Can I put stray kitten with my momcat

Need advice on fostering. Brought home a baby tonight from the same house where we rescued Snickers. Mama cat is confirmed dead with 2 known kittens. They look to be about the same age as my babies (will be 4 weeks on Monday). A neighbor took one kitten. The homeowner asked if I would take the other because she can't afford to feed it and doesn't want it to starve. The neighbor brought her a (human) baby bottle and some 2%cows milk that she was trying to give it. The poor thing was insanely ravenous and just skin and bones. I brought the baby home and am hoping Snickers will adopt her and raise her along with her 3 babies. The difference in them is shocking! My babies are so fat and healthy with soft silky coats. They are so fat their legs can barely keep their bellies off the ground. This poor baby is so scrawny and hungry she is searching for food anywhere she can find it and just cries and cries. I picked up some kitten milk replacer on the way home. But I think mothers milk would be best.

My questions/concerns:
1. Will I introduce disease to my babies?
2. How do I introduce to Snickers and the litter? We already had a smell session which resulted in some hissing and growling.
3. Is there any reason I should NOT try to introduce the baby to the litter?
4. What else do I need to be thinking about?

On 1 and 3 - this is the problem - you must be reasonably sure the kittens doesnt carry contagion...  So it depends on much, what the mom died off.  And if the kittens otherwise being emaciated by hunger, looks healthy, no running noses or eyes...  And such.

Quite a few rescuers do choose to handraise themselves, even if they do have a friendly cat - just because of the reason.

If your mom cat is ex stray, or at least, healthy cat who is used to go outside - your security is somewhat better, she should have a stronger immune system then a pure inside cat.

Mom cats most often do accepth an orphan, without big fuss.  Some smell activities, where you try to get the smell from your resident kittens to the newbe, or such, is good and proper to be on the safe side...

But the contagion risk you must calculate, and take the decision yourself...

Perhaps let a vet help you by a vet check up??

continuing.

HOW old are they??  What do you think?

Re the food your neigbours gave is really the worse possible...  It may be better than nothing with a little luck, but NOT good. 

If  they really want with lotsa of Gods help to try cow milk, so it must be full fat milk.  At least 3%, 4% if they can get it.   Preferably alos low lactose, and full fat...

kmr milk, where the brand KMR  (kitten mother replacement milk)  is what they shall use.

There are several brands, I have heard warnings about Hartz brand in the USA, some brand in theGB, otherwise most should be OK.

Goat milk, if they can get it, is also OK.  Preferably fresh from the goat, but bottled is OK.

Keep reporting!  @MomSnickers

Good luck!

ps.  Sorry I didnt saw your post earlier, although I was patrolling here a couple times earleier during the day...

A good link for ideas is  www.kitten-rescue.com

If you google or search here on our forum, the terms is handraising, handrearing, kittens...

I definitely will keep and raise the baby. It looks healthy, just hungry. Eyes are clear, good energy level, playful. Has perked right up with some KMR milk. After watching. I'm thinking this baby is a week or 2 older than mine. It can urinate on its own without being stimulated. Seems stronger on its legs-not so wobbly. Haven't seen it poop though but I've had it less than 24 hours.

My mama cat was a complete stray. From the same yard/ house/family that asked me to take this baby. She still goes outside daily. Or did until the end of her pregnacy. Now she prefers to stay inside. I'm guessing she's got a pretty good immune system or at least she's been exposed to a lot.

On the vet topic... When is it time to take the litter to the vet for their checkup? They are almost 4 weeks old.

OK, so if mom accepts him, it should OK to go forward and let her adopt him.  If you so wish.  Otherwise you can probably proceed yourself, the most difficult part is already over.

Re the vet, best to phone your vet and ask. They have different routines, in part depending on which vaccine and dewormer they do prefer to use. -  As they shall be dewormed...  A guess may be, he will recommend you a first dewormer to buy yourself and use now or at 6 weeks, and he will to see them at 8-9 to vaccine and next deworming, and spay and perhaps second vaccine in another week...

Depends on, so phone, discuss and make arrangements.

The real vet check up of normal, healthy kittens is usually done immediately before sending them to their new homes. (and also of course, immediately before the spaying) so you are sure they are healthy, and the adopter too.  And also, if the adopter wish to have insurance on them, they must have a clear health declaration from the vet.

this is at least with purebred so, I supect most owners of moggies do a light version of this.  

I was talking earlier about this new be if you would dare to let hem nurse on your mom, taking help of a vet check up asap.

But as you tell, he seems to be healthy.    And with moms (and thus siblings) good immune system,  its just to go forward.  You probably dont need any vet check up at thjis moment, unless you want to play it exactly by the book.

Re deworming, here too, best you get advice from your vet.  You can surely get in on phone when you discuss the planes.