Feral kittens

Hi all! This is my first time posting, so please be gentle with me. =)

A family member found 4 kittens next to her house, and brought them in. They had been feeding the mother and found the kittens this past weekend. We think they're about 5 weeks old, and they're weaned.
They're doing great so far: using the litter box, eating, playing, etc.
We would also love to 'trap' the mother eventually and get her spayed.

I'm wanting to keep one of the kittens, and the rest will stay with them. (They'll get them spayed/neutered, vaccinated, etc. as will we.)

I would just like some advice as to when they can be seperated from each other, and how to care for the kitten once she's by herself. My husband I both work full time. We have two Italian Greyhounds and a rabbit. They all get along great, and the dogs don't have a big prey drive so we're not worried about that.

But of course we want to keep her seperated from the dogs until she's big enough to feel comfortable and everything. We have a half-bath downstairs we could put her in, behind a baby gate. She could get out and in, but that dogs couldn't. Or should she be completely confined? I hate to close the door, but if she'll like it better then we will.

We also want to get her spayed/neutered as soon as possible. At what age can that be done? I don't want to declaw, but definitely need some insight into alternatives because I don't want the furniture and house getting scratched.

My husband and I have never had a cat before, so this is all new to us. We want to do what's best for her and give her a loving home. The dogs and rabbit will love her to pieces and we're super excited!

We would love to know what supplies we need and how to get her set up so she's comfortable and feels safe. Also, how do we figure out if she's a she or a he? lol

Any other tips or advice is VERY welcome!
Thank you! =) (I'll try to insert a picture)

It sounds like you are on the right track and she looks to be thriving under your care. She is adorable and lucky to have been found by someone she could own.
One of our resident experts will be along offer advice, I just wanted to say hello and welcome to the boards.

Hi and welcome!

The usual recommendation of separating kittens from mom and siblings is at 10-12 weeks. Im not sure if they can be with mom so long here, they will perhaps be only with each other? So I think dont separate them too early, they do teach much from each other.

It is easier to have 2 cats, friends. Especially if you are working long days.
The most easy way to be sure they are friends is to take two siblings from the same litter.
So this will be my recommendation.

You did mentioned scratchind and non declawing. Right, we dont like declawong. Strongly forbidden here! Grrr.

Scratching trees, lotsa of doing are the recommendations. And is usually enough.
By the way, our resident boys do scrach when they are happy. For example, we are coming back home... We really cant forbide them to scratch... Some furnitures are they allowed to scrach...

IF you would have trouble with scratching, there are loose nails to fasten. Which make it impossible to scratch. I believe they are called "soft paws."
Im not saying I do recommend them wholeheartly, I dont think the cats enjoys them. But they do work, and are of course much more decent than declawing...
All in all. You dont "need" to declawe, even if you are really desperate.

Im sure others will fill in.

Good luck!

A kitten can climb a baby gate in a heartbeat. I saw one scale mine at about 6 weeks old. If the purpose of the baby gate is only to keep the dogs out of the bathroom, I would reconsider. A kitten that young needs quick access to their litter box. Kittens that young can't hold it very long, and if a gate restricts its access to the litter box, he/she will mess in your home.

I've had greyhounds with cats. Greyhounds have HIGH prey drive with small animals that run from them. I suspect that Italian Greyhounds are just smaller versions of the full sized ones that I had. I would absolutely not leave a kitten alone with them until they have adjusted to each other. I understand that they do fine with your rabbit, but the kitten is not a rabbit and your dogs may not respond to her the same initially. Use caution for a while. A greyhound can kill a kitten in one shake of its head.

Like Stefan suggested, the best thing to keep a kitten out of trouble is another kitten, preferably littermates. They are a joy to watch playing with each other, and if they occupy each others time, they are less likely to get into trouble when they are bored.

Kittens should ideally remain with their mothers until they are 10-12 weeks old, but I understand in your situation, you needed to get them away from their feral mom. Try to keep the kittens together as long as you can. You can get your home prepared in the mean time.

Here's a link to an article about sexing your kitten. http://www.pet-informed-veterinary-a...g-kittens.html

For controlling their scratching: None of my cats are declawed and my furniture is intact. I have scratch posts around the house and I have shown my cats how to use them. It's sort of fun to train them to use a scratch post. If you've ever house broken a puppy, you know the basics. When you see a puppy about to squat, you say no and bring them quickly outside. You keep watch on them constantly until they go outside consistently. When you see a kitten scratching your furniture, you say no then carry them to a scratch post. I like to kneel near the post with them and run my fingers over the post while they scratch. If they are food motivated, I reward them with a treat. Do this consistently until they naturally go to the post. It's never taken me more than 3 days to train them (a lot shorter time than training a puppy).

He/she is a cutie pie! We are here if you have any specific questions.

Welcome to TCS . Gorgeous little kitten and congratz on adding a cat into your lives. As soon as you get your kitten, you would bring him/her to the vet. The vet will tell you the sex of the kitten and help you get started on any additonal medical care the kitten needs, like wormings, shots, etc. I would keep the kitten in a confined room or bathroom for the first two weeks so you can make sure the kitten is using the litter box, eating well and just settling into the new environment. Also, when you are not home or at work, keep the kitten in the safe room with all of the kitten's necessities. Take you time introducing the dogs to the kitten and never leave them alone together till the kitten is older and totally adjusted to your home and the dogs.

As far as scratching goes. I have multiple STURDY and TALL (this is very important) scratching posts around my home. I trim my cats claws once a week and they use their scratching posts all the time. The scratching post must be tall and very sturdy and not move when the cat reaches up to scratch. Those small, wobbly scratching posts will not work at all. That's why cat's like to scratch couches. They don't move. You can also buy a tall cat tree that has a built in scratching post. Most scratching posts are made with sisal rope wrapped tightly and the cats love that type of material. I usually put a little bit of catnip and rub it on the post to get the cats scratching. Kitties also LOVE those cardboard box floor scratchers. Any pet store will carry these. They are very popular.

How exciting for you!!!! Please keep up posted on your new baby!!!
p.s. You might want to consider taking two kittens... It is so fun to have two siblings and watch them play and snuggle together. Would be good company for eachother too.