When can I take this kitten from feral mom?

We have a stray feral mother cat that has 1 kitten from a litter of 4, the rest died. He is now 5 weeks old, and still nursing some. Mom is totally feral, can't touch her, or get very close. But, she has this kitten in our garage, and I leave the door open so they can come and go as they please. Baby is easily caught and loved on by me now. I want to rescue him and bring him into the house before he turns totally feral, but I don't want to take him too soon. I also am going to trap and spay momma cat as soon as her milk is dried up. When is the soonest I should do this? Can I safely do it at 8 weeks or do I have to wait until 10-12? I'm afraid if I leave him with her too long, I won't be able to tame him. Thanks for your help!

He's getting big enough to follow mom outside, so I'd be inclined to take him within the next week or so. It is awfully young but better than him getting away. I would trap and spay mom before that if possible. That way she won't get pregnant again and you can recuperate her in the garage. Thank you for helping them.

I agree with Ondine.  This is one of the exceptions when it is OK to take a kitten earlier than our usually recommended 10-12 weeks.   Do it next week, or even this week if need be,  as Im sure you will be a fantastic  home for this kitten (OR find him a fantastic home).

Tx for caring!

Good luck!

Oh, I want him for sure. LOL I'll give you a little more of the story. Mom has been at my house for several months now, and I can finally get within a foot of her, but that has taken forever. I still can't touch her. I knew she was pregnant, and have fed her and made sure she had a safe place to go. I knew exactly when she had them because one night she was pregnant and the next she wasn't. Well, she delivered them in our boat. I tried to get them into a carrier, and to get her to go with them, but she wouldn't. I wanted to bring her into the garage but she would have nothing to do with me, and wanted to slice me up.So, I left her alone. One Thursday morning, I went to check on them in the boat, and she was gone, but had left 2 kittens there alone. One was dead already, and one was barely alive. So, I took in little Gracie, who had been orphaned, and bottle fed her for 2 days before she started getting sick. I took her to the vet on Saturday morning 9/14 and the vet said she had aspirated, so put her on antibiotics. She died that night. I was totally crushed. I cried like a baby. I was soooooooo sad. I knew mom had the other 2 kittens, as there was 4 total. Fast forward to last week, and mom finally brings little Oliver out and to my porch. So, I opened up the garage and they've been in there since. Ollie is cute as a button, and helps my heart since I wanted his sister Gracie so much. I have 2 other cats, Smokey and Katniss, and just lost my son's cat Sasha to FLV a few weeks ago. Little Ollie is helping us all heal from 2 losses in such a short time, but I've got to get him inside, away from mom, before it is too late. Thanks so much for confirming what I thought I should do. <3

Good look getting gorgeous little Ollie to the safe in doors and into a loving kitty household all you do for him and his momma makes you a very special person I'm always keeping an eye out for ferals around our home as we live next to lots of fields and bushes (plenty places to hide) I think hubby would kill me if I started bringing the little darlings in though