Two feral kittens found.. Any advice would be awesome.

terrencephillip

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Hello.. Two boy feral cats found in a chicken shed.. We believe four weeks now almost six as they are ten days with us now.
Apartment cats now.. one has really grown and is now 630 grams while the little one is only 380.. so we believe little Phil is the runt. Massive Terry does bully him alot and was very aggressive during feeding.. We split them and supervise feeding so little Phil gets his saucer.. Terry can finish in seconds and then goes for his brothers saucer. We restrain him and he is starting to behave better. He knows as he looks at me now as he stalks his brothers saucer. He also stops when i talk to him. Feeding wet food three times a day and crushed dry food in one of those.. They go mad for food. Hilarious and very vocal.. both love to snuggle and were poo litter trained in a day.. Wow. Okay few wet moments on sofa and floor so we increased to three litter trays in the lounge quarantine.. Ive padded the floor due to their chases so as not to annoy downstairs who asked what was happening at 3am.
Is there any tips on how to eliminate the non litter tray pees and any ways to keep them away from areas.. any smells etc detur them.. Also what age do they need vacinations etc.. both boys
First time with cats.. The feral mom gave birth then left them..
They were found in a chicken shed.. Big one Terry today had stuck eye.. softly washed i will monitor again in morning. Wife said its from fighting.. he seems way less energetic and more loving so im a bit concerned.



Wasnt going to get cats but their meows and story melted my heart..
 
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hbunny

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I would definitely take them into the vet, since you found them in the chicken shed.  The decrease in energy is bothersome and could be one of many things going on, and there are some serious things that can definitely affect youngsters that age/size.  The stuck eye could be related to the decrease in energy, or could, as your wife said, be from an accidental scratch.  I would take them both in to be checked.

Are you feeding little Phil extras?  I would definitely be feeding him extra away from big brother! 

And don't worry-----too many of us on here weren't going to get cats, but hey!  Look where we ended up haha!!  They steal your heart!!

I'm going to flag this so some experienced kitten folks can jump in.  I'll look you up on IG!!
 
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terrencephillip

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Thank you for your reply.. Normally little Phil gets chased down by his big brother and he loves to hide on me.. Tonight Terrence is being chased for a change.. I have kitten milk and give a few mils extra to Little Phil.. Wet food Phil will leave some and eats so politely.. Terrence eats like he hasn't in days such a gannet.. Reading about neutering now.. As much as i do t want to think its best as two boys cats spraying will stink the apartment.. Got three litter trays now.. as lazyness has seen them wee here and there.. Eyes have stayed okay since cleaning them two hours ago.. They make the maddest sounds ever chirps and meows.. like birds.. or mogwai's from gremlins!! Just had milk and have become playful again.
 

hbunny

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I'm not experienced at kitten care at all....that's why I deferred that to the others, but I do know the little guy needs some extras as a boost!  They are adorable.  I would definitely ask the vet about the right age, etc., especially with one that much smaller than the other.  My boys have never sprayed inside the house, so I don't have experience with that.  I neutered my older guy when he was about 1 year old, but he was an outdoor cat and my vet deferred neutering due to some other health issues he had, for which he could not be anesthetized until he recovered enough from.  My 2 year old however was neutered this past Feb 5th, one day after I brought him inside to live forever.  He never sprayed inside, although when he was wild and outside, I would see him stopping to spray things about every 4-5 feet he walked along the woods line behind the house.

I've only had one boy that I had from tiny kittenhood in the house, and he was neutered at about 12-14 weeks.  He never had any health issues at all.  We sadly lost him in a house fire when he was 3.
 

talkingpeanut

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You definitely want to neuter your boys. Two males will become territorial and aggressive with one another. It's dangerous. Also, their urine smells terrible even if they don't spray!

It sounds like you're doing a great job with them. I would definitely get them into a vet. They need to be dewormed.

For food, they need dry kitten food available constantly. They also need several meals of wet kitten food per day, 4-6 servings.
 

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I agree they should have food more frequently, especielly the little one.  But even the big one is slighly underweight. Goats milk is always a good supplement. Or a good kmr, even if they eat now more regular cat food.

WHAT is the kitten milk you use? its a kmr, or its the treat milk, Whiskas type?  The Whiskas type is OK but not said its great.  Goat milk is much better and cheaper.  or kmr - or even mild full fat yoghurt.

About the wetting here and there - I presume it will be better with time.  Its cleaning off and using an enzyme biological cleaner till then.

Also, some kitten attract litter to sprinkle on the litter trays may help some, to encourage them to remember.

Also, you yourself can set them into the tray, for example after feeding.  Perhaps even do some stimulating to evacuate the bladder.  THIS is not the common to do, but if  the peeing bothers you much...
 
