how old are these stray kittens?

[u/Emotional-Aside-9537]

bf found kittens living his garden, we’ve been feeding them for a month but the mammy cat this week has moved them elsewhere and brings them back like once a day to eat, he lives on a bad country road and is afraid of a car hitting them as they’re so young and inexperienced. We’ve got a cardboard box in the downstairs bathroom and are planning to keep them there during the night. Is this unethical? the mammy cat is feral and will not come into the house but the kittens are picked up easily enough. Plan to get to vets soon to get dewormed and booked in for neutering etc. but just wanting a rough estimate of their age. These pics are two weeks old as of rn

[u/RGQcats]

They look 6 to 8 weeks and if mom won't come in, take them anyway. They're at risk. They need kitten food, wet and dry, don't need formula. They're a little young to be separated, but it's better than seriously injured or dead.

[u/worldspawn00 → u/RGQcats]

Yep, and Mom is likely to move on anyway pretty soon, they often abandon kittens in the next month or so of age.

[u/SchmedlyQ]

Take the kittens, but keep feeding the mum. Maybe even put out a shelter for her. If you’re lucky, she’ll come to like people.

[u/Emotional-Aside-9537 → u/SchmedlyQ]

we plan to, we’ve bought an insulated outdoor cathouse and are just waiting for it to be delivered. she’s just tolerating us for food atm but shes very skittish

[u/Hoovomoondoe → u/SchmedlyQ]

Also, get them all fixed…

[u/Notchersfireroad]

8 weeks give or take a week.

[u/MorsaTamalera → u/Notchersfireroad]

I agree with this estimate.

[u/DysphoricBeNightmare → u/MorsaTamalera]

That was my thought

[u/MyRingToRuleMyWorld → u/DysphoricBeNightmare]

I concur

[u/admseven]

I’m sitting in a room with 7 eight week old kittens. Your guys look around that age. No less because you’ve been feeding them for four weeks and most kittens don’t start eating food (as opposed to mama’s milk) until at least four weeks.

[u/DeptOfDahlias → u/admseven]

“I’m sitting in a room with 7 eight week old kittens..” immediately brought up the Field of Dreams line “Is this Heaven?”

[u/Corvidae5Creation5]

Old enough for a good old fashioned catnapping. Go ahead and snag them all. Invest in a proper pet crate, they are gonna be wriggly little weasels and will easily escape cardboard.

[u/Suz9006]

Eyes have changed color so 7-8 weeks old.

[u/7GrenciaMars]

Since no one else has spoken up yet, I've heard that good advice can be found here. Kitten Lady has explanations.

[u/scarneo]

Take them all at the same time (otherwise you might lose one for good)

And keep them inside, no more outside world for them

Spay mom

[u/Cautious_Drawing_645]

They are beautiful babies. Thank you for caring!

[u/Significant_Pear_10]

They are adorable!😻