Help! How to know when kittens are ready to leave mum?

[Kittenance]

We are adopting some kittens, they reach 8 weeks old tomorrow which is generally said to be the minimum age to leave their mum (I am aware that some sources recommend a week or two more) - and the plan was we would collect them tomorrow.

However, apparently they haven't been interested in solid food at all and their mum is still giving then milk regularly. So clearly they aren't quite ready to come to us yet. This is fine and we and the lady who owns mummy-cat both agree we should change the plan and postpone the collection.

However - she's not a breeder (it was an accidental pregnancy, mum was supposed to stay indoors but went off on an exciting adventure) and isn't experienced in knowing the right time, and neither are we.

What indicators are there to look out for to know that the time is right? We don't want to traumatise the kittens or their mum by taking them too early but also have read that kittens settle better into a new environment if they come to it whilst still young.

Any advice?

For kittens it is actually supposed to be 12weeks. I would not rush this. They learn many things from their mum by staying. We have a rescue, whose mum was run over at 4weeks-she’s a confused thing who thinks she is a dog (our dog kind of brought her up) so she doesn’t do cat stuff like cuddle on your lap, or tbh even sit on furniture! She lies full length with the dog on her cushion🤷‍♀️

I’d say 12 weeks. I’d also be suspicious about her story too.

11/12 weeks should be ok.

I'm fostering kittens at the moment. They are 6 weeks old and eating solid food as well as feeding from mum. We hope that they will be ready to leave mum at 9 weeks. Please don't take kits before they are weaned. It might be another couple of weeks.

She needs to be actively introducing solid food to them at this point, some are more reluctant to wean than others.

You should definitely wait a few more weeks, ideally they'd be eating mostly kitten food and only nursing occasionally. And they should be quite reliably litter box trained by the time they come to you as well.

I do hope she gets mum neutered now, there's no such thing as an accidental pregnancy for cats, only irresponsible owners... (Yes I know these ones are going to good homes etc. etc. but what about the hundreds of cats at rescues no one wants to adopt...)

Aside from the basic "can it eat solid food" stuff it would be good for them to learn how to groom/clean and use a litter tray.

Wait another few weeks (or find a new litter because it sounds as if the owner is really anxious to get rid of them). It is a possible red flag that they aren't keen to wean/she hasn't bothered trying and future insurances/vet bills aren't cheap once you have fallen in love.

'if you book her in with the vet for spaying, I'll take them then'. Gets the mum cat done, rather than putting it off and ending up with another litter on the way within the week and the vet will be able to confirm they can be separated.

I've normally had abandoned kittens, so I've had them from far too young. But I don't mind that level of care and by my age, I've got a fuckton of experience in it. I do think that it might be nice to have one that's aware it's a cat for a change, though, instead of thinking it's my baby and consequently the Supreme Ruler of a Tiny Kingdom

Current rulers of the kingdom. Six weeks old.

Honestly I’d walk away. I know it’s hard, but so many unknowns. The owner obviously should have their cat spayed. How old is the mum cat, first litter? Kittens are able to breed from very young. So I’d treat that story with a bit of suspicion.

If they aren’t on solids, they aren’t ready to leave mum. They probably aren’t as old as you are being told.

Sorry, if I appear blunt, but there are so many unwanted kittens, people do breed from their cats and pretend it’s an accident.

The Cats Protection will have a branch near you, with loads of kittens needing a home. They will be vet checked, vaccinated and neutered.

@mostlydrinkstea awwwwwwwwww how bloody gorgeous ❤️