New feral kitten 3-4 weeks

Hi! I have just adopted a feral kitten from the local animal shelter and I have a couple of questions for anyone who can help.

We filled out our little guy's adoption papers on the 20th and the shelter insisted we had to pay $70 to have all his preadoption stuff done prior to bringing him home. So... we paid our $ and waited on their call. We brought him home two days later and were shocked to see they had ear-tipped him... as if he was going to be a TNR colony cat!!!  I have NO idea what gave them that impression. My husband told the lady taking our paperwork that we were bringing him home to live with our 2 inside cats where he would be loved... I was pretty heartbroken for him, but I suppose there are worse things than losing part of an ear...

Anyway, we suddenly realized that if they ear-tipped him, the rest of what they were supposed to do might not have been done either. We checked his paperwork and checked with the shelter and we were right! They didn't run him thru the usual pre-adoption treatments either. Meaning he wasn't FeLV/FIV tested, he wasn't treated for fleas, he wasn't wormed, he wasn't microchipped. All of these were things we paid for... (side note: the best the shelter will do for us at this point is have their vet do these things as soon as we can get him back in a carrier and over there - he is still pretty wild, so that's not happening fast... Idiots!) Thank heaven we didn't already put one of our other cats in with him to make friends.

My question is this... the girl at the shelter tried to tell me he wasn't rabies vaccinated either, but his paperwork shows he was (we have the metal tag and everything). We had no clue that they shouldn't be rabies vaccinated til they are 4 months old.

I really think this little guy is closer to 3 months old. What should I look for as far as problem signs if he really was vaccinated too soon? How concerned should I be? 

A lot of times, it depends on a kittens weight, what can be done right then, and what has to be put off.  I would contact them again and see if maybe you are supposed to bring him in for a follow-up in a few weeks.  That is most likely, what I would say, is the major factor in all of this. 

As for the ear tipping, a lot of shelters have that done to show that this cat has been one of theirs, or has been "through the system" so to speak.  That way, if something should happen and he should end up back with them, lord forbid, they would know what has been done medically. 

He probably wasn't neutered either... Usually they wait until around 5 months for that because his fellas probably haven't dropped yet and he has to be at least 5lbs.  Like I said, a lot of it is because not only of his age but his weight.  I wouldn't freak out too much... Just calmly ask if this is the reason and if you are supposed to do follow ups?  Normally, it states it on the paper when to come in next for the next rounds.... You can check again now that you are more calm and have an answer to some of this. 

As for the kitten shots, there are 3 rounds.  They have to be done before neutering.  Shots can produce a slight fever, and a feeling of lethargy.  But usually they rebound pretty quickly.  He'll also be thirsty probably and tender where the shots were given.  Just give him time.  He could be grumpy for a couple of days.

Hm... well, now I'm really curious. The sheet I have from the vet who took care of him says he was neutered. It also says he was vaccinated for rabies and FVRCP.  Then, right after that, it shows he weighs 4lbs. He seems to be doing OK. His appetite is good and he will play with toys as long as I'm at a distance (we've got some real socialization work to do before I can really even put him back in a carrier...).

I'm thinking I may need to call my own vet and ask some serious questions.   I don't really think I want those people touching him again... even if they would pay for it.

Well, if he really is 3-4 weeks old that is too early for anything really.... He is too young to be away from mom at this point.  I would get some kitten replacement formula to but in his food, as well.  That the thing with shelter vets, you never really know what was done and what wasn't.  So I would always have my own vet look them over anyway. 

He's probably not neutered.  If he is that young, really, then his fellas haven't dropped yet and he is not even close to 4lbs!!  So, you should have your own vet look at him anyway and take the paperwork in with you so they can try to make sense of it all.  Hopefully your own vet can give you some answers? 

A lot of times, shelters will "embellish" on the ages of animals.  Especially cats... Senior cats are often not placeable, so they will say a senior is "2 yrs old" or a kitten that is 1 to 2 years old is "4 months old"... People often want kittens, the younger the better.  But, 3-4 weeks, it's barely toddling and it just started tasting solid food.  It's primary food source is still mama.  It's eyes are blue.... Until about 6-8 weeks when they start to change.  A blue eyed baby is too young. 

