Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Purrs

1. 

   Help! I brought home 2 kittens- my first fosters- about 6 days ago through a foster program at the local SPCA. The kittens were about 4-5 weeks old, from a feral mother. The SPCA only had them 1 or 2 hours before I picked them up and did not know very much about them. I'm miserable! They can't be much happier!

   It's not what I expected at all. Instead, it's a big, gross mess and I am really irritated by some of their behavior. One of them won't use the litterbox even though I have showed her how and keep putting her in it. The other is constantly- I mean ALL THE TIME- crawling up my body to get to my neck where she clings for dear life- she does this every single time I go into the bathroom they stay in- I cannot pee or brush my teeth or set one foot in there without a screaming kitten crawling all over me, and when I put her down into their bed she gets right back on me, and even chases me as I leave the room. Relentless. It irritates me so much I have now yelled at her, and I avoid the bathroom whenever I can. I am just not into that super-clingy behavior-- are all young ones like this? I can't do much with a cat under my neck.

   They both stink too- I carefully bathed and brushed them yesterday, but they stink again today- they're not cleaning themselves. Also, I've tried all the feeding options I was given- basically making a gruel out of kitten wet food, kibble, chicken broth and/or baby food, but the only thing they've eaten with any gusto so far is chicken liver, and there have been multiple bouts of diarrhea- again, half of it on the floor rather than in the box. Any times I tried to make time to sit with them in my lap, they have pooped on my couch or rugs. I'd let them sleep on my bed with me, but in 15 minutes they pooped there too, and my dog is still getting used to them so it's not safe to have them there at night.

   I just don't quite get what's going wrong. I had pet cats when I was younger that I really loved, but so far it's not a positive experience- it's nerve-wracking, poopy, smelly, and guilt-inducing. At least right now, I wish my foster period with these kitties was over. Am I just not the right personality for fostering? Are they too young? I have never cared for animals this young before. I also work full time and have an active dog, so maybe I just don't have enough time to devote to the kittens?

   Really, I don't want any harm to come to them, but if it never gets any better, they've got to go back to the shelter. They are reducing the quality of my life and my dog's life too much. Does anyone have any advice on how to make this a more pleasant experience and perhaps enjoy it more? I have 2 more weeks.

   --Not a cat person anymore??

   Posted 2 years ago by Dana Miller #

2. 

   Dana, I'm sorry you're having such a miserable time. I think you've hit the nail on the head -- these babies are too young for you. What's more I assume they didn;t come with their feral mum so basically they're orphaned babies. Think of a human baby -- super clingy, poopy, can't clean themselves, scream a lot, need heaps of human attention -- sound familiar? All babies are like this, and kitten babies are no exception.

   If you've never fostered before, then I think the SPCA were crazy to give them to you as a first try. Fostering young kittens with their mama still there is easy -- she does all the work, feeding and cleaning them, cuddling them, etc. Fostering slightly older kittens which were better able to take care of themselves would also have been a better option.

   Do you know what will happen to the kittens if you take them back to the SPCA? Will they have someone else available to take them on or will they be put down due to lack of resources? I'm not trying to guilt trip you but I'm trying to work out if they'll be better off going back or whether you are literally their last chance at life. If you're their last chance, could you find it in your heart to spend two weeks looking after these little babies? Yes, it is poopy and messy and demanding but I think you will also find it rewarding beyond measure. And if you don't, well, it's only two weeks out of your life.

   The first thing is to relax. If you are anxious, the kittens will become even more anxious. Yes, babies are super clingy, they are anxious and lonely without their mum. Are they in a smallish sized box (just a cardboard box will do) with food and litter tray nearby? (Please don't use clumping litter, if they swallow it, it will clump in their tiny tummies.) Is their bed nice and soft -- an old unwashed jumper, maybe, smelling of you, might help to calm them. One or more soft toys for them to cuddle up to will also help. (One TDKer found a soft toy 'mama cat' which was warm and had a heartbeat on the web, that would be a good mama substitute. Another thing you could try is a clock wrapped in a towel, so that the tick can simulate the heartbeat.)A hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, with room in the box for them to get away from it if they get too hot, is also a good idea. Young kittens find it hard to regulate their body temperatures.

   Do they have anything -- little balls, screwed up bits of paper, a feather toy, a scratching post to climb -- to play with? The little active one has obviously been sleeping all night, when you're asleep, and then sleeping all day, while you're out at work, and of course when you get home all he wants is attention and loving and playtime. Wouldn't you? To be honest, if I were fostering them, I'd probably be carrying them around with me all the time I was home. No, you won't get a lot done but these are babies, they do need attention.

