- Joined
- Apr 26, 2018
- Messages
- 291
- Purraise
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(Reposting in this catergory because I wasn’t sure where it fit!)
Hi there cat community!
First off I wanted to say I’m super excited to have an outlet to talk about one of the biggest things in my life! Cats! I have two kittens right now aged 22 weeks and 12 weeks! This post is about something a little different though....
My grandma had 11 cats dumped on her property in a year (she lived next to a farm) she didn’t know anything about tnr and rescources so the cats are all unfixed to our knowledge. This year two mother cats had kittens with the total being around 5-6 per cat. Well...unfortunately the kittens just started dying one after one. We had a bout of freezing rain and snow on the 14-17th of April, they were born on the 16th. We also noticed a male cat harassing the kittens and found a kitten with clear signs it has been killed. They were all left out on my grandmas porch and the male cat was actually in by the kittens, taking them onto the porch to freeze to death. It is starting to get warmer out now, but we are down to five kittens. One which I suspect to have a case of ophthalmia. The mother is feral so my grandma and I can’t take them in (I live 2 hours away from her) and I have already found homes for all of the kittens. My initial plan was to work slowly over the next few weeks with the mother but I’m not sure if that is an option anymore as we don’t have enough space and I do have other cats I also don’t know the mothers health history...so I’ve been thinking of making the tough decision for the kittens sake and taking them in as a foster. I do have all of the needed fostering materials as I have been gathering up to foster this year...this is an ethical debate in my head though lol. I’m willing to provide the around the clock care that they need but, even though we try to, in ways we will never be as good as mama. My main concern is that these kittens will die or come down with various other problems such as worms, parasites, or infections from being outside which happened with kittens my grandma had from a similar situation about 10 years ago.... theirsurvival is very important to me but I also do not want to just rip them from their mother if I don’t feel that it’s absolutely necissary. To me this is life and death for them, but I still can’t come to terms with it. I feel like everyday they are out there, it is another chance of death for them....does anyone have any input on this situation? If I did take them, the soonest would be when they are two weeks old. I have equipped myself with a large large tin of kmr, syringes, miracle nipples, and two separate bottles. Along with a scale, heating pad,blankets, and a safe place for them to be...I also have opthalmic ointment , dewormer, and 24 hours of the day to dedicate to them. What do you think I should do??
Hi there cat community!
First off I wanted to say I’m super excited to have an outlet to talk about one of the biggest things in my life! Cats! I have two kittens right now aged 22 weeks and 12 weeks! This post is about something a little different though....
My grandma had 11 cats dumped on her property in a year (she lived next to a farm) she didn’t know anything about tnr and rescources so the cats are all unfixed to our knowledge. This year two mother cats had kittens with the total being around 5-6 per cat. Well...unfortunately the kittens just started dying one after one. We had a bout of freezing rain and snow on the 14-17th of April, they were born on the 16th. We also noticed a male cat harassing the kittens and found a kitten with clear signs it has been killed. They were all left out on my grandmas porch and the male cat was actually in by the kittens, taking them onto the porch to freeze to death. It is starting to get warmer out now, but we are down to five kittens. One which I suspect to have a case of ophthalmia. The mother is feral so my grandma and I can’t take them in (I live 2 hours away from her) and I have already found homes for all of the kittens. My initial plan was to work slowly over the next few weeks with the mother but I’m not sure if that is an option anymore as we don’t have enough space and I do have other cats I also don’t know the mothers health history...so I’ve been thinking of making the tough decision for the kittens sake and taking them in as a foster. I do have all of the needed fostering materials as I have been gathering up to foster this year...this is an ethical debate in my head though lol. I’m willing to provide the around the clock care that they need but, even though we try to, in ways we will never be as good as mama. My main concern is that these kittens will die or come down with various other problems such as worms, parasites, or infections from being outside which happened with kittens my grandma had from a similar situation about 10 years ago.... theirsurvival is very important to me but I also do not want to just rip them from their mother if I don’t feel that it’s absolutely necissary. To me this is life and death for them, but I still can’t come to terms with it. I feel like everyday they are out there, it is another chance of death for them....does anyone have any input on this situation? If I did take them, the soonest would be when they are two weeks old. I have equipped myself with a large large tin of kmr, syringes, miracle nipples, and two separate bottles. Along with a scale, heating pad,blankets, and a safe place for them to be...I also have opthalmic ointment , dewormer, and 24 hours of the day to dedicate to them. What do you think I should do??
