I am getting 5 fosters today, 6 weeks old advice needed

samanthasays · Jun 17, 2015

Hello,

I am pretty active with dog rescue and fostering, but this is my first time fostering kittens. A local rescue is just overrun with it being kitten season. I am getting 5 kittens, 2 from one litter, 3 from another to foster for 6 weeks or so. They are 6 weeks old, weaned, and using the litter box. I have a large 2nd bathroom that I set up for them with beds, toys, food, water, and a litter box. I know I need to play with them and handle them and expose them to new things to socialize them. Is there anything else I should be doing? Or anything I should get before I pick them up tonight?

I have 2 small dogs, so the kitties will be in their room for at least a week before being introduced to the run of the house. I am assuming I will have to take them for their 8 week shots and possible the spay/neuters depending on how long I keep them.

I am just hoping others might have fostered and have some advice for a first time kitten foster

Thank you in advance for any help!

Sarthur2 · Jun 17, 2015

Sounds like you have everything you need! I believe the shelter will provide you with food and litter. Thank you for helping!

Most of the activity will be the kittens playing with each other. Just pick them up, hold them and love on them. It will be fun!

Come back with specific questions and pictures once you have them home!

mservant · Jun 17, 2015

Wow, this sounds like quite an adventure. Kittens are great fun but they are also a handful of mischief.

There is a really good collection of articles full of useful information on this site and many of them are geared to setting up your home ready for cats, litter tray issues, care of young kittens, and things which can be harmful or poisonous so if you are not used to having cats and kittens there are likely to be plenty of handy tips for you there. One helpful one for starting out is this one: http://www.thecatsite.com/a/making-your-home-and-garden-safe-for-your-cat

You can find many of the most regularly used articles here: http://www.thecatsite.com/atype/45/Cat_Care

I haven't fostered cats before but there are many foster people who are members here and I am sure they will be able to offer advice and and when you need it.

I hope all goes well when your kittens arrive.

checkers · Jun 18, 2015

Congratulations @Samanthasays. I'm sure you will love your foster kittens. I have just finished fostering a litter of similar age, and found it so hard parting with them. I found great help and enjoyment from this site along the journey.

From my experience, I would encourage you to:

- Provide them somewhere comfy and private (like a box on its side with a towel inside) to retreat to; I see you have beds, so that may be all you need, but initially, mine liked hiding away to sleep together when they weren't playing.

- If they have access to your toilet, please keep the lid down.

- Give them basic toys such as plastic straws, balls (such as the plastic kittens balls with bells inside them, up to about tennis-ball size), screwed up pieces of paper, and a scratching post if you can get one (shelters sometimes have them if you ask).

- Have at least two litter trays. Five kittens will very quickly have a litter tray full!

- Soak their kitten biscuits in water before feeding them. Hard biscuits are difficult for them. And beware wet food at that age. It can give some of them diarrhea.

- Keep some Bandaids and a little antiseptic cream handy, as you'll get little scratches from their play.

- Give them lots of love and handling, so they become well adjusted to human contact.

I hope this helps.

Enjoy them. And please post photos for us all to enjoy too.

samanthasays · Jun 19, 2015

Checkers said:
Here are my babies The big black one is Marshal, he is in the litter box next to Robin in the picture on the left. The top right is Marshal playing with his sister Lily. Bottom Right are Ted and Barney, Robin's brothers. They look so much alike I had to put a hair tie around Barney to keep them straight! They are all eating, sleeping, playing, and pottying. This is only day 2 and they are already running over to greet me and climbing onto my lap when I go into the room

We are going to socialize them with men, kids, and dogs. Any other advice on what to get them used to? I am going to try nail trims and files and carrying them in their crate often to get them used to those to make it easier on the new owners.

mservant · Jun 19, 2015

Awww, what a super cute crew!

With the socialization I think it is great that you are going to get them used to claw clipping as well as different 'sorts' of people. It is also worth making sure they are used to TV / radio / music and other sources of noise they might come across otherwise they can be very scared by these things. Laptops / keyboards and other IT stuff is probably another thing given how many homes have these and if they explore the keyboard or touch-pad sometimes things happen LoL.