If you could post a picture, it would be helpful.  But you can never rely on the shelter to tell the accurate truth on the ages of your new kitty.... And a rule of thumb, go straight to your own vet with your new furbaby to have it looked over... Do not even stop at home.... Straight to your vet, especially if you have other animals in the house.  Shelters often carry diseases.  And you have found out you can't trust shelter vets or their word on it...

Do not be disheartened, what you did is an amazing thing.  You saved a life.... Now you just need to have him vetted by your own vet and find out some real answers.  My guess is, he's healthy and will be a long time furbaby of yours.... Go to your vet first thing on Monday is my advice! 

I think she meant months, not weeks, and accidentally typed weeks in her title.

Revenwyn said:

I think she meant months, not weeks, and accidentally typed weeks in her title.

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Yes, I know thank you... My point is it is one of the reasons, besides the diseases spread in shelters to get him to her own vet asap....

Doh! Yes, months, not weeks   I'm an idiot. His momma is truly feral and I can narrow his age to 3-4 months because of the window between when we saw her pregnant and when she showed up not pregnant anymore... It was a few weeks time, so our guess is pretty close. I do plan to take him to my vet as soon as I can reasonably do it.   I wanted to take him to my own vet instead of having the shelter do everything - and I should have pushed harder for that, but they insisted they couldn't release him til he was "fixed" and vaccinated. I've since read the city ordinances and that just isn't so...  Wow, I've run into so much deception from them. 

He's still pretty wild and I can't pet him, but he's making progress. He will interact with me using certain toys and he will eat food out of my hand. I expect it won't be too long before I can put him in a carrier without losing every bit of trust we've gained. Posting his pic as my profile pic.

He probably is "fully vetted" and neutered.  Some will do it as long as they are at least 4lbs... Most vets like to wait until over 5lbs though.  But, also "indoor cat" vaccinations are different from outdoor so if he is an exclusively indoor cat, which most from shelters are supposed to be, he may not get the rabies vaccination as well as a couple of others... Mostly because his chances of exposure are significantly less.  I believe, if I am not mistaken, that rabies vaccine is not given to the ones that are "indoor only" cats.  But, it's always the best idea to have your own vet look over them anyway.... Just to be sure they didn't miss anything.  Your $70 may not have covered the microchipping and other things you feel they "skipped".... $70 with a regular vet would barely cover the neutering of a male and not even cover the full costs of a females spay.... And my vaccinations for indoor only is about $30/cat. 

Best of luck... Just give him time and don't force him too much too soon.  He will grow to love you.  You can try playing with him.  Many love, love, love a toy called Da Bird, it mimics a bird in flight and cats go crazy for it.  Laughs for you, fun for him, and bonding for both of you.  Look into it to help!

Vets here have no issue doing it at 2lbs and they drop way before 5 months.

I have asked this question to a few vets and got same answer from all-no harm done if cat is a bit younger.  But it will not be valid for a lic in certain towns.  I had a cat come home vaccinated at 3 months.  He is 6 years now and no issues

If it is a high volume shelter eith they just forgot he was going home or they figured in case he ends up on streets again to tip him.  Once the hair grows back it will look a bit cleaner. 

catsallaround said:

Vets here have no issue doing it at 2lbs and they drop way before 5 months.

I have asked this question to a few vets and got same answer from all-no harm done if cat is a bit younger.  But it will not be valid for a lic in certain towns.  I had a cat come home vaccinated at 3 months.  He is 6 years now and no issues

If it is a high volume shelter eith they just forgot he was going home or they figured in case he ends up on streets again to tip him.  Once the hair grows back it will look a bit cleaner. 

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Actually, that is not true, some serious harm can be done if a neuter/spay is done far too early.  (And according to the title, this was too young of a kitten with the WEEKS and not months... And he wouldn't have dropped yet.)  But, 4 months old is fine. 

Well I will disagree as I have had more then a dozen done early with no issues including a NEARLY 2 lber(1lb 14 oz i think it was).  This cat IS 3-4 months she mistyped title.

Testicles drop VERY early on in a kittens life.

Anyway main question I was answering was the rabies.  No harm in doing it before the 4 month min.  Though legaly it may not count so what is the point unless you are TNR in HUGE numbers and don't work with any kittens.

catsallaround said:

Well I will disagree as I have had more then a dozen done early with no issues including a NEARLY 2 lber(1lb 14 oz i think it was).  This cat IS 3-4 months she mistyped title.

