Fostering a mom and her 4 kittens

I am fostering a mom and now her 4 kittens.  I've had the mom, Ginger since 1/12/17.  She delivered her 5 kittens on 2/3/17. One unfortunately passed away on 2/6.  Most likely, vomited, aspirated, and had pneumonia  The others are all great, 3 weeks old today, growing well, weighing between 13 and 14oz, starting to venture from their box.  Mom is a great cat, doesn't seem afraid of people or kids at all, but on 2 occasions, got out of her room when I was leaving, and chased 2 of my resident cats.  The first time was about a week before she delivered, and the second was yesterday. She's very protective of the babies, and is always looking at the door.  I have a radio that is on all day, right by the door so that it will mask sounds of movement in the rest of my house. Any suggestions?  does anyone think that she will be in high protection mode until they go back to our Humane Society around 4/14?  I usually foster just kittens, but have have had a mom who had her babies with us about 15 years ago, one whose babies were a week old when she arrived, and the last whose babies were 4 weeks old and her "own" fosters who were 2 weeks old.  The last mom, Betsy was introduced to my very laid back 15 year old cat ( who passed away just 4 weeks ago) after she had been here 2 weeks. That all went so well, that I foster failed and kept 2 of her sons, and went back and adopted her 3 weeks after....I honestly don't remember how the first group went.  I don't think we introduced her to the other cats.

  I initially had a plan of waiting till the kittens were about 4 weeks old, and containing our 3 cats in the basement, and letting Ginger check out the house and the smells without the risk of confrontation.  Now I'm not so sure...  I'm not liking the idea of Ginger being just in the 10X12 bedroom for a total of 12 weeks.  I also usually let the kittens have the run of our house so that they are set to go to their new homes.  I'm not sure how to proceed.  Any help is greatly appreciated.  The advice from the shelter is always, " see how it goes".

She is OK with you and your family.  Is she OK with all other people too?  As you say you are fostering...  What I mean, if she is from beginning a semiferale, having the radio on may stress her out, add to the stress niveu...  Try instead with relaxing, calm music...

A Feliway adapter may too be useful...

I would not introduce anyone to anyone if you are not keeping any of them. It's just unnecessary stress.

The kittens do not need the run of the house anytime soon, certainly not for 2-4 more weeks. Moms get stressed as it is when their kittens begin to explore.

If you want to let them out at some point after they are litter trained, I suggest putting your cats in the basement for an hour a day so the mom isn't freaked out. I would also limit them to one or two rooms. There are too many hazards in a home that kittens can get into.

StefanZ, I do have a Feliway in the room.  I didn't add it till after the kittens were born, so maybe it's not enough time yet?  From what I was told, she was an owner surrender.  There was a death in the family, and once they knew that she was pregnant, they didn't need one more thing.  I don't know if she belonged to the person who died, or extended family. I'll see if I can find a calmer music station. I live rurally, and I tried to find some classical music but didn't have luck.  There used to be a station way back when I first started fostering.  I'll work on it.

With previous litters, I have put my cats away, and let the babies explore.  Not for at least 6 weeks though as you said.  My last "litter" was a litter of 2.  They were 3 weeks old when I got them, and I had them in the living room in a large cloth dog crate so they were contained, and the resident cats could check them out safely.  Once they were bigger, they were the best of friends, all of them.  Until 9 weeks when Jack and Jill went back.

Oh my! I love orange kitties! How precious! [emoji]128149[/emoji]

Since they have their mom, which is best, they don't need to know your other kitties for socialization.

When I fostered a pregnant momma I kept momma in one room for 3 months & she was very happy. She had come from the street & was very content with whatever I gave her. She was then adopted. I did not let my two female cats interact & upset her. I did not give her kittens the run of the house. They stayed in the room with her until I kept one and his sisters were adopted. If I had let the kittens roam they would have been very hard to find in our house. Too dangerous.

kmwolf563 said:

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• kmwolf563
• Feb 24, 2017

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OMG. Cuteness overload!

Congratulations they are soooooooo cute xxxxx

These babies are growing so fast.  They were 4 weeks old yesterday.  I started introducing them to food mixed with KMR yesterday.  They love it.  This picture is Saffron. He's trying to win my heart by climbing into my lap every time I sit on the floor.  Little bug.....  I had a small scare last Sunday, at 3 weeks old.  Basil, who had been the heaviest, had gained 22 grams in one day on Saturday. I couldn't believe it, and reweighed him several times.  All of the others seemed like normal weight gains. On Sunday, he had lost all of that.  He acted normally though.  Monday was a weird day for me.  I took my husband to the ER at 1:30 am.  (he's ok) and we were not home till 5:30 pm.  I ran home 1/2 hour away at 7 am to feed mom and check in on Basil.  He had lost a little more, so I supplemented him with KMR, which he was less than thrilled with.  When we finally got home, i gave him more twice and the next morning he had started to gain.  I think he was back up 7 grams from the lowest, and by Tuesday night (when I normally weigh them) he was back to where he was 3 days before.  I also turned the heat up a little and put a rice sock in the nest on Monday morning, since mom had started to be w=away from them more.  All is well now.  Phew.  It seems that whenever I foster, it's a roller coaster trip.

