When it rains, it pours!

Right now I have two pregnant foster cats (they each have their own thread). I have had one for 5 weeks and one for almost two weeks, but I believe them both to be due any day at this point. The rescue that I work with called me today wondering if either mom had delivered yet because one of the ladies was handed a litter of 2-day-old orphaned kittens. I am the only one who will have a nursing mom with similar age kittens, so they were hoping one of my girls might take the orphans. For the moment they are being bottle fed by another foster, but we all know a mommy would be their best shot.

My question is: how many kittens can a cat legitimately handle? One of my girls (Rachel) looks like she will have her hands full enough, and the other (Amelia) is barely more than a kitten herself, but will probably only have 1 or 2 babies of her own because she's quite small. The litter of orphans has 5 kittens.

Also, how long would it be before they wouldn't be able to take extra babies anymore? If one didn't deliver for another week would the age difference then be too much? What about disease? These orphan kittena were found outdoors, so could they spread parasites or FIV or something to my current fosters?

This is my first year fostering during kitten season, and it looks to be nonstop already! I hope my inexperience doesn't work against me....and I am getting introduced to every situation at once! I guess I will at least be more than ready for next year! I am just so glad I have this forum to turn to!

I don't know probably between 6 and 8 to be on the safe side, she would also have to produce enough milk for all of them so you might have to help her by feeding them yourself.

I agree that it is can be difficult for one momma to take care of more than 6 kittens with, especially without assistance. I'd honestly be hesitant to put a litter of 5 kittens with a newbie, though. Really depends on how well she catches on with her own kittens.

As for diseases...
It is certainly possible for the orphans to pass something along to momma and/or the other kittens. Parasites and Leukemia would be the top concerns. So, definitely have to weigh the pros/cons and decide what is best.

If you do choose to take on the orphans as well, I would expect there to have to be supplemental feeding, so be aware of this.

You also need to decide how much YOU can handle. 2 mommas plus 6-10 kittens can certainly keep you busy enough. Not sure how experienced you are with the process? And, it's possible you may have to do supplemental feeding with a few of the kittens coming (always good to be prepared, just in case!)

Thanks for the input! Right now the rescue is still trying to track down another nursing mom, and bottle feeding in the meantime. I don't want to overtax my mama cats or myself, and I definitely don't want anyone to get sick. However, I feel like I can't just dismiss the poor little orphan kittens if I'm their best shot at thriving. I have the two mamas because, as a foster, I have the resources and free time to care for them more than a lot of the other fosters. Plus, there aren't terribly many of us, and there's a lot of homeless and infirm animals. I don't want to take on MORE than I can handle, but I will definitely take AS MUCH as I can handle.

I agree with both posters above.  There are quite  a lot of warning signals here in this situation, not least this, we dont want YOU burned out.

However big the need is, you still cant save them all, especielly  if your batteryes get emptied up.

Some remarks.  Re the danger for contagion, which is there yes.  Many a rescuers prefer in this situation to self bottle feed the small refugeers, even if they do have a perfectly willing foster cat.  Female or male.   And yes, a mom will usually adopt fosters. 

-  They dont want to take risks, with a litter of unknown background and history, not being reasonably sure they are healthy.   Who know what the mom perished from?  And there were perhaps also other litter mates whom perished earlier??

But.   As your moms arent  innocent indoors only family girls, but they themselves are ex-homeless, survivors made of tough weed, the risks of contagion are substantially lower than for home girls.  Their immune system is well above average.  It must be, otherwise they wouldn never become adult homeless.

Re the excessive work burden, which may become a reality:  Let me retell a true story.

Our paper for Russian blue had recently a big pic of 13 adorable russian blue kittens.  Stunning, especielly as russian blue usually dont have very big litters.

The story?  The breeder got two litters almost simultaneously from both her queens.  One of the stunning number 8, the other of the respectable 5.

But horror struck, the 8` momma died at the birth.   So the 5´momma got herself all 13 to nurse and take care of.

The owner of course did tried to help her.

But it become anyway too much for poor momma of 13 hungry kittens whom eliminated etc...   She got sick.