Testicles drop VERY early on in a kittens life.

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I know that it was mistyped!!!!!!!!!  And I disagree with you but I know a lot of people especially shelters do this as early as 6 weeks.... However, my point was that most vets will not do it that early.  Some will, sure.  But most will not and will wait until a certain weight at least. 

And though they have descended shortly before birth, most don't actually fully drop until around 8 weeks old (where the vet can feel them.)

P3 and The King said:

As for the ear tipping, a lot of shelters have that done to show that this cat has been one of theirs, or has been "through the system" so to speak.  That way, if something should happen and he should end up back with them, lord forbid, they would know what has been done medically. 

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That is a first for me I know of no shelter that ear tips as a way to mark their cats. Ear tipping is only for feral cats being returned outdoors. That way you know which ferals have already been sterilized. I know you already know this too. BUT I have never heard of a shelter doing this to cats adopted into homes as a way to identify "their" cats. I highly doubt that is why this particular kitten was ear tipped. It was meant to be for a TNR and it sounds like this particular shelter is not run well - some confusion there.

catsallaround said:

Vets here have no issue doing it at 2lbs and they drop way before 5 months.

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Yep - most shelters do sterilize according to the weight - 2 lbs. regardless of the age of the kittens. :nod:

TigerKat said:

Doh! Yes, months, not weeks   I'm an idiot. His momma is truly feral and I can narrow his age to 3-4 months because of the window between when we saw her pregnant and when she showed up not pregnant anymore... It was a few weeks time, so our guess is pretty close. I do plan to take him to my vet as soon as I can reasonably do it.   I wanted to take him to my own vet instead of having the shelter do everything - and I should have pushed harder for that, but they insisted they couldn't release him til he was "fixed" and vaccinated. I've since read the city ordinances and that just isn't so...  Wow, I've run into so much deception from them. 


He's still pretty wild and I can't pet him, but he's making progress. He will interact with me using certain toys and he will eat food out of my hand. I expect it won't be too long before I can put him in a carrier without losing every bit of trust we've gained. Posting his pic as my profile pic.

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Welcome and it IS wonderful of you to take in this little feral kitten Sounds like SO much confusion with this particular shelter. Very unorganized. I am sure they tipped the kitten's ear because he is feral and not a "friendly". That is usually the norm because if the kitten were to be returned to the feral colony or returned to live outdoors, then everyone would know that that particular feral was already sterilized. Any hoo :lol3: I am certain this kitten did already receive the appropriate shots. FeLK/FIV are only done IF the person requested it. It just sounds like this shelter is not on top of these things which is not good :slant: Good plan to take the kitten to your own vet now.

It would be best to leave the kitten in a separate room until such time that he is comfortable and is starting to trust you. Here is an article http://www.catnipchronicles.com/may2012/laurie.htm that will give you some tips on socializing. Your doing a wonderful thing and thank you for taking a chance on adopting a feral kitten.

Wow, thanks everyone, for all the replies and good information!  I promise I'd fix the title if I could... I know it has to be confusing. 

I do believe things with this particular shelter aren't good. It is a municipality shelter (town has @55,000 residents) and it is nowhere big enough or well staffed enough to deal with everything they have to deal with. I used to volunteer there walking dogs and helped out after a local tornado disaster - both pre 1999... neither involved contact with anyone running the shelter directly, so while I'm familiar with some of their limitations, I know nothing about their administrative issues. 

About the $70... this isn't a money issue. I would have much preferred to take him to my own vet for all his procedures but the shelter told us he couldn't leave til we paid our $70 and they ran him thru their pre-adoption procedures. Yes, $70 wouldn't pay for much at a regular vet, BUT this shelter openly lists the things they do for the fees  they collect (namely: neuter/rabies vacc/FVRCP/microchip/flea treatment/FeLV & FIV test/worming). That they arbitrarily skipped most of these things and sent my boy home with fleas, worms and no Feline Leukemia test is what I found infuriating. Bad enough they mutilated his ear when they didn't need to, but they put the health of my other 2 cats at risk.   

