Fostering 3 stray/feral kittens!

misskitties

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I just rescued 3 kittens from under my neighbor's porch. Last spring, the mother cat had a litter. My family adopted 3 of them. Well, the cat had another litter a month or two ago. I couldn't stand the kittens being outside in the freezing temperatures, but I didn't have the resources to bring several kittens into my home. I didn't want them to have diseases or anything that could be transmitted to my cat. Anyway, I got in contact with a local rescue by chance and they agreed to pay all the vet & food bills if I foster the kittens until we can find homes for them!
I was finally able to get the kittens today! They're very skiddish. They lived outside since they were born and are semi-feral. They're warming up to me though. I got the one to purr!
These are my first foster animals. I get attached very easily, so I know it will be near impossible to adopt them out. I'm just glad that I got to be the one to rescue them and give them a chance at life.
 

going nova

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Great for you! What a sweet thing to do


Is there any chance of catching mama kitty so she doesn't keep having babies? We recently took in a few kittens too. The poor things were scavenging in the dumpsters.


Were you able to snatch up the kittens by hand, or did you have to use a trap?
 

StefanZ

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Originally Posted by MissKitties

I got in contact with a local rescue by chance and they agreed to pay all the vet & food bills if I foster the kittens until we can find homes for them!
Excellent solution! The great difficulty is often not the vet bills, but places / willing fosterers.


I too wonder about the moma-cat. It would be best to spay her. And TNR if adoption isnt possible. For her, a survivor used to live homeless, TNR is OK solution.


Good you are going well with these small. I think you will have help from your resident. Look also at the threads for ideas.

(I gather you do have the kittens in some sort of quarantene from your resident as now? Till the deworming and shots are fully working).

Good luck!
 
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misskitties

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Well, mama cat has a family, but they leave her outside 24/7. She isn't feral, but she's practically a stray. She is around 3 years old and has already had 3 litters of kittens! I wanted to do something to stop this so badly, but I didn't want to come off as "preachy" to my neighbors. She is their cat and she has tags and everything, so I felt wrong asking to take her as well. Someone told me to report the family and call the pound to come get her, but I couldn't live with myself if she was put to sleep at the shelter (our local shelter is always full and not the best place to go anyway).
Anyway, when I went over there to ask if I could take the kittens, the owner told me she plans to get the mother spayed after the kittens are gone. The mother cat was no longer nursing, but supposedly she refused to leave her babies. So, they said they are now going to get her spayed and bring her in to be an inside cat. This is a huge relief to me because this cat has lived outside 24/7 her entire life!
I'm going to give the family the number and info for the low-cost clinic the rescue works with. It looks like it's going to be a happy ending for everyone!

The kittens had VERY little human contact, so I had to use food to lure them. I actually went over to the house to ask for the kittens, but nobody was home. As I returned to my house, I found that one of the kittens had followed me! She didn't want to be picked up though! I lured her into a cat carrier with food. The other two were also shy, but I put food on the porch and grabbed them from behind when they weren't looking. They're coming around now and don't run as much when I go close. They let me pet them without growling or hissing. I even got one to purr and roll over to have her belly rubbed!

I have them in a bathroom right now because I have no other place to put them (I'm in an apartment.) They've got a bed, litter, food, water, and plenty of soft towels to curl up with. I'm taking them to the vet tomorrow for their shots, wormer, & wellness exam. They're too young to be tested to FeLV & FIV. I doubt they have either, but I'm scared to take a chance by letting them out and coming in contact with my cat. I can't wait for them to come out with everybody though!
 

going nova

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Originally Posted by MissKitties

I have them in a bathroom right now because I have no other place to put them (I'm in an apartment.) They've got a bed, litter, food, water, and plenty of soft towels to curl up with. I'm taking them to the vet tomorrow for their shots, wormer, & wellness exam. They're too young to be tested to FeLV & FIV. I doubt they have either, but I'm scared to take a chance by letting them out and coming in contact with my cat. I can't wait for them to come out with everybody though!
I haven't seen the mama cat in real life, but I feel relieved too!
This sounds a lot like our situation... kittens in a bathroom!
Do give updates. It's encouraging to read stories like this.

We had to use a trap for our kittens, they were always with the adults and impossible to grab. I didn't see where you're from and if it's a cold place, but I'm sure you saved their kitten lives by taking them in! It doesn't get too cold where I'm from, but at night it does get too cold for tiny kittens.
 
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misskitties

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Well, we went to the vet yesterday and everything looks good! They got drops in their ears, medication in their eyes, and dewormer. They'll be in tip-top shape in no time! I found out that they're around 12 weeks old. They seem smaller than that to me, but the vet probably knows better.

By the way, I made a seperate post about it in the SOS section, but if anyone reading this is from the northeast Ohio area and is looking for a kitten, PM me!
 
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