cat cages

My husband and I own four adult cats. One of my coworkers found two kittens at a hotel, which the managers wanted to get rid of very quickly. We decided to foster them until they are socialized and can be adopted out to a good home.

The brother and sister are about 6 weeks old, had their shots, tested negative for leukemia and HIV, and will be fixed within the next month.

The only extra space we had was a spare guestroom with a bed and a nightstand, and a nice carpet.

They have only been there for 24 hours, but of course they are terrified and only hiding under the bed. I have provided them with toys, beds, blankets, towels, food, water, litter etc.

I keep reading on a lot of other sites, that you are supposed to put them in a cat cage first, before letting them out in the room, in order to avoid them hiding I guess. Does anyone have experience with that? Is it really necessary or is it ok to let them be in the safe room without being trapped in a cage? I found a few bigger cages for dogs, but the cats would be right next to the litter etc. And I found a few taller ones with several platforms, but they are rather expensive.

Also, a few sites recommended splitting up the cats, so that they bond to humans, and not each other. I am hesitant to do so, because I don't have another room to do so. Or do they mean to put them into two separate cages, but it is ok to leave them in the same room?

Any help would be appreciated, as I am completely new to this and want to make sure I am doing things right.

Thank you !!

It may surely work to have them in cages, but having them in a bedroom is even better.  So you can for example, sleep there now and then.  When you are lying down and sleep, or pretending to sleep, you are totally harmless, and they may dare more.  Even to sleep in the bed with you...

When they have landed a little, (several days, not more - they should be before 8 weeks), there is a wonderful trick recommended by our experienced forumite Catwoman707.

You wrap them up in a soft towel, like a burrito, and carry them around at your chest, singing softly, crooning, talking sweetly.... half one hour, a whole hour.  A couple three such sessions apiece and its done.

Nay, cages are useful if you dont have any suitable place. So better with cages than nothing.

It may be easier to have them one and one, but, now they are two.  If you separate them, they will be even more scared and feeling alone.  Swallow your pride, let them be together.  One of them will prob dare more - let her be your positive example to the other...

Good luck!   *vibes*

Thank you so much for the input. I really like the idea of lying down on the bed once in awhile.
I think I will skip the cages for now then. I am just worried that they will not ever come out from under that bed. Coming back from work, I found them in the exact same corner under the bed that I have left them this morning. You think that will change in a few days?
I did notice that they used the litter box that I filled with soil, so that was a nice surprise.
I also like the idea with the towel and had read about it before, but we are supposed to wait about ten days to handle them, in case they do have rabies. The chances of that are low they said, but they can't really test for it either I heard.
And yes, I was opposed to the idea of separating them from the beginning, but so many sources said to do it. I am glad to see someone is on my side :-D

One thing you can do is block off under the bed. But if you do that, do provide them with a couple of boxes or carriers for hidey holes. They need a place whre they can feel protected. Before you do the buritto thing, which is an excellent idea, try going into the room a few times a day and just sitting quietly. You can read aloud to get them used to your voice. When you are not in there, play a CD with harp music. That will calm them down, too.

Thank you for helping them!

Ondine said:

One thing you can do is block off under the bed. But if you do that, do provide them with a couple of boxes or carriers for hidey holes. They need a place whre they can feel protected. Before you do the buritto thing, which is an excellent idea, try going into the room a few times a day and just sitting quietly. You can read aloud to get them used to your voice. When you are not in there, play a CD with harp music. That will calm them down, too.

Thank you for helping them!

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Or if you can sink the bed to lay directly on the floor, is the best.  Sorry I forgot to mention it.

As Ondine says, if you do this, let them have some other "legal" hidey hole instead - Really, do it, its best, bed or no bed.

Re  Rabies-quarantine, do have thick clothes, googles and gloves on if you wish and want to feel 100% safe, when you are wrapping them in.  Once wrapped, they are  helpless, and thus, can surrender and accept the warmth of you and what you are offering.

It is preferable to do this before they are fully 8 weeks, this is a developmental phase going on.  If they are socialized before this  time-zone, they usually get into normal, fully socialized cats who are happy with visitors etc...

Later on you will still be able to foster and socialize them, no fear, but it is not sure they will be 100% socialized - always fearing strangers and visitors, although friends with your family.   This too is one of Catwoman707 experiences - and I do believe it as a good rule of thumb.

Just thought of this.  You can try bribing them with food.  Lots of us here use Gerber baby food (just chicken or turkey without onions).  For some reason, cats can not resist it.

Offer it to them on the tip of a spoon first.  You can lay the spoon on a paper towel near you and sit quietly.  (I have plastic "wooden" spoons that lay flat).  Use just a small dollop, so they won't get full too fast.

You may have to adjust the distance the spoon is from you before they are brave enough to venture over.  But if you do this consistently, they will soon be eating when the spoon is in your hand.  Then you can start the process of getting them used to your touch.

StefanZ said:

 
Or if you can sink the bed to lay directly on the floor, is the best.  Sorry I forgot to mention it.

As Ondine says, if you do this, let them have some other "legal" hidey hole instead - Really, do it, its best, bed or no bed.

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I don't know why I did not think of that, duuuh. I will definitely take the bed apart tonight, so that the mattress is directly on the floor. i already have enough hiding spots, but somehow they preferred the bed.