The odd thing is, this town doesn't even allow TNR. In fact, if you do TNR a cat, when you release it back into the community, the city considers the cat as "yours" (as they do with any cat you feed more than 4 times). That wouldn't be so bad except for the "leash laws" that apply to cats. They can literally fine you up to $500 each time they can prove the cat left your property. This is why I didn't think to specify he wasn't a TNR cat... and why the ear tip caught me so completely off-guard. Why TNR a cat when TNR programs are illegal here? (rhetorical, I don't expect an answer... there really isn't one...) 

Anyway, thanks so much for the suggestions, and for the info about neutering and rabies vaccs. Tyger is doing pretty well all things considered. He will take food off my finger and is now letting me close enough to touch him when he eats from his bowl. He does love the Bird toy too! That's been great for pushing his boundaries. He will literally jump on me now to attack the feathered thing, so I think we're making progress. He talks alot too, especially if our other cat chatters at him from the other side of the door. He has always had his littermates around, so I know he is lonely. I'm very much looking forward to getting him all checked out so he can make friends with our friendly cat Misty. Meanwhile I just picked up some Revolution flea treatment for kittens and soon as we can handle him well enough to make sure we can apply it properly he's going to lose those fleas.

You are right about ODD with the ear tip then Maybe that is why they tip ears at that shelter then, as P3 mentioned :dk: to identify that THEY did the spay/neuter!! :dk: I honestly have never heard of such a thing, especially for a cat they are adopting out into a home environment and not to be released back outdoors!! Where do you live if you don't mind my asking? So sad that there is not a TNR support system for feral cats. Those are some hefty fines too.

I am glad that Tyger is doing so well Just make sure with the Revolution that you put it right behind his skull, otherwise he will be able to turn his head around and lick it off the top of his back. I think soon he will be "putty" in your hands and so loving :cross:

I live in Moore, Oklahoma. It is basically a small town between Oklahoma City and Norman (both of which do have TNR programs - OKC just adopted theirs a few weeks ago, so it is relatively new). 

I've been told by TNR people in OKC that Moore will never adopt a TNR program because basically their city officials don't want cats - any cats, even pets - that are not indoor only animals... or at the very least confined to enclosures in peoples' backyards. 

I have to think this is pretty much true, given some things that have happened recently to my mom. She is currently involved in a dispute with her neighbor over a feral female cat that he has been trying to trap (and kill) for many years now. Mom told him long ago that she wanted to trap her, spay her and bring her back, but he wouldn't even hear of giving the cat to my mom (on the off-chance he ever does get her trapped). He is basically the self-appointed cat trapper for the neighborhood and wants them all gone. He's actually started his own little clique of neighbors who are on his all-the-cats-must-die bandwagon. Yeah, it's a great little town...   There is a LOT more to the story, but that's basically where we got Tyger... he was one of this female cat's kittens. The neighbor trapped him and thankfully took him to the shelter. It was the first time he's ever done that with a cat he has trapped - so someone must've told him we were trying to catch him disposing of the cats illegally (what he usually does).  

Just as a point of interest, the neighbor trapped Tyger's little brother the next day and my coworker went and adopted him. She has socialized several feral kittens and doesn't mind the extra effort. We were very specific with the shelter this time, and wrote on the adoption form Do Not Ear Tip. He had both ears when she picked him up, so I guess they got the message. They even managed to FeLV/FIV test him. Yay. It's a small victory, but I'll take it.   

I know there is another member on here from Missouri that is dealing with the same problem as you. She also has a neighbor that wants the cats gone and traps them to shoot them :shame: I wonder if there is anyway to transport trapped cats into OKC or Norman for TNR and releasing to another colony there? We have a huge TNR organization in my area from another county that will do that on occasion for other feral caretakers outside of their county. Just a thought. I would call these other organizations and see IF they have any policies or practices in place for assisting feral cats in the surrounding counties/cities. I am certain they are very well aware of the NO TNR in Moore and are hopefully working to change that. :cross: SO sad because there is such a need and the cat's just won't go away. They will only keep breeding and there will be more cats/kittens. TNR puts a stop to that! If they could only see the light. :cross:

That is interesting about your neighbor's feral kitten and glad to hear that the shelter honored her requests. :bigthumb: Yes - a small victory :nod: