| FERAL KITTEN HELP Especially view the Alley Cat Allies website and click on Resources link for trapping, taming, and raising orphaned kittens, building inexpensive outdoor shelter etc information. This can also be reached from our website at http://forgottenfelines.petfinder.org then click on Kitty Info and then use the Feral Cat Help links. If there are feral kittens, the kittens will have to be over 4 weeks, preferably 5 weeks, and eating on their own before they can be separated from their mom. Otherwise they would have to be bottle fed with KMR and unless an extreme emergency, it would be almost impossible to find a volunteer to bottle feed a litter of kittens this young. In addition, the risk of them getting ill and dying increases dramatically. But they should definitely be separated from the mom by 5-6 weeks- 5 weeks is best- and handled and socialized or otherwise they, too, will become feral. Kittens 5 weeks old tame right away, at 6 weeks it takes a little longer, 8 weeks some tame easily and others less, and 9-10 weeks it takes a quite a while, sometimes one or more not at all. The younger the kittens are, the easier to socialize. If one waits too long however, it takes months or years or sometimes they never really become socialable enough for a real home. In that case, they have to be altered and either have to stay at your place or a responsible warm barn home should be looked for. Also, it's best to get the kittens as soon as possible when able to be separated from their mother as she may move them and the next time you see them they'll be too old to tame. When they can eat on their own, feeding them AD (from the vets) mixed with a little meat baby food mixed with bottled water is what I start them on. Then move on to canned kitten food mixed with bottled water with a little baby food mixed in. Make sure the food is slightly warm when given to the kittens. Do NOT give milk, it gives them diarrhea. Always provide bottled water separately. Use bottled water as many times the minerals in well water gives them diarrhea also. A small amount of Gerber rice flakes can be added to their food if they have a diarreah or soft stool until you can get them to the vets. They should be wormed with strongid which you can pick up at your vets. The dosage will depend upon the kitten/s weight. If the kittens have diarreah and it doesnt clear up with the strongid in a couple of days, they need to be treated for giardia and/or coccidia- even if the stool results are negative. So make sure your vet gives you the medicine with the appropriate dosage for your kitten/s. Kittens can become dehydrated quickly and die. Once they are socialized and at least 8 weeks of age, and receive their first distemper vaccination (we may be able to help you with this), we will be able to help you place them home to home via our adoption website. At that time we will send us the pertinent info on each kitten to f[email protected] and we will send you our questionnaire with answers to screen potential adoptors. Always charge an adoption fee of at least $50, NEVER give them away free, as there are many unscrupulous people who will sell them to labs, use them for bait in dog fighting, collect them but not care for them, etc. If they cannot be socialized, there is alternative information on what to do on our Feral Cat Help. See the links Alley Cat Allies and Neighborhood Cats for more info on our Feral Cat Help on our Forgotten Felines Homestead website- use above link. |