Vaccuum cleaners is another important one, turned off as well as on: Mouse had one that lived under the bed in the room he spent his early weeks and months, and learned that it came to life sometimes and at others it wasn't, and knows vaccuums are not nasty, scary beasts to run away from.

Mirrors is something to think about. Mouse hadn't encountered one before he moved in to my home and he terrified himself the day I brought him home as he is obviously one of those cats that do see images in mirrors (my previous cats didn't). I had a mirror down at floor level and when he saw himself for the first time he must have thought I had an impish little cat here already that was about to run out at him! Mouse froze on the spot and then tanked it out of my sitting room , not to return until about 24 hours later and even then only with much encouragement and reassurance. It took him over a year to really relax around that mirror. LoL I'm sure if he'd had an encouter with himself before that day when he moved home to be with me he would have been far less stressed in his first few days and weeks here.

stewball · Jun 19, 2015

MServant said:
Awww, what a super cute crew! :heart4:

With the socialization I think it is great that you are going to get them used to claw clipping as well as different 'sorts' of people. It is also worth making sure they are used to TV / radio / music and other sources of noise they might come across otherwise they can be very scared by these things. Laptops / keyboards and other IT stuff is probably another thing given how many homes have these and if they explore the keyboard or touch-pad sometimes things happen LoL.

Vaccuum cleaners is another important one, turned off as well as on: Mouse had one that lived under the bed in the room he spent his early weeks and months, and learned that it came to life sometimes and at others it wasn't, and knows vaccuums are not nasty, scary beasts to run away from.

Mirrors is something to think about. Mouse hadn't encountered one before he moved in to my home and he terrified himself the day I brought him home as he is obviously one of those cats that do see images in mirrors (my previous cats didn't). I had a mirror down at floor level and when he saw himself for the first time he must have thought I had an impish little cat here already that was about to run out at him! Mouse froze on the spot and then tanked it out of my sitting room , not to return until about 24 hours later and even then only with much encouragement and reassurance. It took him over a year to really relax around that mirror. LoL I'm sure if he'd had an encouter with himself before that day when he moved home to be with me he would have been far less stressed in his first few days and weeks here.

Blighty tried to play with himself when he first saw himself in the mirror.

checkers · Jun 19, 2015

@Samanthasays, my heart jumped when I saw your kitty photos. They are beautiful, healthy-looking babies. You're going to love them.

This is only day 2 and they are already running over to greet me and climbing onto my lap when I go into the room ...

Any other advice on what to get them used to? I am going to try nail trims and files and carrying them in their crate often to get them used to those to make it easier on the new owners.

You've already experienced the 'climbling' onto your lap - so you'll know to be prepared for scratches from ankle to knee unless you wear leather trousers! Just be careful if you have visitors or anyone that might be susceptible to infection or have weak skin (such as the elderly) with scratches, because you'll have plenty of them. One member on this forum told me her ankles looked like a briar patch.

Be careful with the nail trims. It's so important they be trimmed properly at the right level - if you go too far it can be very painful for them and do damage. Just take off the very tip and check on this site for advice on trimming. Nail clippers are available that have a protective barrier on them to avoid clipping too far. And they squirm and wriggle the whole time so you have to be so careful.

I'd also discourage them from climbing up curtains or furniture. They tend to use them as play things and scratching posts, but not all future owners will appreciate that cute behaviour. One way I was advised to discipline them was to say a firm 'no', tap them lightly on the nose, and remove them from the offending position. For example, as soon as mine were able to jump, they'd jump on the kitchen chair then straight up on the kitchen table, which is not allowed at our place. So while they were on the table, I would say 'no' loudly, with a point of the finger and a tap on the nose, then put them gently on the floor. They'd then prance off to do something else. They got the message - not 100% of the time, but it did have an effect. It didn't frighten them, but showed them the consequences of their action.

As @MServant said, mirrors are a good one to get them used to. Mine enjoyed their reflection, and I think each of them thought it was another cat and looked behind the mirror until they got the hang of it. They were very comfortable with mirrors in no time.

