Does separating kittens from their mothers too soon cause a lot of behavioral issues?

[Lillycat]

good advice christa.....if needed, i will do that. i was interested in the "plastic bag" eater......i have a cat that will do that also...i wonder what that is all about? i believe to be on the safe side kits s/b w/mom for the max time......i also know that isnt always possible.

[Kirsten]

I read somewhere that when they're kittens and they bite too hard when they're nursing, the momma will make a low growl at them to let them know it's too hard.

I did the same with Luna when she was a kitten and teething. She had problems with inflammated gums so she would bite my hands really bad. I growled at her because I thought this is what the mommy cat would do - and it worked great!!

Besides, even though she has been seperated early from her mommy, she's not an agressive cat, but shy and clumsy and obviously a bit depressed. But Katz was kind of aggressive, at least when she was younger.

Kirsten

[Randy_K]

I have known a lot of cats over the years and those weaned too early always had some type of emotional or adjustment problems. The cats who were with their moms until mom said it was "time" were all well adjusted, creative, happy, loving cats. I'm dead set against voluntarily separating kittens from their mothers before eight weeks and prefer 12 to 14 weeks. The kittens will have a lot happier lives the longer they stay with mom.