Four New Foster Kittens Grooming Help

Hello,

I got my first litter of four four-week old foster kittens three days ago. They are wonderful but they stink with a capital S. My housemates are concerned about that smell getting into the surfaces of the house so I need to find a solution to it. They are not loose and have been so smart about using their litter box, but between their loose bowels (they are eating wet cat food "gruel"), the ultra-stinky food they are eating (I was told to get the stinkiest food so it would stimulate them to eat) and the fact that they roll around in...well everything combined, wow. It smells like a 20-cage kennel in here. 

I clean them morning and night, but am reluctant to bathe them as I tried to just bathe their feet and they were so afraid. I don't want to traumatize them like that. Should/can I bathe them anyway and how should that be done?

Can I use those Whisker City grooming wipes? I was uncertain about their scent or anything else being not good for the babies. 

Thanks!

I have bathed my 6-week olds a few times since I got them (they are awesome at their litter box but messy. One has a bit of an upset tummy. Anyway.) I started just by filling the kitchen sink with an inch of warm water and placing them in it, petting them and talking to them, and then taking them out, and worked up from there. One is totally ok with having a total bath now (well, hind feet, bum, and tail). The other is still a little bit nervous but getting better. If you take it slow they can learn, as it's the sound of running water that scares them the most.

Thank you for the reply. I will try that. I just don't want to scare them horribly or cause them to catch cold b/c of not being able to get them dry enough, but I think some form of bath is definitely going to be necessary! 

Thanks again!

I worry about the cold with mine too but when I try to snuggle them post bath they turn into wriggly little demons because they just want to PLAY. They race around and groom and race and groom. Do try to snuggle them in a towel on your lap though, so they can dry off all warm and cozy. 

I'm just waiting for mine to dry now so I can put them to bed (and go to bed myself.)