If you give them milk (and it's not necessary, but most love it) make sure it's lactose-free milk or it will not upset their stomach.

I'd also get them used to having a brush with something soft like a kitten or child's hair brush. (I used a little nail brush.) When they're adults they may need a brush in summer time to keep fur balls from forming when they're grooming themselves, so introducing it now may be helpful. All my kittens loved it, so it wasn't a problem. They also loved playing with the brush!

When you introduce them to the dogs, I'd highly recommend you have someone hold each of the kittens so they feel safe, and someone be ready to hold the dogs should they get a bit enthusiastic about the meeting. Check advice on introducing kittens to dogs on this site, and elsewhere.

You'd probably be aware they should be kept totally indoors for the period of the foster.

If I think of anything else, I'll come back and mention it.

Very much looking forward to more photos of your beautiful kittens as they progress. Three of them look SO much like mine from behind, it was like seeing them again.

Have fun!

samanthasays · Jun 20, 2015

MServant said:
Awww, what a super cute crew! :heart4:

With the socialization I think it is great that you are going to get them used to claw clipping as well as different 'sorts' of people. It is also worth making sure they are used to TV / radio / music and other sources of noise they might come across otherwise they can be very scared by these things. Laptops / keyboards and other IT stuff is probably another thing given how many homes have these and if they explore the keyboard or touch-pad sometimes things happen LoL.

Vaccuum cleaners is another important one, turned off as well as on: Mouse had one that lived under the bed in the room he spent his early weeks and months, and learned that it came to life sometimes and at others it wasn't, and knows vaccuums are not nasty, scary beasts to run away from.

Mirrors is something to think about. Mouse hadn't encountered one before he moved in to my home and he terrified himself the day I brought him home as he is obviously one of those cats that do see images in mirrors (my previous cats didn't). I had a mirror down at floor level and when he saw himself for the first time he must have thought I had an impish little cat here already that was about to run out at him! Mouse froze on the spot and then tanked it out of my sitting room , not to return until about 24 hours later and even then only with much encouragement and reassurance. It took him over a year to really relax around that mirror. LoL I'm sure if he'd had an encouter with himself before that day when he moved home to be with me he would have been far less stressed in his first few days and weeks here.

Thank you so much for the advice! I bought one of those mirrors people hang in the car for babies at a second hand baby gear store last night after reading your comment. The kitties love it! It's their new favorite toy

I can see how it would freak them out later in life though. And I have started playing music on my phone and putting it in the ground so they can explore it.

I do have a couple more questions. They are starting to climb up my legs to get to my lap. I wear jeans, so I am fine with it. But is this a habit I should try to break them of or is it just kitten behavior?

Also, my little runt has matted hair on her face. Should I leave it or try to get it off? I don't think I can comb it out, the whole thing will have to be cut off.

image.jpg

samanthasays
Jun 20, 2015

checkers · Jun 20, 2015

They are starting to climb up my legs to get to my lap. I wear jeans, so I am fine with it. But is this a habit I should try to break them of or is it just kitten behavior?

Ah, @Samanthasays, your kittens have started leg climbing (as I mentioned in my earlier post). I did try to discourage it in my litter, just by quickly picking them off and putting them on my lap or back on the floor, but if it doesn't worry you, in my limited experience they do stop when they're big enough to jump. In a couple of weeks, they'll probably be able to jump from the floor up to your lap, and there'll be no need for them to climb. But if they tried that on someone else in the house who didn't have jeans or thick long pants on, it would hurt!

As for the matted fur on the smallest kitten's face, can you damp-sponge it clean? As for cutting the fur, I'd prefer someone else advise on this but I imagine on the kitten's face you'd need to be very careful and have another person hold the kitten's head very still. You'd have to be so careful you didn't cut the whiskers.