Now it's time for the litter box education.  Ginger is doing such a good job mothering that I haven't seen any poop or felt any pee in their box.  Of course they are out and about now too.  So, I hope they will get it.  I'll try today after they have "lunch".


Ginger is so thrilled

Aww, they are just precious! Mom looks sweet too. I'm glad your husband is okay. You did great supplementing the little guy! Will you be keeping any of them?

Good luck with litter training! [emoji]128571[/emoji]

My resident cats are 2 brothers and their mom from a foster litter. The boys are 18 months old. I'll just be giving these 4 kittens a good start as well as some love to their mom. Then they will be off to their forever homes in mid April

Me again.  My foster kittens were 7 weeks old yesterday.  They are doing well, but I have some feeding questions.  I started them on solid food at about 4 weeks.  I'm using Royal Canin Babycat for both mom and babies.  At first I was adding some KMR to make it semi liquid, gradually reducing the amount.  I stopped adding the KMR a few days ago.  I've been feeding them around 6:30 am, 12-1 pm and about 6 pm.  There is usually one who isn't at all interested in eating at any given time.  I can't just leave the food out, because mom cleans up the dishes as soon as she is done with hers.  Sometimes before. They are drinking water, and I think only the female is eating some dry Royal Canin Mother and Baby Cat. I haven't seen the 3 boys eating any dry.  They had been gaining fairly steadily about 1/2 ounce a day. They weigh 1-11, 1-11 1/2, 1-12 and 1-14 1/2.   Sometimes one would gain that or more while another would stay the same, and then the one that gained would plateau. For the past 3 days, they have all stayed exactly the same.  They are running around like maniacs, learning to climb up on the chair, the bed and jumping from the chair to the bed, playing on their 17" climbing structures, and with each other.  They are still nursing as well. So, my questions to anyone who may have had the same experience, should I try feeding closer together and hope they are interested? Add KMR back into the food, or see if they will drink it from a bowl ?  Or just carry on and don't worry.  They are maintaining.  They will be having their spay/neuter surgeries on April 11 and should weigh the required 2 pounds by then. That's not my main concern, just an added stress. They also had their first distemper shots at the shelter on Tuesday.  I'll be bringing them in this Tuesday for anther dose of worming medicine, so I can ask these questions but thought maybe someone has words of wisdom.  I have had several foster litters, and kittens who are more interested in playing than eating, but the exact same weights for 3 days is a new one for me.

They are just beautiful! [emoji]128571[/emoji]

They should hit 2 pounds around 8 weeks old, so their weights are a little low. I suggest that you soften the kitten food with formula again, and feed wet food meals 4-5 times a day. Twelve hours is too long for the kittens to go from their last evening meal to their next morning meal.

They are growing very fast at this stage and need lots of nutrition to gain weight, especially being as active as kittens normally are. So you are right, 3 days without gaining means they need more food more often.

Also, sometimes kittens may feel a bit "off" for 2-3 days after receiving vaccinations, so this may have affected them the past week.

Hopefully with this change you will see quicker weight gains.

Thanks for your suggestions.  They are still nursing as well, so they are getting some nourishment through the night.  I've had a crazy week, and have had my husband feeding them when I've been gone during feeding times.  I feel better when I see what's going on, so this week, after tomorrow will be back to normal.  I'll be here until 4 and my husband will have to feed them dinner.  I'll be home by 10, and can feed them again.  They are acting so normal, and active, but I want them to get back to gaining. 

kmwolf563 said:

Thanks for your suggestions.  They are still nursing as well, so they are getting some nourishment through the night.  I've had a crazy week, and have had my husband feeding them when I've been gone during feeding times.  I feel better when I see what's going on, so this week, after tomorrow will be back to normal.  I'll be here until 4 and my husband will have to feed them dinner.  I'll be home by 10, and can feed them again.  They are acting so normal, and active, but I want them to get back to gaining. 

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As you said, they run around like maniacs so that does burn up a lot of calories. You're doing a great job - they are absolutely beautiful.

aw xx they are so beautiful - great pictures :-) You've had great advice already and I'm not an expert - sounds good to follow the above. You've done such a great job xx

I feel like I am on the upswing on the roller coaster that is fostering.  These little guys are still wanting to play instead of eat, but they are eating a little more. I am adding KMR to their food.   Yesterday, while I was away at the Celtics game, only 2 ate dinner for my husband.  When I got home at 10:30 pm, I fed them again.  They did so so, but one wanted to help mom eat her food.  They are all eating the same food, so it doesn't matter. So, today, they ate at 6:30 am, 12 noon, and 5.  I'll feed them again around 10.  They have ALL eaten better today, leaving very little of the 2 Tablespoons or so that I had in each dish. Saffron has even finished his twice and gone to help mom, Ginger eat hers.....They have also been nursing several times when I've gone to check in on them. I just weighed them at the normal time, and YES, they weigh Basil 2 pounds !, Sage 1-14 1/2, Saffron 1-13.5and Katelyn 1-14.  So we are good.  They are all up 1+ ounces in 2 days.

This is fantastic news! Keep up the nice job! [emoji]128077[/emoji]