Kitten adoption age

[Asthenia]

Hi, I’m just looking for some advice. My family have always been cat owners and always had two at a time. 4 weeks ago we contacted a local rescue place to see if they had any cats available. I was quite keen to foster an older cat but my parents said they’d like kittens as it had been a while since we had any around - our last cat died earlier this year at 18. Fine. Luckily the shelter had two boys available for us, 8 weeks old at the time. I assumed we would have them with us by about 10 weeks as that was when their mum was being adopted.
They’ve now said that we won’t be able to have them until they’re neutered - ok...fine. The kittens are now 13 weeks old and still haven’t been neutered. The rescue place has said we can’t have them for another 4 weeks. My family went to see them today and they already look very big - unsurprisingly as they are 3 months old.
I contacted a friend who fosters kittens, and she said this situation was really unusual and all the kittens she fosters are usually neutered at around 9 weeks/by the time they weigh a kilo. Our boys definitely weigh more than a kilo.
I’m just a bit confused as to how this all works as we have never rescued before. I am very much looking forward to having them home and will love them no matter what but I must admit I was very excited to have some little kittens around once more. Slightly disappointed they are so big but that’s just life and as I said I will love them regardless of course - I just can’t help but think it defeats the object of getting kittens a little and I should have stuck with my gut instinct of wanting to home an older cat!
Am I being ridiculous here? Also quite sad that we won’t have them in time for Christmas, I really thought we might have been able to have them next week as they will be 14 weeks old by then. Is this usual practice for rescues? Any advice welcome! Thanks.

It doesn’t sound normal to me.

If you are in England the latest lockdown may have prevented the neutering happening? Also they may now have decided deliberately that they don't want them going to a new home before Christmas? Is 'a pet is for life not just for Christmas' still common currency?

I foster rescue kittens. Our normal policy for kittens is rehoming from 9 weeks, but it depends on the health and the background of the kitten.

Kittens can sometimes be quite ill after their vaccinations, to the extent that they need veterinary treatment, medication and syringe feeding so we'll hold them back until we're confident that they're properly well.

Also, depending on how well the kittens have been socialised and fed in the first few week of their lives, plus if there's been any health issues, we want them to be fully over these before rehoming, unless to experienced owners. We also neuter at 1+ kilo, if they're ready, which they're not always are.

We'd also be cautious about rehoming around Christmas. This year is unusual, but in a normal year, many people's homes are either full of strangers (to the kitten(s)) or people want to go away to other relatives or even things like Christmas trees can be an inconvenience or hazard to a kitten.

None of these help kittens with settling into their new homes, which is why we'd normally not want to rehome at Christmas, although this year might be different. If people aren't going away, aren't having visitors and are off work, it could be a good time to introduce kittens into the household. But you can't force your rescue to hand the kittens over when you want them to, but I would have thought that, if the kittens are in good health, and you're not going away or having lots of people round at Christmas, you would be able to get them soon.

@MillicentMargaretAmanda

If you are in England the latest lockdown may have prevented the neutering happening? Also they may now have decided deliberately that they don't want them going to a new home before Christmas? Is 'a pet is for life not just for Christmas' still common currency?

I've found that, apart from the first lockdown, vets have been operating more or less normally, although obviously in a covid secure manner.

They might be generally short staffed as many volunteers might be classified as vulnerable and so cant come in, and other staff have to do the dog walks etc, and the entire staffing chain is disrupted. If there is only one vet and she is ill then there are major delays for treatment.
It is good to wait for them. It shows you really want them . . . If you really want them. They are small kittens for such a short time, after which they will be ‘disappointingly big’ many people want cute fluffy kittens and get bored when they are bigger and less cute. Perhaps they (the shelter) sense this in you?

Anyway, 8 weeks is very young. 12 weeks is more sensible for separating from the mother and from the rest of the litter. Plus other interruptions. Now Xmas too. You may have to wait a while and be willing to do so.

But you had cats that lived a long time so you are not just looking for kittens.

Thanks for the responses everyone. Ultimately will just have to suck it up and I’ll be excited either way, I was just so looking forward to having a nice end to this rubbish year. Which I still will get, just slightly delayed.
Definitely don’t want just cute fluffy kittens, I love cats whatever form they come in! I think I had just got carried away with the idea of them haha.
Yes I thought Christmas may be a factor. Ah well - I suppose good things come to those who wait!

It is unusual, in my experience charities either adopt out unneutered with a strict contract and follow-up to make sure neutering happens at the appropriate age, or they get the kittens neutered early and adopt out at 10-12 weeks of age.

It may well be Christmas is a factor though as many charities stop adoptions for the Christmas period to ensure no one is getting a cat as a Christmas present.

Just wanted to reassure you they will still be small, though! Not quite as tiny of course but definitely small and crazy, I hope your curtains are ready to be climbed.