   The pooping is a problem. You need to keep putting them in the litter tray as soon as they've eaten -- they should get the idea. Normally, their mum would be cleaning them and then showing them how to clean themselves. You need to stop giving them chicken livers, it's way too rich for them, I think, at 4-5 weeks and may well be causing the diarrhoea. They may well be sick. Does the SPCA foster programme have any provision for you to see a vet? Ring and see. Diarrhoea in young kittens can be very dangerous as they dehydrate REALLY quickly and they are very fragile. There is a product called Cat Attract (I think -- any pet store should have it) which you sprinkle on their litter to make them want to go in there. It is not cheap apparently but it only needs a bit. And in the meantime, I would put easily laundered old towels underneath them when they're sitting on your lap, covering their bed, on your bed or whatever. But I am worried about the diarrhoea because of the dehydration issue, and if I were you, I would be taking them to a vet, to get a check-up, to find out what age s/he thinks they are and to get some commonsense advice on the things that are worrying you. I'm also going to try and find a couple of websites to help you.

   Also, please keep checking back on the site. There are heaps of very knowledgeable people on here, many of whom have fostered baby kittens like yours, and they will be on later as they wake up and log in.

   These sites have some very good information:

   http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+1388&aid=912
   http://www.petplace.com/cats/the-feeding-and-nutrition-of-kittens-2/page1.aspx
   http://cats.about.com/od/kittencare/ss/track6weeks.htm
   http://www.feralcat.com/raising.html
   http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+1388&aid=912

   And these threads on The Daily Kitten may help you. Alicia, one of our TDKers, recently raised seven four-week-old kittens so she has loads of experience, and we have many other very knowledgeable members so PLEASE keep checking back:
   http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/10043
   http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/16251 (thanks, KW!)
   http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/16242
   http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/16052

   Posted 2 years ago by jcat #

3. 

   Thanks, JCat! I was about to suggest the same things.

   Dana, I guess you are right. I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. I have fostered several litters of little ones, and you've about captured it when you say, "nerve-wracking, smelly, and poopy." It can also be fun, rewarding, and lovable! I think that the SPCA may have given you some kitts that are too young for your first foster.

   Try to think of it like this: you are all they have left of their momcat. They are going to look to you for all their needs, including their emotional needs. They're probably scared and lonely, and cats naturally want to be clean, so that doesn't help either.

   When I'm fostering, I often have to bathe the littlest ones every day or every other day. Fostering is VERY time consuming. When you wash them, you're teaching them to wash themselves (and annoying them to the point that they want to clean up). They can't do anything for themselves, including pooping! I have an old sweatshirt dress that I leave on the bathroom door and put over my clothes when I go into the bathroom, so that the little messes or prints stay on the smock and I can wash it.

   Chicken livers may taste good, but try going back to the bottle or the milk/wet food gruel option. It will help them long-term. With the loose poop, you need to add some pedialyte (in the baby aisle) to their food to prevent dehydration. here is the "poop code" for kittens:
   * Yellow and loose
   o Mild overfeeding
   o Reduce formula by diluting 1/3 with water
   * Greenish
   o Moderate overfeeding, unabsorbed bile
   o Dilute formula by ½ with water or Pedialite
   * Grayish
   o Major overfeeding
   o Depletion of enzymes
   o Use Pedialite solution instead of water
   * White Curdled
   o Getting no nutrition at all and is dehydrating
   o Stop formula, give only water or Pedialite (1cc per 2 ounces body weight per hour)

   Kittens at this age may stink. They are too young to know how to clean themselves and they aren't the self-sufficient adults you remember. :( The best I can tell you is that it will get better. Every time they learn something new, you'll be excited. They (and you) can do it!

   That said, kitten fostering might not be the way for you to volunteer. It takes a lot of time, and you may be too busy. Shelters often need someone to foster adult cats/dogs who have behavior or nervous issues, so maybe you could check into that. Thank you so much for giving it a try, and good luck!

   I think you're still a cat person, you may just be too busy for little ones! Thanks!

   Posted 2 years ago by FosterMom #

4. 

   Yay, Fostermom, I was hoping someone with loads of experience would be along soon to answer Dana!

   Posted 2 years ago by jcat #

5. 

   I would switch them to KMR in addition to kitten kibble. They may be hungry and that is why they are crying (well, one of the reasons they are crying). Do you have one of those baby carriers that is like a sling that goes across the front of your body? They might like it if you put them in that together and have them with you while at home. Maybe after you feed them and they settle down a bit would be a good time to try the sling baby carrier. Those little babies are just as upset as can be and I agreee that they are looking to you as the momcat. They will get better. I would also, contact the ASPCA in regards to what kind of health care they have for these little ones. Hopefully once you get the food thing straigthened out they will settle down a little. Being feral is a challenge as well. They are not used to humans and to them dogs are predators that can eat them up. (I am not saying your dog would eat them up, but from their little baby perspectives they may perceive the dog as a threat) Once they learn that y'all are not threatening to them, they should calm down a little bit. Good luck with those little babies and I hope y'all have a good outcome.