StefanZ said:

Re  Rabies-quarantine, do have thick clothes, googles and gloves on if you wish and want to feel 100% safe, when you are wrapping them in.  Once wrapped, they are  helpless, and thus, can surrender and accept the warmth of you and what you are offering.

It is preferable to do this before they are fully 8 weeks, this is a developmental phase going on.  If they are socialized before this  time-zone, they usually get into normal, fully socialized cats who are happy with visitors etc..

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Does anybody know how i know for sure that they do NOT have rabies? they told us to wait 10 days and watch for any signs. Am I safe washing their dishes with the same sponge that I wash the other guy's dishes? Will it be ok if my cats will eventually play with toys that these two played with?

I am nervous about transmitting the disease (if they even have it). So i have been taking extra caution.

Ondine said:

 
Just thought of this.  You can try bribing them with food.  Lots of us here use Gerber baby food (just chicken or turkey without onions).  For some reason, cats can not resist it.

Offer it to them on the tip of a spoon first.  You can lay the spoon on a paper towel near you and sit quietly.  (I have plastic "wooden" spoons that lay flat).  Use just a small dollop, so they won't get full too fast.

You may have to adjust the distance the spoon is from you before they are brave enough to venture over.  But if you do this consistently, they will soon be eating when the spoon is in your hand.  Then you can start the process of getting them used to your touch.

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I also love this idea! Thanks for sharing. I actually looked for baby food yesterday, but it was soooo expensive. I will look in another place for some better stuff.

I wouldn't use toys with both sets of cats - not so much for rabies but for other germs.  The kittens may have bacteria they are living with OK but that you cats haven't met yet (and vice versa).

As long as you're washing with hot water, the plates should be OK.

You should be able to tell if they have rabies pretty soon.  I got this from the cat health guide:

Early Signs of Rabies in Cats

The rabies symptoms in cats are essentially similar to those seen in dogs. All the three typical manifestations i.e prodormal, furious and dumb forms are exhibited by the affected animals. The incubation period varies from 2-12 weeks and may be occasionally prolonged up to 4 years.  The early signs of rabies in cat include:

• Roaring loudly and biting all the objects inside home.
• Violent movements including dashing anything on the way resulting in self inflicting injuries.
• Conjuctivitis and partial protrusion of tongue.
• Uncoordinated movements due to leg weakness.
• Unable to move even after prodding and swaying in the hind quarters.

So they may have been showing signs by now.

Katink said:

 but we are supposed to wait about ten days to handle them, in case they do have rabies. The chances of that are low they said, but they can't really test for it either I heard.
 

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Do you have any especial reasons to fear they may have rabies?  If not, the risk any random kitten has rabies is not only low, but even microscopic.

So be careful if it is what you are nervous for, but of all the risks in the world it is one of the lesser.

Of course, if there ARE reasons to think they may be infected, it is another matter.

Observe, them biting in the moment of catching, because of the catching, is no proof at all. 

Stephan: I think the rescue she is fostering for wanted the kittens quarantined for ten days. She asked about symptoms. From what I hear, I do not think they have rabies but I found the symptoms for her as she had asked.

Katink: they haven't shown any symptoms yet, right?

Ondine said:

Early Signs of Rabies in Cats
 

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Wow, those signs sound terrifying. I sure hope that won't happen at all ! Thanks for the info.

StefanZ said:

 
Do you have any especial reasons to fear they may have rabies?  If not, the risk any random kitten has rabies is not only low, but even microscopic.

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No, I have no reason to think this other than the fact that they are strays and I am not sure what they have been exposed to. I am just following the vet's recommendation, as I have never taken care of a stray cat before. From what I have heard, the chances ARE really low, but I want to make sure we are safe. Thank you for your concern, I appreciate it.

Ondine said:

Stephan: I think the rescue she is fostering for wanted the kittens quarantined for ten days. She asked about symptoms. From what I hear, I do not think they have rabies but I found the symptoms for her as she had asked.

Katink: they haven't shown any symptoms yet, right?

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Ondine, the organization isn't really helping us at all. They just provided the traps and helped pay the first vet bill. Besides that they just decided that we need to foster these guys on our own But they and the vet both advised us to be careful handling them for the first 10 days, as that is the time frame within which we might see symptoms of rabies.

No, they have not shown any signs at all. Thank goodness

Following your advice, we actually removed the bed frame yesterday and put the mattress on the floor. I provided them with 7 different beds and hiding spots instead (yeah, I am spoiling them...) and they are a lot more active now. They did however discover the window sill and pulled down the curtain that they are now sleeping on. They were both crying this morning, because they could see the outdoors, but not go there I guess. It broke my heart.

I am reading them a chapter of a book every day and played some harp music for them as well. I even pet the little girl a bit this morning and she didn't mind at all.

Thank you all for being such a great source of advice and reassurance. I really appreciate it!

Katink:  Sorry to hear the rescue is overwhelmed.  They usually are, unfortunately.  It was good they helped with the vet bill, at least.  Are they going to help you find homes for them?  I hope so!  If not, take lots of pictures so you can make a great flyer when the time comes.  I'm pretty sure they don't have rabies and it really was a good idea to keep them quarantined.

I wouldn't worry about them seeing outside.  Pretty soon, they will probably be like my kitties and run whenever the door is open.  They learned quickly that inside was WAY better than outside!