Rescues (and others) - At what age do you allow kittens to be viewed?

[Ann Clarke (Tabby cat)]

It's usually 5/6 weeks at the earliest for us for viewings and we don't let them go until they are at least 10 weeks. We don't usually let people reserve them until they can be viewed for the reasons others have given, we don't lose many but unfortunately as we know it does happen and we'd hate someone to get attached and then have to break bad news to them.

[Ela]

Just spoke to our Branch Coodinator and she said they'd had some kittens reserved at a young age (couple of weeks) and sadly they died. Diane said it's really hard to tell "expectant parents" the bad news and that's why she doesn't like to reserve them until they're a few weeks older

That is the exact reason we don't usually let people view until they are 5 or 6 weeks old, having said that I can't remember the last time we lost a kitten.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I think pedigree kittens get reserved quite young but possibly depends on the breed and whether they are going to be pets or used for breeding. I am sure that Lottie would know.

[Teresa Pawcats]

Technically it depends what is meant by the word viewed; to us a viewing involves handling a kitten , we do not allow our kittens to be handled before 6weeks to minimise risk of infection. We have no objection to people seeing our kittens from a safe distance.
We do not rehome kittens until they are vaccinated.

[kelly-joy]

I can't tell you the answer about ped kittens as we don't get young kittens in.But if we ever did I would say we wouldn't let them be viewed to about 10 weeks old and wouldn't let them leave until they had had both vacs at 13 weeks old

[wharfevalley catsprotection]

Ours are five weeks now and we just said that people can view them and reserve. They don't go until they're 8 weeks minimum of course.

[Corporal Smokey]

I just heard a sad story on this very subject. Just spoke to our Branch Coodinator and she said they'd had some kittens reserved at a young age (couple of weeks) and sadly they died. Diane said it's really hard to tell "expectant parents" the bad news and that's why she doesn't like to reserve them until they're a few weeks older. I'm going over next week to take pictures of two litters and by then they'll be about five weeks.

Sorry for the gloomy response 

[Desley (booktigger)]

As I said, I think our minimum is 6 weeks, but not sure if we allow them to be reserved until they are 8 weeks old. We did have some reserved last year, but the ones she chose sadly died, so think we are doing it differently this year - our kittens are 6 weeks old today, but we are still telling people we dont have any ready, they are small for their age, so we dont know what age they will be going at, it looks like 10 weeks minimumm but it wont be a hard and fast thing, it will depend on the kittens. i thought there was a minimum of 5/6 weeks for peds. 

[Angiew]

Following on from my kitten thread, two of my kittens have been reserved at 1 week old.

Personally, I think it is nice for the potential parents to be able to see their little ones grow up and visit when they want.
And as long as they know that young'uns don't always make it and we are careful about hygiene don't think it can do any harm?
The mum and kittens get a nice introduction to the people and v/v.

I'm always worried that in my house the kittens will need as much socialising as possible - lets face it they could be in a house with scores of children running around and mauling them.

So rescues, when do you start looking for homes for your kittens (and indeed when do you start handling them as I've heard contradictions on this).
Kitty owners, when did you first see you kittens? Is is different for pedigrees ?