In the wild, feral mother cats will often nurse their kittens until the kittens are between 5 weeks and 10 weeks old. Young, scared, or undernourished mother cats may abandon their kittens sooner in extenuating circumstances. Kittens younger than 5 weeks are unlikely to be fully weaned onto solid food and therefore are at risk if they are prematurely separated from their mothers. Kittens can be intentionally separated from a feral mother when the kittens are between 5-8 weeks old. This ensures that they are old and independent enough to leave the mother cat and stay healthy, while still giving enough time to socialize them well and help them become adoptable companions.