004).
The socialization of kittens developed by the board of the American Association of Feline Practitioners constructed the Feline Guidelines that indicates it is during the 9th and 16th week, a kitten “continues to learn social skills. Social play peaks. Social conflict over status may emerge.” The guideline for socialization during this time frame is also during the time frame as explained by a veteran Siamese Breeder and veterinarian Dr. Betsy Arnold that “the immunity from their mother is wearing off, and the immunity from vaccination is just starting to take over. During this time, they are more susceptible to illness, such as upper-respiratory problems and diarrhea." Additionally, Dr. Arnold continues, “immunity from vaccination does not happen immediately; shots can take up to ten days to be effective. Up until this time, kittens receive some measure of immunity through antibodies from their mother's milk, but this is also the age where they are beginning to wean. Their immune system "kicks over" from immunity from mother's milk to immunity from vaccination. During this time, their immune system is busy with this task, leaving the kitten less able to fight off other illnesses. "The stress of going to a new home and being exposed to different germs can make the kitten more susceptible to illness during this time," adds Dr. Arnold. (French, 2000)
While socialization plays a significant factor in the timing of placement, the need for healthy immune systems to develop seals the reasons for dictating the minimum time frame on the appropriate ages for kittens to be placed in their new homes. Following the writing of this article, my recommendation for a "minimum" standard should start at no earlier then 12 weeks. This time frame, gives both the emotional and scientific needed for a healthy socialized kitten.
Where did the 8 weeks placement come from? I suspect that the 8 weeks is a roll over tradition from dog breeders and outdated vaccination protocols. It has only been since the 1980's that feline studies have really been taken seriously. Of course old habits and thought patterns take some time to change. Still today, dog breeders commonly send puppies to their new homes at 8 weeks of age. With that in mind, I suspect our cats would be horrified to know our placement practices were developed through the association of the canine species.
The following lovely picture was sent to me by an Old Style Siamese Breeder of Blackfoot River Cattery, who captured her 13 week olds suckling with their mother.
Special Thanks
Contributions from experienced breeders of PREOSSIA's list serve and from Dr. Cristy Bird of Sarsenstone Cattery.
Bateson, P. (Second edition, 2000). Behavioural Development in the Cat (extracted from chapter two of The Domestic Cat). Retrieved December, 2007, from Cambridge University Press: http://www.fathom.com/course/21701782/index.html
French, B. C. (2000, February). How Young is Too Young? Retrieved December, 2007, from Fanciers Breeder Referral List: http://www.breedlist.com/faq/young.html Practitioners, A. A. (2004, December).
Feline Behavior Guidelines. Retrieved December, 2007, from American Association of Feline Practitioners Online: http://www.aafponline.org/resources/guidelines/Feline_Behavior_Guidelines.pdf
I was recently asked why my kittens could not go to their new homes earlier then 12 weeks; after all, traditionally it had always been kittens were placed at 8 weeks, so what was the reason for changing?
I had heard that placing kittens before 12 weeks would create problematic behaviors, so this was an area I really needed to develop more understanding. Emotional behaviors are right up my alley, especially since I am a "human" mental health psychotherapist, working on my Ph.D in psychology. Embarrassingly, I knew less about the emotional aspects regarding the timing of placement for kittens, and slightly more about the physiological health component. I decided immediately that I should at least understand both the emotional along with the scientific reasons for a balanced holistic approach for developing a solid guideline.
I set out to determine how socialization and medical components worked together on the kitten's development when deciding appropriate age placement. What I learned inspired me to not only examine the topic of kitten behavior and placement, but to begin developing a series on Best Practices for Feline Breeding using research from accredited academia, scientific facilities, professional feline organizations, and experienced feline breeding experts.
A seminar on cat behavior from Cambridge University demonstrated that kittens removed early from their mothers “subsequently develop a variety of behavioural, emotional and physical abnormalities. They become unusually fearful and aggressive towards other cats and people, show large amounts of random undirected locomotor activity, and learn less well. Some develop asthma-like respiratory disorders.” (Bateson, Second edition, 2000). The research continues to suggest that socialization is influenced during the time of weaning which starts between the 9th and 16th week. During this time frame, the kitten’s behavioral patterns turn to playing from the nest, to a more exploratory type of play. This gradual transition helps foster kittens since security for learning their own independent skills (Bateson). In my own experience, as a breeder, I know that Siamese kittens rarely show maturity until after the 10th week (see picture below of 11 week kittens nursing). By maturity, I mean, fully using the litter box, eating solid food and water, and demonstrating a sense of individuality like sleeping in areas on their own without huddling together with their litter mates. The American Association for Feline Behavior with a panel of specialists cited that between the 9th and 16th week “kittens that have not had adequate social experience during early socialization and may have poor social skills and require extra effort to acquire good social skills. (Practitioners, 2004).
The socialization of kittens developed by the board of the American Association of Feline Practitioners constructed the Feline Guidelines that indicates it is during the 9th and 16th week, a kitten “continues to learn social skills. Social play peaks. Social conflict over status may emerge.” The guideline for socialization during this time frame is also during the time frame as explained by a veteran Siamese Breeder and veterinarian Dr. Betsy Arnold that “the immunity from their mother is wearing off, and the immunity from vaccination is just starting to take over. During this time, they are more susceptible to illness, such as upper-respiratory problems and diarrhea." Additionally, Dr. Arnold continues, “immunity from vaccination does not happen immediately; shots can take up to ten days to be effective. Up until this time, kittens receive some measure of immunity through antibodies from their mother's milk, but this is also the age where they are beginning to wean. Their immune system "kicks over" from immunity from mother's milk to immunity from vaccination. During this time, their immune system is busy with this task, leaving the kitten less able to fight off other illnesses. "The stress of going to a new home and being exposed to different germs can make the kitten more susceptible to illness during this time," adds Dr. Arnold. (French, 2000)
While socialization plays a significant factor in the timing of placement, the need for healthy immune systems to develop seals the reasons for dictating the minimum time frame on the appropriate ages for kittens to be placed in their new homes. Following the writing of this article, my recommendation for a "minimum" standard should start at no earlier then 12 weeks. This time frame, gives both the emotional and scientific needed for a healthy socialized kitten.
Where did the 8 weeks placement come from? I suspect that the 8 weeks is a roll over tradition from dog breeders and outdated vaccination protocols. It has only been since the 1980's that feline studies have really been taken seriously. Of course old habits and thought patterns take some time to change. Still today, dog breeders commonly send puppies to their new homes at 8 weeks of age. With that in mind, I suspect our cats would be horrified to know our placement practices were developed through the association of the canine species.
The following lovely picture was sent to me by an Old Style Siamese Breeder of Blackfoot River Cattery, who captured her 13 week olds suckling with their mother.
Special Thanks
Contributions from experienced breeders of PREOSSIA's list serve and from Dr. Cristy Bird of Sarsenstone Cattery.
Works Cited
Bateson, P. (Second edition, 2000). Behavioural Development in the Cat (extracted from chapter two of The Domestic Cat). Retrieved December, 2007, from Cambridge University Press: http://www.fathom.com/course/21701782/index.html
French, B. C. (2000, February). How Young is Too Young? Retrieved December, 2007, from Fanciers Breeder Referral List: http://www.breedlist.com/faq/young.html Practitioners, A. A. (2004, December).
Feline Behavior Guidelines. Retrieved December, 2007, from American Association of Feline Practitioners Online: http://www.aafponline.org/resources/guidelines/Feline_Behavior_Guidelines.pdf