I guess that's the runt in the photo? She is gorgeous. And look at those claws. I just showed my elderly mother the photo and pointed out the claws, and I think she had a dose of post-traumatic stress!

samanthasays · Jun 20, 2015

Checkers said:
Ah, @Samanthasays
, your kittens have started leg climbing (as I mentioned in my earlier post). I did try to discourage it in my litter, just by quickly picking them off and putting them on my lap or back on the floor, but if it doesn't worry you, in my limited experience they do stop when they're big enough to jump. In a couple of weeks, they'll probably be able to jump from the floor up to your lap, and there'll be no need for them to climb. But if they tried that on someone else in the house who didn't have jeans or thick long pants on, it would hurt!

As for the matted fur on the smallest kitten's face, can you damp-sponge it clean? As for cutting the fur, I'd prefer someone else advise on this but I imagine on the kitten's face you'd need to be very careful and have another person hold the kitten's head very still. You'd have to be so careful you didn't cut the whiskers.

I guess that's the runt in the photo? She is gorgeous. And look at those claws. I just showed my elderly mother the photo and pointed out the claws, and I think she had a dose of post-traumatic stress! :lol3:

Thank you

I will try a little sponge on her. She is already getting bigger and this is only her 3rd day with us! She is such a sweetie. I was worried about her because the bigger ones are so rough, but one of the boys protects her. He is the biggest and will intervene if anyone else makes her scream. It is the cutest thing I have ever seen!

As for the climbing I will wear jeans until they outgrow it. I figure it's good for their little muscles to climb. We did get them a little cat tree that they are loving

checkers · Jun 20, 2015

I was worried about her because the bigger ones are so rough, but one of the boys protects her. He is the biggest and will intervene if anyone else makes her scream. It is the cutest thing I have ever seen!

I experienced the same with my female in the litter being picked on by the males - just in play that was too rough. I used to intervene. But how amazing that the bigger male intervenes with your kittens.

It sounds like these kittens are getting five-star treatment.

mservant · Jun 20, 2015

Sounds like a fun crew you have there! The leg climbing phase is vicious! I remember it well from a time I did some 'kitten sitting' for a friend and often wore leggins.... the fur mom chose the main bathroom for the kit's nest and I just remembered how painful and hazardous my sessions standing at the sink brushing my teeth were with 4 sets of razor claws attempting an ascent.

I agree, some damp cloth treatment would be much safer, and probably easier than clipping or cutting out the matted fur. If it doesn't come away first time round keep cleaning the area washing with the cloth in the natural direction of the fur a few times. If you don't have success maybe the place you are fosering for could help?

With the mirror, as they get a bit bigger try to let them play around a mirror which is big enough (and very stable) that they can see their whole self in so they get used to what it looks like when they catch sight of the mirror image moving as well as getting used to seeing them self if they are cats that recognise mirror images.

samanthasays · Jun 21, 2015

I have some bad news about my littlest charge. The runt, Robin, had watery, clear diarrhea yesterday. The rescue brought me medicine for it, but it didn't help. She had 5+ episodes in 24 hours and wouldn't eat. We fed her from a syringe, but we brought her in to the vet and they want to keep her overnight. I feel so bad for her

and I felt guilty, but they assured me there was nothing we could have done differently and sometimes kittens get sick, especially right after being weaned.

I do have a question about another one. My boy Ted is favoring his left front paw. He tries not to put weight on it, but will climb with it. It happened last night when they were alone, so I am not sure how. But they play so crazy. I felt it up and down and made his claws come out one by one, he didn't make a peep or pull away. It also has full range of mobility. So I am thinking he just landed wrong. Would you wait a few days and monitor or take him in for an x-Ray? I let the rescue know and they were not concerned, but this is my first litter and after poor Robin getting sick I am being a worry wart.

Kittens are just so tiny and fragile. Can I bubble wrap them?

StefanZ · Jun 21, 2015

Samanthasays said:
I have some bad news about my littlest charge. The runt, Robin, had watery, clear diarrhea yesterday. The rescue brought me medicine for it, but it didn't help. She had 5+ episodes in 24 hours and wouldn't eat. We fed her from a syringe, but we brought her in to the vet and they want to keep her overnight. I feel so bad for her

and I felt guilty, but they assured me there was nothing we could have done differently and sometimes kittens get sick, especially right after being weaned.

