removing kittens from mother

Question
Hi-- I recently started fostering cats and kittens through a local shelter.  I fostered a pregnant female and the five kittens she gave birth to at my house.  The kittens are now nine weeks old and last night I brought them to the shelter to be adopted.  The mother will stay with me until her milk dries up and then she will be spayed.  Everyone told me nine weeks was a good time to separate them, but the mother seems really upset.  She cried a lot during the night, and this morning she is crying less but if she is left alone at all she cries really loud.  I feel terrible, have I done something wrong?

Answer
Hi Cristina.  Don't feel terrible - when you're working in a shelter setting, getting kittens into public view as young as possible is imperative to getting them placed.  It is common to separate mothers and kittens at 8 weeks, sometimes younger.

In a different setting, I do personally recommend allowing kittens to stay with the mother until 12 weeks.  In fact, breeders usually will not separate their kittens from mom until 16 weeks old.  This is because the natural time frame for weaning is actually closer to 12 weeks old (kittens don't nurse for nutrition much after 8 weeks, but bonding through intermittent nursing lasts up to this long), and behavioral lessons such as grooming, litter habits and how to interact with other cats appropriately continue until the kittens are several months old.

It is common for a mother to suffer empty nest syndrome when separated from her young kittens.  You will probably notice mama calling for her kittens and being a little blue for a few days more, but she should bounce back.  I know it is a hard-breaking thing to witness.  With the org I work with, I am, fortunately, able to make the decision to keep my kittens until the mother decides they're ready to go.  But you are in a tough spot!  Give yourself a pat on the back for getting involved and helping this mama and her (big) litter!  They are all much better off for having the privilege to grow up in a loving home instead of a in a noisy cage.  Thanks on their behalf!