I can't take in another kitten!

My friend found a litter of six of these incredibly cute kittens in a theme park where he works:



He wants to know if I want one.  Of course my kneejerk answer is YES!!!! but I'm not sure it would be practical.  I have three and Joni is almost a year old - I thought I was past kittenhood at this point.  Also, how young are these kittens?  They look about 2 weeks - they would need 24/7 care, correct?  I might be able to get a couple days off, but I'd have to go back, and could a 2-week old kitten be by itself for 8-10 hours while I was at work??

I need some facts in order to clear my head.  Of course I want to take in a kitten.  But I want it to be the best situation for me, the three I already have, and this kitten.  Can someone help me with the following?

-What kind of care would this kitten need?

-Do you think someone who works 40 hours a week could reasonably provide it?

-If so, how to introduce a baby kitten to 3 junior cats?

I'm at work, sorry for the rushed post.  Will be back soon!

I would say they're about 3 weeks old. Check for little teeth poking through--that usually happens right around the 3 week mark.

If at all possible, I would recommend keeping the litter together until they're 10 weeks old. It's bad enough they lost their mother--they should be able to stay with their littermates. If they must be split up, they should at least stay in pairs until older. Single-raised kittens can have some problems with social skills later in life.

They may be old enough to potty on their own. Most of my bottle babies don't need potty stimulation at that age, although they also aren't old enough to get the hang of the litterbox yet--messy! They'll probably take a bottle for another 2 weeks or so, but are old enough to start introducing mushy food.

If you do end up with one or more of the kittens, I don't recommend introducing the older cats until the kitten is 6-8 weeks old.

I have raised kittens from that age on while working full time. It's not ideal, but I would feed them before leaving for work and then right away when I got home. They lived . I don't think newborn kittens would survive without more frequent care, but at that age they're tougher.

I agree with you about staying together, one of the reasons I am a little upset about this is people who work at the park are jumping at the opportunity to take the kittens - great, right?  Except how many know how to care for a 2-3 week old kitten?  None of them is going to take all six, or even more than one.  I wish I weren't so cynical, but I've just experienced it too often, people taking it cute and fuzzy and squee little kittens, then dumping them when they don't know how to deal with their behavior.  Rationally, I know that doesn't mean I can take in every cat I come across, but it does make me want to help if I can.  It's just a matter of putting my brain ahead of my heart and coming to a rational decision.

What immediate needs would the kittens have?  If I brought them home tonight... (oh yeah... "them" - you are right, Willowy, I know I would need to take 2, especially if they're going to be in my bathroom for four weeks).  Bottle, KMR, litterbox with non-clumping litter?  (I use Swheat Scoop, which doesn't have clay... is that good enough?)

My concerns are:

-Budget, specifically food.  I would need to go straight to 100% raw immediately, I cannot afford to feed grain-free or even high-end non-grain-free canned to five cats, including two baby kittens who will need to free-feed, and do not want to feed dry.

-Future living arrangements.  I live in a friend's house on a month-to-month lease.  She's fine with me having more cats, but it was near impossible to find an affordable place with 3 cats, much less 5.  Having five cats would severely impede my ability to move if my friend terminates my lease.

-Brood dynamics.  Space is so limited in my house - I have vertical space in the form of shelves and bookshelves, but five kittens is a lot of energy, and the power is fairly evenly spread between my current three, with Simon taking on a slight dominant role, and certainly the role of aggressor in play fights.  With the cats that live at my parents' house, there are one or two that live pretty solitary lives because of the dynamics/pecking order.  (And they're outside!)  In this small space, I don't want to introduce behavior problems.  (I know I'm being paranoid... can't help it!)

Back to work, sorry for being in and out.

Well, you wouldn't have to KEEP more than one kitten. . .just keep them together until 10 weeks. Then you can find a home for the other(s).

But, yes, having 4-5 cats will make renting difficult. And things can change in the cat family dynamics quickly. And there are food, litter, and vet bills to think about. I'm a terrible enabler (my brother has 4 cats and my mom has 6 :tongue2, but only you can know your own circumstances.

I definitely can't afford to feed six, not even temporarily.    I'd be taking two to keep.  I'm an enabler too!  Of myself!!!!!!   Looking back, the logical thing to do was NOT to take Joni.  Financially I'd be way better off right now.  But I took her anyway, and I'd never, ever, ever redo it and not take her.  But I NEED to be rational this time, lol, I have three mouths plus mine to feed!  I will think about it some more.  Thank you, Willowy!

Would the people that are wanting the kittens be willing to pay a bit up front to help you care for the litter until they're old enough? If you add up the estimated cost, divide it by how many kittens there are and then ask people to put that money down as an adoption fee then you'd have enough to care for the litter until they're old enough to go to their homes. You'd be able to keep them all together, (most) of their cost would be paid for and in the end, if you just wanted to keep one, you'd be able to. Just a thought... 

I'm an enabler too... I have two dogs and a cat, I do a bit of rescue work on the side and I really can't afford to be doing that right now but when someone calls or emails me and tells me of an animal in need I feel like I can't refuse them. 

I did not end up taking the kittens.  Sigh... it wasn't the right choice for me & my brood.  Alicia, I wasn't involved in the organizing of the cats - my friend found them at his job, and the management team at theme park was caring for them.  He just texted me & offered them, since they were looking for homes for them.  I am hoping they are all well & have found good forever homes!