Semi-feral litter

grh1925

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For background my office property has had a succession of hang-a outs over decades. We feed them on an adjoining deck. Litters of kittens are rescued when we can catch them. Three years ago a pregnant stray raised on surviving kitten. The next year she had a litter of five, four of which we trapped at about ages 10-12 weeks. They were successfully socialized in my home, immunized, and adopted successfully. I also trapped the mother and her first litter daughter and had them neutered and released. They still come to feed daily. This March the fifth kitten, the one I did not trap, also had a litter of three. Again, all three doctored and easily adopted out. I finally trapped the again pregnant mother, Millie, on September 30th. She is used to people feeding her and did not overly panic. She birthed six kittens on October 2nd in my personal office. One kitten needed supplemental feeding. All are doing ok now. The kittens are all socialized, in fact they are climbing all over every person that enters the room. They are playing normally with each other. Millie has a protected space to retreat to. She is friendly with everyone but me, her captor. Even so she makes friendly eye contact at a distance and allows me to approach within 3-4 feet.
The kittens have worms even though they were born inside. Should they be wormed by the vet immediately? Vaccination at the same visit?

They are eating dry food and drinking water from a bowl. Nursing still, but Millie frequently escapes their attentions. All are litter training.

I have adopters. I presume the kittens should leave before getting Millie spayed. Is 8-1/2 weeks too early for adoption? I need my office back.

I can keep Millie inside until she recovers from spaying. For that matter she can stay inside if that is the best for her.

Greg
 

StefanZ

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You are a marvel, doing this helping during the years! Very good also you are spaying them whenever you can trap them.  That is the trick if you want to help them.  Adopting them who can be adopted, and TNR:ing the rest.

They get round worms from the mom with her milk.  So unless the mom was properly dewormed and inside only, the kittens must be dewormed.  (they probably should anyway, to be on the safe side).

Yes, at this age they can be dewormed.  If you know exactly what dewormers to use, you can do it yourself (many OTC dewormers arent no good, some are even harmful).  The easiest and safest is to take help by your vet yes.

Most do it simultaneously with vaccinating yes.  Although it is not necessarily optimal:  some kittens take it badly to be vaccinated, being ill a couple of day.   Both vaccinating, deworming, and perhaps even spaying, may be to much.

are you on speaking terms with your vet and can phone and ask?  It would be the best.

- I do presume you DO have your favorite vet, as you use vet services time and again, and is theirs paying customer.

8½ week isnt ideal.  We would recommend being with mom and siblings a couple of weeks more, but if you cant, so you cant, and  8+  is OK.

Tx again for helping these small fellows!

Good luck!

Welcome to our Forums!

ps.  You can perhaps use your helping rescuing in promotion of your firm?   "We are those who are helping, both cats and people in their needs!"
 
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