Kittens coughing

Hi all,

I'm still new to caring for animals, and I don't know if I should be worried or if it is nothing.

I have 5 kittens and the mom of 4 of them.

The fifth kitten is the youngest (about 10 weeks old) and she has been coughing a few times a day for about a week now. Such an episode usually lasts about a minute, sometimes a bit longer. It's really sad to see her when it happens, and the other kittens try to comfort her then.

Now since today, one of the other kittens (he is about 5 months old) started coughing too...

I called the vet and I have an appointment for Tuesday.

Do you guys think I should worry? Is this something contagious? Are the others gonna get it too?

Another thing I'm worrying about is how I'm gonna get those two to the vet: they are all ferals that I've taken in, and although they live with me, these two in particular are still very wary, I can't pick them up and I sure can't pet them... So I'm wondering how I'm gonna get them in the cat carriers without having to chase them all around the house, making a big mess or ending up all scratched up...

ladonnafe said:

 
Hi all,

I'm still new to caring for animals, and I don't know if I should be worried or if it is nothing.

Click to expand...

Hi

Great that you have rescued them!

First your kittens are sick and yes its contagious and given their age this could be serious but with treatment they should be fine.  It sounds like a URI, but normally cats with URI's sneeze and have mucous discharge from the nose and eyes, but coughing indicates lung involvement and that could be serious.  They need antibiotics and supportive care.

As to the feral issue, short answer is toss a towel over the ones you can't handle and scoop them up like a burrito and kitten and towel into carrier, then extract the towel.  Having said that, you need to start socializing them while there is time.  I have a friend (in this link) who rescues ferals all the time and his technique is unmatched. 

See the guide and follow these steps, it works.  http://urbancatleague.org/TamingFerals and videos at http://www.urbancatleague.org/TamingVideo

Good luck!