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terrencephillip

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Thanks everyone!! They both have been very lively today.. climbing up my legs up my hooded top to get to food..
Its when the follow me meowing constantly that we feed them..
Terrence's eyes have been fine today.. Very very snuggly after a feed and only one wee stain.. Rest has been in the new third litter tray. Now these cat monkeys are agile.. incredible!
Weighed in the big one has gained 100 grams since last weigh in maybe ten days ago now and the little fella a whopping 140 grams!! He was so tiny but now has extra strength to defend against his brother.. seems loving.. looks brutal!! If we take one out the room the other cries for him.. vice versa. Even when i leave the room they cry!! Feeding has been wet and dry mixed but more wet.. I'll try the goats milk for them and have been looking at natural home made cat food. Their chirps meows are so cute very talkative. They are funny one min chasing each other down ambushing then jumping on me and sleeping in seconds.. Wish i was able to do that!!

 

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Leave dry food down for them 24/7 so they can nibble whenever. Good you got 3 litter boxes. You asked about vaccinations - when you get them neutered vet will advise you then. They can be done at 8 weeks though it varies from vet to vet. They must be fixed! Presuming they have clean water. Kudos to you for your kindness in rescuing them.
 
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terrencephillip

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Always fresh water daily. With the dry food I honestly think the big one will eat it all in one sitting.. Small feeds but often during the day and meows get me up at six for a morning feed.
He jumps to my thighs as i place food down... New tactic is to keep them in lounge place food down and open the door.
The thought of these guys freezing through winter we couldnt bare.. Such an amazing edition to the house.. Hardly watched TV or played X box!!
Trip ti the vets this week for a check up and talk about vax and neutering.. Which will be fun in Slovakia where we are. I have a small grasp of the language..
Tomorrow is two weeks with us since we rescued them and the growth in size and personality is awesome. We fed them before we ate last night and still after a feed they had incredible guile to get to our plates.. one moment on the floor the next the little one had gone up my leg up my back and actually got down my plate carrying arm to my wrist with the second one reaching my shoulder. Cute little cat monkeys!!


Happy cat loving.
 

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Such cute little guys! It's good that they have such a healthy appetite. At this stage you can feed them as much as they will eat as they have a lot of growing to do.

Make sure you ask the vet to check them for worms. Almost all outdoor cats and kitten will pick them up but they can be treated easily. 

A good thing to clean up the pee with is an enzyme cleaner. This will break down the urine and remove all traces of smell, so the kittens won't be tempted to pee there again.
 

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I think your bigger guy will calm down once he is dewormed and once he realizes thatfood is always available. Do try both and report back! Kittens under a year can eat as much as they want, which can be a surprising amount!
 
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terrencephillip

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Found a non bleach enzyme cleaner which has proven to work and smell better than the original one we had used.. Great as pillows and cushions are not stained.. We have covers over all pillows and the sofa so throwing them in the wash is no problem!! Thanks!! Lots of different advice on food amounts i just go on their meows and how much they follow me.. Around six to eight morsels on saucers daily.. Little one has learnt if he eats faster his brother wont get any.. Ive always supervised eating as i believe one was the runt and the other the dominant eater.. His eating pace is insane.. Great to monitor their weight.
My aim is to get them both to 1kg together. Even though Terrence's paws and head are quite sizable compared to little Phillip.. Terrence always sleeps on top and he does groom his little buddy loads.. He is unaware of his weight advantage.
Will find some goats milk today.. I hate it myself would it need sweetening? Ive watered their milk down. One for hydration two to stretch the milk out further..
Just lost two kittens... Where were they? In the food cuboard!!
Its magnetically sealed!!! They know exactly where the food is!!
;)
 

talkingpeanut

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Again, I think they are telling you that they are hungry.  They need access to food all of the time.  They will learn to regulate.
 

hbunny

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Those little boys are adorable.  Free feed and keep food out all the time.  It amazes me how much small ones will eat, but they are growing rapidly and need all the nutrition they can get.

I hope you have access to good vets there.  I know nothing of Slovakia.
 
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terrencephillip

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Haha bless them.. That was literally after a feed too in the cuboard.. Little guy leaves some when full... Big bro just wants to eat twice as much in twice the time!! They have grown so much this last two weeks and the little one doesn't look so fragile anymore... Another feed another run around.. Then sleeps on Dad..

 
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terrencephillip

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Slovakia is in the dark ages.. Dogs kept outside.. Cats ignored running wild... Plenty animal lovers here but not like the western standard.. Vets next week so will see.. Love these guys!!
 

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Slovakia is in the dark ages.. Dogs kept outside.. Cats ignored running wild... Plenty animal lovers here but not like the western standard.. Vets next week so will see.. Love these guys!!
Japan is pretty much the same, even though we do have some great vets.

No, you don't need to sweeten the goat's milk. Cat's aren't that partial to sweet things.

Good luck at the vets.
 
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