Feral kitten socializing update

hroswitha

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The four boy kitties I trapped and brought in to my screened in porch have been there now for a solid week.  We removed the cages from the porch on Friday, and added only the small amount of furniture they can use - a kitty tower, a shelf next to the window where they can lounge, etc.  

Castor and Pollux are beginning to socialize just fine.  Castor loves to be petted, and plays hard with interactive toys.  Pollux is beginning to see the light, though he hisses hard when people enter the porch.  

Oedipus is slower, but seems to really like to be petted.  

The one I worry about is Leonidas.  He's got a goopy eye this morning.  I cleaned him up with a damp washcloth, and he tolerated that quite well, and then accepted some physical affection.  His energy levels are good when people aren't outside, but today he wouldn't eat breakfast with his brothers.  When I do come out, he goes to a corner and won't come out, though I can pet him and he will close his eyes with pleasure.

We have also noticed that none of the kittens are producing solid poop.  I haven't seen signs of diarrhea either.  The boxes are scooped and refilled several times a day, and we have two out there for them.  They are fed up to 3 times a day, and except for Leo, they all have excellent appetites.  I just finished mopping the floor with a disposable cloth mop head dipped in water with a little vinegar to cut the odor.

I feed them a combination of 9 Lives wet food with gravy and either chicken or fish.  They continually have water out front, changed twice a day, but I've only seen them use it as a toy.  

Should I be contacting a vet about Leo's eye and the lack of true poop?   
 

uncommonsensesc

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A vet may prescribe steroid eye drops for the runny eye. He/she may also suggest L-Lysine as an additive to their food - it's an amino acid (comes in a tube and you can mix it with their food) that boosts their immune system.  We rescued 3 kittens, 2 healthy and 1 with a very bad respiratory infection and runny eyes. I wound up having to take the sickest one to the vet and she got both of those plus an antibiotic (Biomox liquid which is amoxicillin). She still has problems with a runny eye every now and then - I think she was just so sick and so little that the infection weakened her immune system. Since they were so young, I also gave them KMR (kitten milk replacement) as an added aid to try to get them healthy - along with their wet cat food. I know vets are expensive (I'm job hunting every day so I can help with the cost of my rescues) but the professional opinion may be needed in this case. I don't know what area you live in, but we have a mobile vet van that travels several counties and is reasonable and we have some nearby counties that have low cost spay/ neuter clinics - to let you know about some vet possibilities (we're in South Carolina).
 
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hroswitha

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The vet expenses aren't the issue.  Every time we take the kittens out of the porch in a carrier or cage, we have a socialization setback.  Leo, the one with the icky eye, is the least socialized of the bunch.  While the others often solicit affection now, Leo hunches in a corner and hisses.  

We have started lysine with all the kittens, as I fear disease given the size of their enclosure and the number of them.  The porch is appx. 20 x 6, so it's not tiny, but still small for four growing animals.  We've redoubled our efforts to keep it clean, and the floor gets a mop daily with a pad I can wash, rather than a conventional mop.  We've managed to nearly eliminate the odor out there, except when one has just used one of the boxes.

I think Leo's eye problem started with a scratch from a brother.  The lower lid is swollen a little, but I don't see blood in the pus.  I'm calling my local vet today to see what he recommends.  He has been willing to give me antibiotics for my ferals without examining them before; I hope he'll do the same for these little guys.
 

ondine

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You probably will have set backs whenever something changes for them - and vet visits are a biggie.  After all, none of my cats will speak to me for hours (and days) after a vet visit! 


So, I wouldn't worry so much about that.  The icky eye is troublesome.  It may be a non-contagious infection but why take the chance?  Even if you only take Leo, the vet can examine him and give him the treatment he needs.   It might also be a good time to have him tested for FIV and FELV.  If he's negative, chances are so are the others.

You are doing everything right.  They've had a rough start, so it's natural they are less than trusting.  Keep up the good work!
 
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hroswitha

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I have an appointment with my local vet for tomorrow AM.  Leo, despite being more shy than the others, has a good appetite, doesn't mind some human touch, and plays nicely.  His eye worries me, but other than that, he seems quite well.  I'm hoping we get good news.
 
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hroswitha

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The vet has diagnosed Leo with a form of herpes.  His eye is red-rimmed and goopy.  He received antibiotics and, if necessary, we'll do eye drops.  They're on lycine to help with their immune system, and he found evidence of fleas on the poor little guy.  So, it's Frontline for all four, and all bedding has been removed for washing.  Poor things.  
 
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