   Posted 2 years ago by tinafishfrombirthplaceofElvis #

6. 

   I applaude your intentions, but the SPCA should not have given you this task without more help for you. In the future you might want to only foster older kittens/cats. Babies this little are very dependent and you should have been warned/prepared before they gave them to you. Fostermom has it down pat--that comes with experience. If you could find it in your heart to last the remaining 2 weeks, please contact the SPCA and ask for advice & help or these babies might not make it. Good luck and we are behind you 100%!

   Posted 2 years ago by Sheba's Mom in Phoenix, AZ 10/8 #

7. 

   Hi All,

   Thank you so much for your kind postings and attempts to help; unfortunately I never got the chance to put your advice to use. Heart-breakingly, one of them was put down this morning. I was quite shocked, because it was the kitten that had been so energetic and seemingly healthy previously. Eight hours after I left her looking normal, having eye-droppered a little broth into her mouth to keep her hydrated through the night, she could not even move. I carried her in a towel on my lap as I drove to the SPCA's vet clinic, waited for them to open, but she looked and sounded horrible, and they put her down.

   I feel so bad, because I think it is my fault. I had no idea that 5 week olds were so difficult to care for. I also feel like I was duped. As a full time worker and an active person, who's never done this before, I should never have been sent home with kittens that young- I was totally unprepared. They made it sound like all I needed to provide was clay litter, a shallow litter pan, good quality kitty kibble and wet food, fresh water, and an hour or two to play and cradle them. These babies never wanted to eat what I put down (except the liver- and they only got that once-- last night I tried Wellness kitten wet food, which seems to have triggered the diarrhea that killed my little one). The kitties had a little cat tent with towels and blankets to sleep in, which they liked and little one even climbed on top of, and some little yarn toys and 2 small furry stuffed animals to cuddle up to, and a hot water bottle. I thought I was doing everything I could. Why didn't the SPCA tell me I might need kitten formula instead of wet food? They never mentioned that in the orientation, they said 5 week olds should eat warm, wet food and kibble with a little water in it. Why didn't they tell me not to feed the liver when I told them about it as a "victory-finally got them to eat with gusto"? Why did they tell me a little blood in the stool 4 days ago was probably okay? I told them my work situation- 8-5, why didn't they tell me I needed to have more time for them?

   This is mostly my fault, I know, but I wasn't given a fighting chance, so my kittens weren't either. I gave the other one to them as well- I think she was also dehydrated, so I thought she'd have a better chance there than with me; it never occurred to me until I read here that they would put her down also. I am so sorry and so sad that the kitty I was so irritated with last night has now died. Maybe I was frustrated with their poop and stink and all the climbing, but I wanted them to thrive, not to die! :(

   I'm sorry I let you guys down, mostly for the kitties. I tried my best. Rest in Peace poor darling. I am sorry I failed you.

   Posted 2 years ago by Dana Miller #

8. 

   Dana, you did your best and must try not to feel guilty that the little orphaned baby died. Without you it stood no chance at all. You tried your best to help and you were not given enough information by SPCA to know what to do. You are a cat lover and a sensitive human being, so the death of this little one will hit you hard, but it was not your fault. Please stay on TDK and the people here will help you a lot. ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Dana)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

   Posted 2 years ago by Pollys_Mum_in_UK_2605 #

9. 

   Dana, it's NOT YOUR FAULT---it's THEIR fault--they should know kittens that young need care every few hours and shouldn't go to someone who is not home most of the time. As I said above, they were too young to go to someone without experience or knowledge; you did what you thought was the right thing, and Bless you for that, you wanted them to have a chance at life. Sometimes even though we do our best they don't survive. {{{HUGS}}}

   Posted 2 years ago by Sheba's Mom in Phoenix, AZ 10/8 #

10. 

    Oh, Dana, please don't blame yourself! It's okay. These little ones need a lot of care, and you did help them. Some of them just aren't very strong, and those of us who have fostered many many babies still lose some. They aren't born with a fighting chance, or they are sick, or they just fade away. But you did help. Think of it: if you were sick and you couldn't get better, would you rather be out in the cold, hungry and sick, all alone, or with someone who wanted the best for you and would hold and comfort you? I'd rather be loved.

