Kitten's from the Garden

[NurseButtercup]

Hello,

There's a stray cat that has taken up residence in my friends garden with her 2nd litter of kittens.

My friend managed to catch the first litter (3 kittens - approximately 5 weeks old)and took them to a cat charity, but they couldn't catch the mother. Two weeks later they discovered this 2nd litter (6 kittens) who look approximately 2 weeks old.

The plan is to catch the kittens and the mother and take them to the same charity. I was thinking about having one of the kittens? Am I being cruel by taking one of the kittens at this age?

You've probably guessed I've never had a cat before. I'm ready for the responsibility but was wondering if it was too soon to separate the kittens from mom?

I've made contact with a local vet so I've got an idea of prices to get the checked over and then spayed in a few weeks.

Pressed too soon, all advice is very welcome.

They shouldn't really be away from mum until about 8 weeks at the earliest. A 2 week old would need a lot of care and would need bottle fed kitten milk. They dont even start solid food until around 4 weeks

You can't take kittens from their mother at two weeks old!!! Have I read that right??? No one can be that ill-informed, surely??

Also she can't have had a second litter when the first litter were only five weeks old. It's a physical impossibility. There must be two mothers.

Kittens need to be at least 8 and preferably ten weeks old before they can be taken from their mother and then yes, it would be cruel to take just one.

Call a charity in (CP? where in the country are you?) let them deal with everything and then, if you want kittens, adopt them from the charity when they're old enough.

And you or your friend shouldn't be attempting to do this as you have no idea what you are doing. The charity needs to come to get the mother and kittens together. Do not touch the kittens before the charity comes! Just put food out for the mum and provide some shelter if there isn't any and leave it to the charity.

The first kittens shouldn't have been removed at five weeks and it should have been done properly to get the mum too. I really hope a rescue can help you.

No need to jump down my throat, I posted for advice.

The two ladies from the cat charity came with the plan to catch the kittens and the mom. But they only managed to catch one kitten and they took that one. My friend and her cousin caught the other two kittens and all three are now together at the charity.

The cat that was crying when the first set of kittens where removed is the same cat that now has another litter.

My friend has been providing the cat and kittens with food.

You've stated that the kittens are too young to be separated so we will leave them together.

Thanks for your advice.

So is the cat charity coming back for the mum?

Sorry misread, it was your friends who caught the kittens but not the mum. That's really not good. If the 2nd litter is hers then the other kittens must be older than 5 weeks.

The cat that was crying when the first set of kittens where removed is the same cat that now has another litter.

I thought cats try and push the older cats away if they have another litter? Don't think she would be crying over them. I think you've potentially got 2 mothers there
Try and catch all cats/all kittens, take them to the shelter and ask that you have one when they are old enough to be separated from mum.
Good luck

I would leave alone and feed and provide shelter not catch kittens without mum. It's stressful for both to be separated before 8 to 10 weeks. Cats are generally good mums and with a little help she will care for them fine.
Try and catch mum with kittens in a while after asking charity s advice.
If mum keeps escaping she 'll keep having kittens.
If you want kittens take two when they are ready. They settle better with a litter mate

@NurseButtercup thank you for being such a kind animal lover, and willing to take on a tiny kitten.
I know that it's recommend that if they can stay with their mum for as long as possible, it's a good thing. 2 weeks is a short time, they are feeding of mum still.

But if that for any reason that can't happen, then take the little one on.

Where abouts in the uk are you? My friend runs a charity specialising trapping and finding homes for the kittens. Are you up North?