newborn feral kittens

Question
How old should the kittens be before i try to take them away from mom  How can i tell how old they are They are definitly wild.  When can i trap the mom? I also believe in TNR but this mama i was unable to trap  She's eating alot and coming around and i'd like to trap her while her appetite is there.She's shy and cautious.

Answer
Hi Bernie,

If the kittens are wild already, they are old enough to be taken from mom, and you should do so in order to have the best chance at taming them. The best way to determine their age is usually by their teeth. If they are very afraid of humans, they are at least 5 weeks. If their eyes are no longer blue, they are older than 8 weeks. If you can look into their mouths, teeth can give you a better idea. There is a teething schedule found here:

http://www.cathelp-online.com/health/kitten3.php

You can try trapping mama as soon as the kittens are caught, or if you believe they are 8 weeks or older (eyes no longer appear blue), you can trap her without the kittens. They are receiving enough other nourishment to not need nursing. If you catch the kittens first, it's okay for them not to have mom, even if they're a little younger than 8 weeks. You can put them entirely on canned food as young as 4-5 weeks if required, although if confirmed this young, you might want to mix kitten milk into their food.

Mom can be spayed at any time. Vets prefer to wait until lactation has ceased for at least ten days. But when the cat is staying outdoors, this can result in another pregnancy, so many vets are willing to spay lactating ferals.

Good luck!
Jessica