Fawn and sorrel somali kittens

Why Our Kittens Leave at 15–16 Weeks

ByFoxholm Cattery

One of the questions we are asked most often is why our kittens leave for their new homes at 15–16 weeks of age.

Foxholm somali kittens

The answer is simple: we believe that giving every kitten the very best start in life is far more important than sending them home as early as possible.

Somali kattunge

Many countries have legal minimum ages for when kittens may leave their mother. In Sweden, for example, the legal minimum is 12 weeks. While we fully support this legislation, we have chosen to keep our kittens a little longer because we believe these additional weeks provide important benefits for their physical, emotional, and social development. Many reputable breeders around the world also choose to keep their kittens beyond the legal minimum for the same reason.

sorrel and fawn Foxholm somali kittens

The period between 12 and 16 weeks is an important stage in a kitten’s development. During this time, kittens continue to refine their social skills by interacting with their mother, littermates, and other adult cats. They become more confident, improve their coordination, learn to adapt to new situations, and gain valuable life experience through play and exploration. For an active and intelligent breed like the Somali, these extra weeks help build confidence and make the transition to a new home even smoother.

At Foxholm, our kittens are raised in a busy family environment where they experience everyday household life, interact with people, and develop naturally at their own pace. We believe this helps them grow into confident, curious, affectionate, and well-balanced companions.

Before leaving for their new homes, every Foxholm kitten:

  • receives a thorough veterinary health examination;
  • is fully vaccinated according to age;
  • is microchipped;
  • is registered with SNRF/WCF and comes with an official pedigree;
  • is insured with no waiting period for the new owner;
  • is litter trained and accustomed to scratching posts;
  • is introduced to a varied, high-quality diet.
Blue somali kitten

Responsible breeding is about much more than producing beautiful kittens. It is about preserving the wonderful qualities of the Somali breed and giving every kitten the best possible start in life before matching them with a carefully chosen family.

Our commitment doesn’t end on the day a kitten leaves. We are always happy to support our owners throughout the life of their Foxholm somali cats.

Blue somali cat and blue Foxholm somali kitten

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