The vet I work with requires kittens to weigh at least 3lbs for TNR. They tell me this can happen between 12 and 16 weeks.
I hope I'm able to articulate this in writing so that it makes sense. There are at least three 8 week old kittens in my colony. I'm surprised by this because I inadvertently took their momma away to be spayed when they were newborns. I knew momma was pregnant and I knew she had given birth, but she was hanging around here right afterwards without the kittens and for up to 6 hours at a time without leaving. She was only about 6 months old herself, so I assumed her kittens didn't survive. I would learn about 3 weeks later that they did! There were six of them! The only explanation I have for how they survived is that their grandma had a litter of six 4 weeks prior to them being born. I'm guessing that she nursed them and kept them warm while their momma was away for 2 days.
However, I believe this affected the kittens' growth. Only one of the kittens seem to be a regular size 8 week old kitten. It has been coming around for a few weeks and eating solid food. I have spied two others but they aren't eating solid food yet and they are so much smaller than their litter mate. Their size is on par with a 5 week old kitten instead. So now I won't be able to use the 12 to 16 week guide for TNR. I'm not sure at what age I should trap them. If I trap and take them, but they are not 3lbs then I will have to turn them loose and try to trap them again.
Does anyone have any suggestions for my situation?
I hope I'm able to articulate this in writing so that it makes sense. There are at least three 8 week old kittens in my colony. I'm surprised by this because I inadvertently took their momma away to be spayed when they were newborns. I knew momma was pregnant and I knew she had given birth, but she was hanging around here right afterwards without the kittens and for up to 6 hours at a time without leaving. She was only about 6 months old herself, so I assumed her kittens didn't survive. I would learn about 3 weeks later that they did! There were six of them! The only explanation I have for how they survived is that their grandma had a litter of six 4 weeks prior to them being born. I'm guessing that she nursed them and kept them warm while their momma was away for 2 days.
However, I believe this affected the kittens' growth. Only one of the kittens seem to be a regular size 8 week old kitten. It has been coming around for a few weeks and eating solid food. I have spied two others but they aren't eating solid food yet and they are so much smaller than their litter mate. Their size is on par with a 5 week old kitten instead. So now I won't be able to use the 12 to 16 week guide for TNR. I'm not sure at what age I should trap them. If I trap and take them, but they are not 3lbs then I will have to turn them loose and try to trap them again.
Does anyone have any suggestions for my situation?