started fostering with a TNR group - some issues and questions

Hi, Please bear with me this is going to be long.

My town started a TNR group recently and were looking for fosters.. I said I would be willing to foster.. So far it has been kind of a disaster and I have a few questions.

The first is about trapping Mom's and kittens.  They put out some traps (i dont know if it was 1 or more than one) and caught a grey female kitten. That was all they caught so they took it, brought it to the vet the next day, she was spayed, and brought to my house.  They caught the mom later in the week, but there was still another kitten, which after they trapped mom, no one has seen.  They released mom 3-4 days later, still havent seen the kitten. So...

**Question #1** Is there an order to trapping, should they have waited until they had both kittens before removing any? Should they have waited until they had both kittens and mom.  The kittens are 9 weeks so they can be separated from Mom, but I cant help but think that by removing mom before both kittens were trapped the chances of finding the other kitten are slim (the litter originally had 4 kittens, racoons took and killed two).

A similar thing happened with the other kittens I have (I have three right now). They trapped the mom first, the one kitten the next day and then they didnt see the other kitten until 3 days later when they returned mom.  The kitten was friendly and someone was able to just pick him up.  So now..

**Question #2** Is it ok to mix the kittens from different litters? One is 9 weeks, the other 2 are 11 weeks.

With the first kitten I got, they trapped her, brought her to the vet the next day, she was spayed and given her rabies and distemper shots and brought to me.  She wasn't tested for worms. She wasnt tested for FeLV or FIV. She wasn't treated for worms. My questions here..

**Question #3** Should they have tried to get a sample and tested it and if it was positive should she have been dewormed? Should she have just been dewormed anyway? If she wasn't dewormed, a sample should have been taken and tested to be sure, rather than them just saying "She looked ok"?

**Question #4** Besides the rabies and distemper, are there other shots they need?"

*Question #5** I Was told that after the one vet visit and the rabies and distemper, she is good until she is a year old, is that the case?

*Question #6** Should they have been tested for FIV and FeLV? I Know that FIV isnt necessarily accurate at 8 weeks or whaetever, that if its positive it means the mom is positive and the kitten should be retested in 6 months.. should it just be done at 6 months for FIV? and should FeLV be done asap or wait until 6 months?"

And along with this, what about mom?

**Question #7** They are trapping and fixing the adult cats but should they also be getting tested for FIV and FeLV? Should they be getting vaccinated? Dewormed?

They gave me the other two kittens without every bringing them to the vet.. I was told that they weren't getting fixed right away, this was because the vet ear tipped the first kitten when she got spayed (the vet does a lot of not for profit stuff and they charge one price for ferals that is cheaper but includes ear tipping, and for cats being adopted out its about $35 more but they don't ear tip) and when talking about spaying the other two I said I didnt think they should be ear tipped so they were going to wait, there was some talk of giving them to another rescue group and they would handle everything, but I was still going to be fostering them in the mean time.  When they got the first kitten from that litter, she gave her to me without going to the vet, I know its my own fault, i should have insisted, but she said well she looks fine.. She needed to see the vet, right? Not just for the worm thing, right?  Because now when I got the 2nd one, who also hadn't seen the vet, he threw up a few times when he got here, and later threw up some worms, they look like roundworm, so now I'm insisting she bring them both to the vet..so my last questions..

**Question #7.5** (I just thought of this after I typed it all) Obviously, a kitten being adopted out shouldnt be ear tipped right? And should I ask them to also have the cat microchipped at that visit? Is one vet visit enough before adoption if theyre getting dewormed, their initial shots and fixed, and tested for FIV/FeLV if appropriate age? (Obviously this is if they are old enough for all of this)

**Question #8** If one has worms, all of them need to be treated right?

**Question #9** I have samples of each of their poop, should I Have all three tested?

** Question #10** The kittens are in a room separate from my other cats, do I need to treat my cats? Do I need to change my clothes before I go near my cats if I've picked one of the kittens up? I'm started to stress about this and worry..

THANK YOU for reading if you have read everything. I have so many questions and I'm so frustrated with the people who started this group.. I think they rushed into this wanting to help but don't know what they are doing exactly yet..

I usually try to trap everyone but know it is almost always impossible.  Often, we have to make due with trapping whoever we can.  I don't think the order matters - and you really can't control who goes into the trap.

Until they are all vet checked, I wouldn't mix the litters.

It would have been better for her to be tested for worms and dewormed if needed.  If you can do that, please do so.  If they have worms, they'll need it sooner or later.  If they don't, one less thing to worry about.

Rabies and distemper are the basic shots.  Most of the colony keepers here give the cat their shots only one time - they're never able to catch the cat again to give boosters.  If the cat is going to be adopted, her new people will take care of any follow-up.  If she is being returned to the colony, this may be the only shot she gets and that is better than nothing.

Unless there is an indication that there is FELV or FIV present, most feral cats are not tested for it, especially if they go back to their colony.  Some colony keepers I know test all the cats they trap and euthanize those who have FELV or FIV. Their reasoning is that feral life is tough enough without dealing with disease.  But I also know a colony caretaker who had half a dozen FIV positive cats, so it is an individual decision.

If the kittens are to be adopted, testing at the appropriate age should be done.

I would not have ear tipped a young kitten, especially if he or she was to be adopted.  They may have been confused as to whether this particular kitten was being returned to the colony.  Hopefully, her adopters will understand and love her anyway!

I would keep the kittens separate from your cats and wash your hands carefully after handling the kittens.  Changing clothes isn't necessary but wouldn't hurt.

You may want to confirm that the kittens you foster are being adopted.  They will need tests and shots beyond what are normally given to those cats being returned to their colonies.

Thank you so much for taking on this challenge.,  The people you are helping seem enthusiastic and on a big learning curve but the cats will be so much better off now.

Thank you for your answers! The ones I'm fostering are definitly going to be adopted out.. The two that are not spayed/neutered are going tuesday to get their shots, be fixed, and get dewormed. The vet will give another dose for the other kitten that I have here. They are going to pay the extra money to make sure these two don't end up with their ears tipped.  The one who had it done is cute enough I think she will be ok and get adopted.  Thanks again!

Oh, good - once the wormers are done and the vet gives the all clear for infections, you should be able to introduce the kittens to one another.

Kudos to you for fostering them all.  Its hard work but so rewarding!