Hello!
I'm new here
I have 15 year old and 1 year old male cats. We lost our 16 year old big guy last October and the one year old found his way into our home (one of my kids teachers took a traveling job and needed to rehome her 4 mos old kitten).
The 1 year old cat alerted us to something on our deck two weeks ago- it was a kitten. When I went outside to look I saw Mama run from under our deck. We had seen her, a feral, on and off in our yard over the past two years. As I returned to the location of the kitten with food, two more appeared. I reached out to a local rescue for help and they got me a trap the next day. I was able to get Mama and all 3 babies. The rescue advised TNR for Mama, and set me up to take her to a rescue shelter/clinic for spay/rabies for free and I added distemper and Frontline out of my pocket to give her the best chances I could. After recovery I released her back into the woods behind my house and have been putting out food/water. Have seen her back a few times.
It only took 2 days before the babies were comfortable with me. A volunteer from the rescue came over and identified them as about 8-9 weeks- 2 girls and a boy. She gave them their first deworming and a few days later got them 1st distemper. The plan was to foster and keep one- BUT we have fallen completely head over heels in love with all three!! My tweens and I have worked with them non stop and have some very loving babies on our hands. The rescue got an appointment for one spay at a low cost clinic, so I took in one girl and she combo tested neg, and was spayed. They just called me and have two additional appointments tomorrow so I can take the other two. The rescue suggested that it's my call as to if I want pay for combo testing of the remaining two and suggested since one from the litter is negative, they were not in a colony or likely around other cats - I really don't need to pay for that now. Even with the reduced rate clinic, spay/neuter, distemper and then rabies for all three is adding up!
I've been looking for advise on if skipping this testing is indeed advisable. All three babies have been interacting with my two resident cats for a week. The 15 year old guy could care less- the one year old is thrilled to have playmates who also are very fond of him!
Advise?
I'm new here
I have 15 year old and 1 year old male cats. We lost our 16 year old big guy last October and the one year old found his way into our home (one of my kids teachers took a traveling job and needed to rehome her 4 mos old kitten).The 1 year old cat alerted us to something on our deck two weeks ago- it was a kitten. When I went outside to look I saw Mama run from under our deck. We had seen her, a feral, on and off in our yard over the past two years. As I returned to the location of the kitten with food, two more appeared. I reached out to a local rescue for help and they got me a trap the next day. I was able to get Mama and all 3 babies. The rescue advised TNR for Mama, and set me up to take her to a rescue shelter/clinic for spay/rabies for free and I added distemper and Frontline out of my pocket to give her the best chances I could. After recovery I released her back into the woods behind my house and have been putting out food/water. Have seen her back a few times.
It only took 2 days before the babies were comfortable with me. A volunteer from the rescue came over and identified them as about 8-9 weeks- 2 girls and a boy. She gave them their first deworming and a few days later got them 1st distemper. The plan was to foster and keep one- BUT we have fallen completely head over heels in love with all three!! My tweens and I have worked with them non stop and have some very loving babies on our hands. The rescue got an appointment for one spay at a low cost clinic, so I took in one girl and she combo tested neg, and was spayed. They just called me and have two additional appointments tomorrow so I can take the other two. The rescue suggested that it's my call as to if I want pay for combo testing of the remaining two and suggested since one from the litter is negative, they were not in a colony or likely around other cats - I really don't need to pay for that now. Even with the reduced rate clinic, spay/neuter, distemper and then rabies for all three is adding up!
I've been looking for advise on if skipping this testing is indeed advisable. All three babies have been interacting with my two resident cats for a week. The 15 year old guy could care less- the one year old is thrilled to have playmates who also are very fond of him!
Advise?