And now our owner had 13 small kittens, and a sick momma to take care of.     And no real good kmr nor goat mik at hand, she did some sort of kitten gloap, which apparently worked,

as two months later  she could get that pic on 13 adorable, healthy kittens.   And the surviving momma was back in life and well, she too....

Think it over, and make your decision.

I wish you and your protegées  Good luck!

Thank you so much for your response, it's so helpful to get some perspective! I never realized that trying to help save these poor animals would be like trying to swim upstream in an endless river. No matter how many I can help with, there will always be more. We actually had to turn away a litter of kittens a little over a week ago, as well. I think I'm still in shock because I grew up in a very sheltered environment where I had no idea these problems even existed. All I knew of homeless pets was from watching Lady and the Tramp and The Aristocats. To this day, I have still only ever even seen a stray animal outdoors one time at a gas station. Only now I know they are out there, and in heartbreakingly large numbers.

I see the other people that work with this rescue burning the candle at both ends...working fostering, rehab, adoption events, running the TNR program, and still it doesn't end. Even if I could save those babies, there would be another litter right behind them that I couldn't take.

In the end, I suppose it's better to take excellent care of the moms and their own babies than to put everyone at a disadvantage by adding so many more. Hopefully the other foster can continue to bottle feed the babies and they will end up ok. I just wish it could be easier. [emoji]128546[/emoji]

I just talked to the foster who is watching the orphan kittens. She said that three of them died yesterday, and now the remaining two also don't want to eat. She has hand reared kittens before, so we don't know what could be wrong. While I no longer have to worry about taking in extra kittens, I still feel so sad that this litter didnt thrive. [emoji]128546[/emoji]

ishtar163 said:

I just talked to the foster who is watching the orphan kittens. She said that three of them died yesterday, and now the remaining two also don't want to eat. She has hand reared kittens before, so we don't know what could be wrong. While I no longer have to worry about taking in extra kittens, I still feel so sad that this litter didnt thrive. [emoji]128546[/emoji]

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Yes, also, they probably had something in them.  I guess virus or bacteria.

So it was almost surely lucky you didnt took them to  you.  Even if your ex homeless moms have immunity above average, but your kittens arent yet there...

The Passover happened yet again, exactly as it did that time for 3000 years ago in the old Egypt.  the Angel of Death passed next to your doors, but  didnt step in...   Praise Lord, again.

Pity about these whom died or are dying, but there isnt really anything to do.  They got at least a merciful death in a warm comfortable home, not outside in some chilled out hole.

These whose fate is to dy, they must die.  Lets hope the other continue to live and thrive.

I wanted to give a final update on this thread. Sadly, every one of the orphan kittens passed away as of Wednesday. It was quite devastating, especially for the foster who was trying so hard to save them. You are very right about being thankful that they were able to have a merciful death. That I am, as well as thankful that they did not come in and make my mom cat or babies sick. I only hope they did not suffer.

ishtar163 said:

I wanted to give a final update on this thread. Sadly, every one of the orphan kittens passed away as of Wednesday. It was quite devastating, especially for the foster who was trying so hard to save them. You are very right about being thankful that they were able to have a merciful death. That I am, as well as thankful that they did not come in and make my mom cat or babies sick. I only hope they did not suffer.

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Tx for this update!   Yes, I too feel with this other rescuer who did her best, here in wain.   But after all, Mother St. Theresa achieved her sainthood not by saving them to life, but by making their death less miserable.   So every true effort , every act of true love counts,  whatever the outcome.   Even if its much more satysfying and fun if the protegée do make it, and thrive.

I think your collegue shall clean thoroughly that room and all gears used.  Sterilize them as best she can.  Take some days off to recharge her batteries...  And try to help next one.  Now being even more knowleable and experienced in the care of small orphans.

Im sending her warm hugs, wishing her Good  Luck, and also sending RIP to these little 5.

And I will proceed to follow you Ishtar in your two threads about your protegées.

ps.

I will ask a mod to close now this thread.   As we usually do when the cat in question has  deceased.   Even if it wasnt your personal loss, its still the proper to do.

    RIP Little Ones