new cat, when to spay?

Hi all, I'm usually on the dog boards, but my mom recently aquired a new barn cat, as it was going to be put to sleep and had no where else to go...well i suppose she has 5 new cats, it was a mother cat and her 4 kittens. We certainly don't want any more than 5 extra cats, so when is it safe to spay the mother cat? The kittens of course will be done once they are old enough. I'm not sure how old the kittens are, but they are definetely still nursing exclusively, but their eyes are open. THe person she got them from said they thought they were around 4 weeks. Maybe you can tell from the pic. She still doesn't have a name, but Mom is in love with her.
Here's the happy family.

 

what a wonderful thing for your mom to do and a lovely cat.
As long as your mom doesn't have any unneutered males in the house and this mom cat doesn't go out - I wouldn't spay her until the kittens were fully weaned and gone to various homes.

 

What adorable kitties. So cute.

 

They are gorgeous!

 

Well, she is in the barn tack room, since she's to be a barn cat. The kittens cannot get out, but the mother cat could if she did some climbing. and unfortunately, since it's in the country, there are unneutered males roaming around. I believe mom intends to keep all 5 cats. There's plenty of room for them, and she's gotton attached already...hehe

 

found this
How long after having kittens can she be spayed?
The mammary (breast) development that comes with nursing can make the spay surgery more difficult. Ideally, a month after weaning allows for regression of this tissue and spaying can proceed. Unfortunately, it is possible for a female cat to become pregnant during this waiting period if her owner is not careful.

 

Thank you...I will pass the information to my mom.

 

My mum got her cats spayed when the kittesn where about 2weeks old when they started eating solid foods, Another of her cats was spayed the day she gave birth as there was a kitten stuck and the vet went ahead and spayed she went on to produce milk for 2weeks and my mum bottlefed after that.

I would say once they are eating solid foods then you can go ahead and spay. Your vet will give you the best time to do this.

By the way they are so cute and look about 2-3weeks old

Mike