I do have a question about another one. My boy Ted is favoring his left front paw. He tries not to put weight on it, but will climb with it. It happened last night when they were alone, so I am not sure how. But they play so crazy. I felt it up and down and made his claws come out one by one, he didn't make a peep or pull away. It also has full range of mobility. So I am thinking he just landed wrong. Would you wait a few days and monitor or take him in for an x-Ray? I let the rescue know and they were not concerned, but this is my first litter and after poor Robin getting sick I am being a worry wart.

Kittens are just so tiny and fragile. Can I bubble wrap them?

I hope and think you can wait and see with that limping one, especielly as it doesnt seems dramatic.

If you get more with hefty diarrhea, prepare some homemade pedialyte (or bought pedialyte).

My favorite at this moment is a bottle of a good minerale water, containing different salts, and added glucose sugar, as base...

If you cant find glucose sugar powder in the shops around, you can use white caro syrup or even honey....

A similiar, rather basic home made pedialyte was the main weapon against the great man killer cholera. Reducing the death rate from 80% to perhaps 10%.

Sarthur2 · Jun 21, 2015

I agree with Stefan. You can probably give it a couple of days to see if it gets better. Good you are being so vigilant with your fosters!

mservant · Jun 21, 2015

Hard having a sick kitten at the vet but you are giving little Robin and all the others their best chance in life.

If you could wrap them in bubble wrap I'd send a hige pile right over

and I bet everyone else here would too.

Kittens explore and get in to trouble all the time: they have a mass of things to learn in just a matter of weeks so they can survive on their own and feed themselves iif they need to. Even discounting all the stupid things Mouse did in the 4 months he spent with his fur mom, my vet reckoned he'd used up all but one of his 9 lives before he was a year old. There is a good chance your little one has strained a muscle or something but if still avoiding putting weight down by the time you talk to the vet about Robin try to remember to ask them about Ted as well. If it is something more significant like a break you want to catch it quickly as the bones are soft and growing very quickly.

I second sarthur2 - good for you being so vigilant and noticing things. I hope things settle soon so you can enjoy watching their antics.

samanthasays · Jun 21, 2015

@stefanz thank you so much for the pedialyte recipe, my dogs get a raw food diet, so it is weird for me to feed the kitties commercial food with all those chemicals. If I can make it myself I always prefer to

I eat like crap, but my animals get the best diet possible ha ha! I have some nice solid scoops in their litter box, but a few are having mild tummy trouble. I just started mixing in pumpkin purée at the rescues recommendation. Hopefully that helps firm everyone up.

Thank you @sarthur2 and @mservant, I think Ted is just not wanting to extend his paw in the position it needs to be in to walk. I have been handling it every so often throughout the day. I go in their room every hour for a check up and to scoop their litter and Ted is always the first to greet me and hop in my lap. He is still climbing, which I think is good

It's hard not to worry about poor Robin, but I know she will get the best care at the vet. As much as I love her I don't have the tools to give her all that they can.

I REALLY appreciate everyone taking the time to respond to my questions, this is my first experience with cats and I feel like I have so much to learn. I want to be able to foster going forward, I know kitten season really taxes the rescues and any extra fosters help. I am sure I will always remember my first babies

samanthasays · Jun 21, 2015

image.jpg

samanthasays
Jun 21, 2015

This is my Ted

he was actually the least social when we got them 4 short days ago. Now he loves being a lap kitty. You can see how it is no problem for me to examine his leg, he is like a rag doll.

Sarthur2 · Jun 21, 2015

He sure does look happy!

I am getting 5 fosters today, 6 weeks old *advice needed*

TCS Member

Thread starter

Cat lady extraordinaire

The Mouse servant

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

The Mouse servant

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

The Mouse servant

TCS Member

Thread starter

Advisor

Cat lady extraordinaire

The Mouse servant

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

Thread starter

Cat lady extraordinaire

I am getting 5 fosters today, 6 weeks old advice needed