Hi, I'm new, just got started today and I really need some help! My husband and I "adopted" some stray cats, a mom and her five kittens. We have done all of the things we are supposed to do, as far as getting shots, fixed , etc. except we are having one problem.. . These kittens, after having them for four months are still wanting to nurse! We have given one of these five away and still have four left. Momma cat does not push them away at all. Last time at the vet the Dr. told us about this vaguely. Mom will push them away, once they find they can't get anything they'll stop trying, so on and so on. Well, they haven't stopped trying and Momma cat is letting them. Right now we have had them separated basically for about a week. We have done this before but it didn't solve anything. What should we do? Please help!

Hi
I foster many cats and kittens, so I am very familiar with your problem. The best thing to do for the kittens is to separate them from the mother for about 2 weeks - until she dries up and quits lactating. One of the cats I fostered came with 3 kittens... the kittens were placed right away, and I got 3 more kittens in to foster. The mother cat (which I still had) was very willing to let the new kittens nurse on her. Some cats just love being moms! I have even had a few kittens that will try to nurse off other kittens. They need to be separated until they unlearn that behavior - they can cause sores if they continue to nurse where they shouldn't be.
Hope that helps a bit. Good luck.

I'm agreeing with the previous post. I'm an animal behaviourist and yep, some animals just love being mothers! Increase the kitten's food and water or milk availability, feeding them in small meals often and then they won't pester their mother.