Liz Baldwin asked about the weaning age for cats...
It depends on whether the weaning is "owner-led" or "kitten-led"
(Actually, I don't think that you *can* own a cat - they simply grace us with their presence!)
Humans usually consider kittens to be weaned when they can eat most of their calorie requirements from a
bowl, usually around 6-8 weeks. In nature, however, most kittens will continue to nurse for about 12 weeks,
and I have known cats who have continued to nurse well past that.
A friend shared with me that she would only get hamsters that had been allowed to nurse at least for 3 months
because their lifespan was around 8 to 10 years, as opposed to the 2 to 3 years of those weaned at six weeks.

Norma Ritter, IBCLC, LLLL,  whose cats are all foundlings....

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Date: 10/30/95
Time: 11:57:24