Feral kitten....should I?

sydney

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I was at work yesterday and this guy brings in two feral kittens he trapped. One of them is about the same age as my kittens,maybe a week younger,so about 5 weeks old. The guy was telling me how unhappy this little kitten is because he keeps him by himself in his bathroom. He says the little kitten cries all day and night. Poor baby probley misses his Momma and is lonely.

This guy said he isnt allowed to have pets, but he found these two and wanted to help them. He might have someone who will take the little kitten but if she doesnt and he still has her on Monday, I told him he could drop it off at my work and I would take her home and find her a home once she is old enough.

Now I have some questions incase he shows up at my work on Monday.

The kitten had worms but we deowrmed her yesterday. Then we will deworm her agian in two weeks. If i bring her home would it be ok to put her with my Momma cat and her babies to see if my Momma will take to her?

Also my kittens have had their frist set of shots, but this kitten is too young.Would this cause a problem? The kitten looks healthy except for diarhhea butt, but the dewormer should clear that up by Monday or soon after.

I just feel bad for this kitten and I know my 7 would love playing with her. Then she can learn the proper ways of play and I can find her a new home when I find my guys homes.

What do you guys think?

I can always keep the kitten at work too if this is a bad idea.
 

momofmany

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You will want to bring her to the vets before you mix her with the other cats in your home. Have her tested for FIV and FeLV but realize that she may be too young to show a realistic test result. If she is sick, the last thing you want to do is have her spread any disease to the others - kittens are too young to fight off a lot of diseases. Even with that, I always keep them in isolation for a short while to make sure they don't have diarrehea or anything.

There is a chance that the mom will take care of her - a good cat mom often will take in surrogate kittens and the other kittens will play with her.
 

StefanZ

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Yes, if the kitten is healthy your fosterfamily would do the trick. Surest to have a vet take a look yes.
As early as possible as time is going.

But if he not healthy it is a little of a gambling yes.
Is your momacat fullvaccinated? If yes the danger not very big, as the smalls have some protection with hers milk.


Ask this question also on the ferals rescue forum (or better still, ask a mod to move)
 

godiva

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Awl! I would do it.. they would have a chance of getting tame, too since they are so young. But I think you might have to deworm your other cats if you put them together.
 

beckiboo

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Never put a kitten with diarrhea with your kittens. Keep it separate, until the vet is sure the newbie doesn't have distemper. Even though yours have been vaccinated, they may not have full immunity.

I took Garfield and his brother Odie in when Festie and her litter were still very young. Several days later, Odie was dead, Garfield was critically ill, and my litter (including Festie) had a mild case of distemper!

Once the kitten is cleared by the vet, you can put it with your babies. I am also wondering, if he found two kittens, why are you only getting one?

Also, bless you for wanting to help this poor baby. But you must be extremely protective of your 7!
 
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sydney

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Thanks for all the advice guys! If he comes in today I will have the baby tested for FIV. and I'll seclude him for a while, how long should i seclude him for?Also I have already had my kittens dewormed, they are actually due for their second dose tomorow and this new little kitten was dewormed on Saturday. My babies have also had their first vaccinations.Momma cat isnt vaccinated, the breeder i got her from never vaccinated her,she said bengals have weird reactions to vaccines, and i couldnt get it done when i got her cause she was pregnant.Is it ok to vaccinate Momma now that the babies have been?They still nurse from her.

The reason I am only taking this one kitten is because the other kitten he found is older, they are not littermates. Since the other kitten doesnt cry he can keep it in his place till he finds a home for it and the older kittens has interaction with this guy and his wife, while the little baby is locked in the bathroom all alone.(He locked him in there cause he had worms and didnt want the other kitten getting them)
 

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I would never mix a kitten with a healthy litter until at least a two week quarentine period has passed. The new little kitten can be harboring any one of a variety of conditions that will present itself in the next two weeks. Even if it is cleared by a vet as healthy today, it doesn't mean it wasn't exposed to something two days ago that will have an incubation period of 1 week. You did a great thing by helping this kitty, but you need to protect your current crew.
 

beckiboo

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I think the Momcat can be vaccinated when the kittens are vaccinated. Double check with your vet. My rescue usually waits until the Mom goes in for her spay, so the kits are weaned. But in your case, I see the need for vaccinations sooner.

I agree with the two week separation, especially since your Momma is unvaccinated. Just having the kitten be in a home with experienced cat people will make a big difference.

Remember distemper can be spread by indirect contact. Keep kitty in a separate room, and wash your hands and change your shoes when you leave the room. Some people recommend changing clothes, too. Only bleach water can disinfect for distemper. Give baby a stuffed animal to cuddle with. Keeping the kitten in a large dog crate will make it easier to protect your kits.

Best of luck with this baby.
 

gayef

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Also, remember that vaccine immunity does not develop overnight ... just because the vaccine was given does NOT automagically make the cat immune. Immunity begins to develop after the vaccine is given as the body's systems fight the vaccine to strengthen the antibodies. It is not instant!! Sorry to be an old harpy about that, but so many people don't understand this that I just feel strongly that it needs to be emphasized here - and to be safe, I adamantly agree with Scoomoo and BeckiBoo (sheesh, that rhymes!) on the AT LEAST two week quarantine. In my home, it would be more like a month or longer if health issues developed.

There is absolutely no way to completely segregate a new cat from the currently resident ones in a normal household. But you can minimize the risk of exposure by putting the new cat in a room as far away from the others as you can. Always change your clothes, including your socks AND shoes, and wash your hands all the way up to your elbows thoroughly in hot water (as hot as you can stand) and a good antibacterial soap upon leaving the new cat's room. NEVER touch or in any other way, allow interaction between yourself and your currently resident cats until you have changed your clothes and washed your hands. And never allow any interaction at all between the new cat and the currently resident ones until everyone has been deemed to be healthy, up-to-date on vaccines and ready for introductions.
 

StefanZ

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Wise words of the precedessors. Excellent advices, Beckiboos how to nurse the little one among others.
To help a homeless kitty with fullvaccinated mom is one thing. It IS a gambling but not that big once the kitten is dewormed and defleased and the little diarrea is stilled.

But if the cat mom is unvaccinated so her kittens are also unprotected. = A BIG gamble.


How is it, is the mammacat used to go outside and see other cats? Then she has probably some natural or accessed immunity... But only some.
 
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