It's been 6 weeks since we had to have Fog euthanized. I thought I'd stop by my vet yesterday and see what they had in the way of kittens. Two litters, 3 young healthy kittens and 2 with gunky eyes and ear mites - which they were being treated for, I hasten to add. These are kittens born outdoors, not feral so much as not tame. Back up when you open the cage door, one even hissed a bit. All are weaned, eating solid food.
Just looking at them I could tell "mine" weren't there but I said I'd ask my husband about fostering. And, BTW, my vet supplies you with food and litter for the kittens while you foster. But my husband is not ready for two new cats just yet, even as a foster situation. He still misses Fog too much.
So I went there today - and there are five more kittens! Three are socialized, two orange boys and an all black one. And two more slightly gunky eyed white with tabby patches.
Why am I there? To play with kittens. Vet tech agreed it would be good for the wilder kittens to be handled.
Spent an hour there, working one at a time with three kittens. Sat on the floor of an exam room with the door closed, held them, talked to them, fondled them, skritched their cheeks, over their head, over their body. The grey and white girl relaxed enough to close her eyes, purr a bit, and doze off. Her black sibling relaxed enough to purr, didn't nap. The wilder gunky eyes muted calico (white, orange, and sort of agouti / tabby patches - is that calico?) calmed down, I think purred a bit, but will take more work to get her to really relax.
Not sure I can make it tomorrow, for sure will go back on Thursday. I'm welcome any afternoon I can make it. So even if I'm not fostering I do think that in socializing them it will help these kittens find a good home. And it makes me feel good to get my hands on these kittens.
Just looking at them I could tell "mine" weren't there but I said I'd ask my husband about fostering. And, BTW, my vet supplies you with food and litter for the kittens while you foster. But my husband is not ready for two new cats just yet, even as a foster situation. He still misses Fog too much.
So I went there today - and there are five more kittens! Three are socialized, two orange boys and an all black one. And two more slightly gunky eyed white with tabby patches.
Why am I there? To play with kittens. Vet tech agreed it would be good for the wilder kittens to be handled.
Spent an hour there, working one at a time with three kittens. Sat on the floor of an exam room with the door closed, held them, talked to them, fondled them, skritched their cheeks, over their head, over their body. The grey and white girl relaxed enough to close her eyes, purr a bit, and doze off. Her black sibling relaxed enough to purr, didn't nap. The wilder gunky eyes muted calico (white, orange, and sort of agouti / tabby patches - is that calico?) calmed down, I think purred a bit, but will take more work to get her to really relax.
Not sure I can make it tomorrow, for sure will go back on Thursday. I'm welcome any afternoon I can make it. So even if I'm not fostering I do think that in socializing them it will help these kittens find a good home. And it makes me feel good to get my hands on these kittens.