To get kittens at 8 or 10 weeks?

[whatsgoingon101]

Hi, we are getting 2 kittens from a local family.

Wondering whether to collect kittens at 8 weeks or 11 weeks?

Myself and OH both work in a school. We both leave the house at 8 ish and OH returns home by 3, me around 4. Someone is always around from 4 and all evening and dog walker will be popping in each day.

Kittens are currently living in a bit of an 'outdoor room' connected to their house, not sure they're getting much social interaction even though lots of kids & dogs live there.

Do you think it's best to get them at 8 weeks and them be left at home during the day & they get used to us or get at 11 weeks so they're a bit older? We're getting 2 so they have company...

Also we have a dog who is not used to cats... So we've got a journey ahead getting her used to them.

Thoughts please!

Thanks 😊

Supposed to say 8 or 11 weeks...

Kittens are not supposed to leave their mothers at 8 weeks anyway, so the longer the better really. Even 11 weeks is early, I’d say at least 12 weeks.

We got out boy af 12 weeks and even then he was so tiny and cried for his mum/ siblings for at least 2 days. So 11 weeks if it has to be one or the other.

I'd aim for 12 weeks when they're more robust and will have developed good habits from the mum (and if mum doesn't have good habits, walk away!),

We got ours at around 10 weeks but we were around quite a bit during the day. So 11 weeks is best for you. Obviously they'll need to be kept in a room away from the dog, especially if they're all left at home during the day. And once they get a taste of being out of the room it's very hard to keep them in, as they will do anything to escape!

Tbh I have only ever had 2 kittens and both were around 12 weeks and fully on board with the litter tray. I'd wait, they learn so much from their mothers, grooming, toileting, cat things. Congratulations on your little masters though, you will fall in love.

8 weeks is far too young.

The set-up they're coming from doesn't sound brilliant though.