Fostering 3 kittens born in my yard

These kittens are about 10 weeks old.  Mom brought them to my yard early May when they were about 2 weeks old.  With the help of my friend who runs a rescue, I trapped Mom, Dad and 3 of 4 kittens 2 weeks ago and we got them fixed.  Mom and Dad were released back in my yard and I am feeding her and the little straggler and Dad shows up later and eats sometimes. I still plan to catch the 4th baby and get him or her fixed, hopefully soon.

The other 3 had respiratory infections, so my friend kept them for 10 days and treated them with antibiotics.  Sunday I picked them up and I'm fostering them in my guest room.  They are in a crate for now, until I get the large cat tree/condo on Thursday.  They are 2 females and a male. 

I've been working with them, sitting outside the crate and playing with them, getting them to eat food off my fingers and petting them when they are distracted. The one male is a total sweetheart. I picked him him and was able to cuddle him and he purrs up a storm.  The other girl, the runt, who looks just like her mom, is a little more shy.  I have picked her up but have to scruff her to keep her calm and she doesn't tolerate it for long.  

The other girl, a bright orange who looks like a little bobcat, is very feral.  She will not let me touch her without hissing, and will rarely make eye contact.  I'm considering letting her back out with Mom, but it's 110 degrees and she's been inside in the air conditioning for 2 weeks.  I would so love to find her a home as a barn cat somewhere cooler!  Or wait until it cools down in October, but then letting her out with no "training" from mom all these months seems like a death sentence with coyotes right behind my back wall. 

The little girl Minnie (Mini-Me because she looks just like her mom)  has been trying to nurse on her sister especially after I pick her up and it stresses her out. Do you think it would be a good thing to give her a bottle with KMR when I cuddle her?  Weird question I know, but it seems to soothe her.  Is there some kind of cat pacifier that she could suck on?  

I was not a cat person until 4 years ago when I adopted my foster fail Ninja, a senior, then last year I adopted Dutchess, a young adult girl, so I have little to no experience with kittens.  

The girls on the left.  Orange girl, Minnie and Dusty on the right checking out the ceiling fan. 


Dusty, the male.  I am sensing a foster fail here.  he is a love. 


My furkids, Dutchess and Ninja.

If she enjoys the bottle you can give it. Watch for chewing the nipple tip and possibly swallowing it.

I would not put any of them back outside or in a barn for any reason. They are much better off inside.

It just takes time, but the more time you can spend with them just sitting on the floor with them and allowing them to check you out the better. Playing with them with a stick toy is ideal too.

I really do not think you've had them long enough for them to get comfortable with you. The older the kitten when feral the longer it takes to socialize them, but because they are young, it will happen.

Once your cat tree/condo arrives, let them loose in the room only. Remove the crate from the room. Over time, they will come to know you and trust you.

The sooner you can nab the last kitten the better too. It may also need antibiotics.

You can try soaking the corner of a soft blanket or old tee shirt in KMR for the one kitten to suckle on. This sometimes works.

Thank you for rescuing this cat family! [emoji]128522[/emoji]