Mama Tabby Cat Puts Her Paw Down to Declare 'Nursing Days Are Behind Her'

Nursing is tough, even if it doesn't seem like it to those of us who have never done it before. It takes a toll on you, and while it's important and beautiful in the moment, any breastfeeding mom will tell you that there was a point when she was a little over it.

We recently got to watch the "I'm sick of this" realization happen in real time. She decided that she was absolutely never nursing again, and she even went so far as to bring their new food to them:

I hope Hayley Jessica was ready for this - once a cat decides she's done nursing, she's done!

Related: Tabby Cat Has Epic Showdown with Water Bottle He Can’t Knock Over

This sweet cat's name is Tasha, and she was rescued with her kittens. They were living on the streets, and Hayley simply couldn't live without them, so she brought them all home with her earlier this month. Since then, the kittens have been settling in nicely.

We're not sure exactly how old they are or how many Hayley is planning to keep, but one thing is clear: Tasha is a little bit sick of them. She loves her babies, of course, but they're big enough now that they can do things independent of her. Including, but not limited to, leaving her alone and eating real food.

When Do Cats Stop Nursing?

Nursing young is a different process for every mammal: some nurse babies for years, while others nurse for just a few weeks or months before sending their babies out on their own.

Cats typically start weaning their young when they're about four weeks old , and they're fully weaned by the time they're six weeks old. By eight weeks, they're eating a fully solid diet and ready for their forever homes.

Cats don't typically just stop feeding their young: they slowly wean them. If Tasha is serious about being done with breastfeeding, she's probably had it in the works for a while, and her mom probably knows that. When a cat starts weaning, it's important to pay attention so that you can start supplementing with special food or even formula if needed.

Don't worry, though: Tasha still loves her kittens! In follow-up videos, she can be seen playing with them all the time. She just doesn't want to be feeding them from her body anymore. Other than that, there have been no concerning signs that she might be rejecting her babies. I'm happy they're moving on to the next chapter!