Foster Kittens

Last weekend I picked up 3 feral kittens that someone had found under her apartment building. The mom was a plump and healthy looking blue russian, but she was timid with people. She seemed to have been a pet at some point because she would come within 3 feet of us and watch as we handled the kittens, but would not allow us to pet her or capture her.

Because the kittens were already hissing at people, I decided to take them home and wean and socialize them instead of allowing them to grow up feral. I have 2 cats that are both 1 year old. Because I don't know anything about the new babies, I have quaranteened them in walk-in closet using my bathroom door as a double barrier. I've been washing my hands after each contact with the kittens and now that they've become more active and playful on me I have started to change clothes after each contact.

It's been 4 days now, and the kittens are doing much better socially. One of them purrs and runs up to me as I enter the room. I'm guessing based on their progress that they were 4 or 5 weeks old on the day I got them. I've included a picture of one to see if they look about that age. They've really explored the closet now, and are very comfortable with it.

Because they are so young, my vet says she doesn't want to do vaccs on them yet (she hasn't seen them, she's going off the age I gave her). I want to be able to take them around the house and get them used to daily life with people, and slowly introduce them to the other pets. My cats are fully vaccinated with boosters due on the 27th of this month. Is there anything I can do with them at this age that won't endanger my cats? Can they get tested this young? And are my cats succeptible to diseases they've been vaccinated against since they are so close to their booster dates?

Welcome to TCS...I am a rather close neighbor of yours in Northern VA. Until these little ones have seen a vet...I would not recommend you introduce them to your cats...even though your cats have been fully vaccinated. You just want to ensure they are healthy and since they were born outdoors, you should take extra precautions. I think it is fine to allow people to interact with the kittens..just have them wash their hands thoroughly between interacting with your cats and these kittens. Additionally, I know there is a group called "DC cat" that works with ferals in DC...even though the mom is a scared stray...it is best to have her humanely trapped so she can be spayed. You can find the DC cat website below:

http://www.dc-cat.org/

Just don't want mom to get pregnant again.

Katie

Thanks so much for the info on DC cat. I have been trying to contact a rescue group here that I heard does a spay and release program, but I've heard nothing, so I'll call your people. I live in Falls Church, but the Mama Cat is in Alexandria.

My cats are very unhappy about the mystery in the closet and have been sure to let me know how they feel. They've managed to dart into the bathroom and sniff through the cracks in the closet door before I pulled them out.

How old does the kitten in the picture look to you? In proportion she is 5 inches in length excluding the tail. All the kittens were plump and well fed, so malnourishment is not a factor in their growth. They had little tiny teeth, but the biggest one (the dark one) seems to be farthest behind in progression.

They walk wobbly, and play more and more daily. They can now eat solids and learned to use the litter box. One of them purrs. Ten minutes of play wears them out. They still sleep a lot, and demand food every 2 or 3 hours.

Originally Posted by Cairo

Thanks so much for the info on DC cat. I have been trying to contact a rescue group here that I heard does a spay and release program, but I've heard nothing, so I'll call your people. I live in Falls Church, but the Mama Cat is in Alexandria.

My cats are very unhappy about the mystery in the closet and have been sure to let me know how they feel. They've managed to dart into the bathroom and sniff through the cracks in the closet door before I pulled them out.

How old does the kitten in the picture look to you? In proportion she is 5 inches in length excluding the tail. All the kittens were plump and well fed, so malnourishment is not a factor in their growth. They had little tiny teeth, but the biggest one (the dark one) seems to be farthest behind in progression.

They walk wobbly, and play more and more daily. They can now eat solids and learned to use the litter box. One of them purrs. Ten minutes of play wears them out. They still sleep a lot, and demand food every 2 or 3 hours.

Click to expand...

They are probably around 5 weeks of age. If DC Cat cannot help you...I would contact Metro Cats. Which you can find below:

http://www.natewood.net/FeralCats.html

Katie

Thanks for taking these babies in. I agree with Katie, to keep the kittens separate until they see the vet. Usually they can start with vaccinations at about 6 weeks, so I would make an appt for the kittens next week. Then the vet can tell you if the kittens would be safe with your cats.

I foster, and simply do not let my foster kittens in with my cats. It isn't worth the risk, of the kittens giving something to my babies. Or if my cats may be carrying something, letting the kittens catch it!