Oh gosh. This is Spokane. They are always showing on the news about home many cats and dogs they euthanize at animal control. I won’t let them near them. I’ll search to see if there are other options. A new picture.
I would not name them Pekoe and Peony (going with a tea theme). I would not feed them either, or try to pet them or snuggle them, because they are not cute.
Are you folks saying you have to take them away from their mother before eight weeks? How early can you do that?
Beautiful, clear pictures, pohjonen. I looked at your other photos, too. Gorgeous!
Aww, they look quite a bit like the siblings we took in a few years ago. The lighter one turned even lighter, into a buttery-scotch color, and the little orange cat stayed a little orange cat. So cute!
And agreed, mama is GORGEOUS! Thanks for sharing 
You’re supposed to start handling them at birth. However, you return them to Momcat after a few minutes. You shouldn’t take them away from the mother until they’re at least 8 weeks and preferably 10 weeks old.
Lynn - I don’t know how old these kittens are. We didn’t even know we had them until they emerged from under the porch. They are becoming less afraid of us as time goes on. Do you have any idea how old they are from the first picture in the OP? Mama kitty is on the smallish side for an adult.
We are beginning to bribe them with cheese to get them to come closer. Mama lets us pet her and the braver of the two kittens will play with string we dangle. I’m not hopeful for any rescue facilities here in Spokane. But I will search. If I can tame them maybe I can give them away.
Here’s a visual guide. That site has a lot of useful tips on taming young ferals. Their written guide:
*See photos of kitten progression from day 1 to ten weeks old.
- Under one week: (3-8 oz) Eyes are shut, ears are folded down, and kittens are unable to walk. They can purr and make tiny noises. The umbilical cord may still be visible.
- One-two weeks: (8-11 oz) Eyes start to open (they are blue) and focus. Ears begin to open and movement is improved to crawling, snuggling, and kneading.
- Three weeks: (7.5-14.5 oz) Eyes fully open and ears are open and standing up. The kitten will start to respond to noises and movement. The first wobbly steps are taken and baby teeth start to come in.
- Four-five weeks: (8-16.75 oz) Running, playing, digging, and pouncing occur often. Kittens will start to wean and will be able to lap up formula, eat soft food, and use the litter box by themselves. Eyes have fully changed from blue to their adult color.
- Eight weeks: (2 lbs) Kittens look like little versions of full grown cats. This is the best age at which to begin the socialization process.*
That’s actually prettty positive. If mama is tolerant of you, they’re that much more likely to be tameable ( some feral kittens apparently just can’t be easily tamed as generations of feral breeding has made them genetically unsuited for taming ). Getting mama’s owner to participate might make things even easier.
Tamerlane we don’t know where mama kitty lives. She comes and goes by hopping the six foot fence into the neighbor’s yard, but I don’t know if she lives there or somewhere beyond. We aren’t on speaking terms with that neighbor anymore, so I can’t inquire. (Don’t even ask, unless you want a novella!) Whoever she belongs to I hope they spay her. I’ve a feeling she’s pretty young. Sometime when we’re sure they aren’t inside, we’re going to block off the entrance to under the porch. She’ll have to find another home for her next litter. (Here’s hoping there isn’t one!)
I’m sure you’ll be very careful about who gets these kitties, but make sure you screen the adopters thoroughly. There are sick people out there who collect free kittens, puppies and small dogs to be used as “bait” in training fighting dogs.
On a lighter note, if anyone is coming down to San Antonio, there are three kittens approximately 8 weeks old, I’m trying to find homes for. That is, once I trap the little cuties. Two are “Siamese” colored with gray points and one is a dark gray mackerel-striped tabby.