    I know it's going to be hard, but you're right - you should have been told. You need information, someone with experience to call when things aren't working right, and lots of time and supplies to foster. You also should have been told that sometimes, despite all we do, these little ones are not meant for a long life on earth. You have to basically become a mother cat, and you just weren't ready for that. It's not your fault at all.

    Thank you for being willing to try fostering. You did your best, and no one can do any better than that.

    Look up the "Rainbow Bridge" poem... that always helps when I feel sad about a lost animal.

    Posted 2 years ago by FosterMom #

11. 

    Oh, thank you both. I just know one of you guys would have known what to do and she'd have survived, that's partly why i feel bad-someone else would probably have been able to save her.

    Thank you for not hating me for my mistakes. I will have to think about this and maybe figure something else out as a way to help out. Maybe I can visit the adult cats and just pet them or something less intense like that. I'm glad there are people like you who can do this successfully though!

    Posted 2 years ago by Dana Miller #

12. 

    Dana, you did your best and that's all you could do... You gave the kitten love, and that means she will be at Rainbow Bridge playing with all the other kitties who were loved...{{{{Dana}}}}

    Posted 2 years ago by 2bpurring #

13. 

    Yes, I am sure she is there, playing just as she should be.
    Thank you all.

    Posted 2 years ago by Dana Miller #

14. 

    Dana - there is every chance that even an experienced foster-parent would not have been able to save this little one. Please, don't beat yourself over this. You did all you knew to do. My heart aches for you.
    I'm happy to see that you are still interested in helping... even if in a different capacity. {{Dana}}

    Posted 2 years ago by 2 Popoki #

15. 

    I think she was already sick when they gave her to you---even with an experienced person she probably wouldn't have made it. All of us who have tried to save kittens know the pain of losing them no matter how hard we try---it comes with the territory. I applaud you for still being willing to volunteer---Bless you!

    Posted 2 years ago by Sheba's Mom in Phoenix, AZ 10/8 #

16. 

    *Beats Dana over the head (ever so gently)* IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT!!! You did what you could, which is a heck of a lot more than many. Well done, for voluntering in the first place. You should feel proud of yourself, not sorry, even though you will feel sad because the little one died. IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT. (Sorry to shout , but I wanted to get the message across. I hope I didn't hurt your head.)

    Posted 2 years ago by Pollys_Mum_in_UK_2605 #

17. 

    Okay. I believe you. And I've spent enough time looking at Rainbow Bridge that I feel better. I hope little girl knew I loved her. Sweet little thing. I stroked her head gently the way she liked it all the way to the clinic.
    Blessings to everyone here for their big hearts, and bless all the furry ones waiting in shelters for homes, and all the ones on the mean streets especially.

    Posted 2 years ago by Dana Miller #

18. 

    Dana, I know how horrible it is to lose kittens, it breaks your heart. But, as FosterMom says, even the most experienced foster mums lose kittens. As many as 20-40 percent of stray and feral kittens die, it's called fading kitten syndrome. You don't know what may have happened before they came to you. they could well have caught a dangerous virus from mum during pregnancy or birth; there may have been birth trauma, she may not have had enough good food while pregnant, she may not have had enough milk for them if she wasn't getting enough food. If the SPCA had them for only two or three hours before they gave them to you, they probably didn't get any kind of a check-up. They could well have been sick when you got them. And if it was a reputable brand of kitten wet food that triggered the diarrhoea -- well, how does ANYONE guard against that?

    That said, try not to blame the SPCA too much, I don't know what it's like in the States but here in NZ, they get no money from the government, they have no resources except what people give them and they operate more or less entirely on the goodwill of volunteers who are not necessarily either experienced or even there more than a few hours a week. They probably told you as much as they knew about the kittens, may have thought they were older than they were or in better shape and sent you home with them assuming there'd be no problems. Too many animals, not enough resources.

    What I do know is that these babies wouldn't have had any chance at all without you and people like you. Please don't lose the will to help these babies, in whatever way you feel most comfortable doing.

    Posted 2 years ago by jcat #

19. 

    Dana - I am joining the "It's NOT your fault" chorus... From what you described, the shelter probably had not fully evaluated the kittens before passing them on to you. Many feral kits have underlying health problems that may not show up for days or weeks.

    It is always hard to lose a furbaby, even when they are annoying fuzzbutts, but the earlier posters are right - you cared and you tried. And you are still a caring and willing to help person. You gave them a home, however briefly, and they knew it. The world needs more people like you to help the wee ones! {{{{{Dana and the babies}}}}}

    Posted 2 years ago by nawlins catmom #

20. 

    Hey everyone,

    I just wanted to report that this morning I heard from the SPCA. They are rehabbing the other kitten, the one I returned along with the poor darling that was put down. They, too, are having quite the time getting baby to eat much of anything, but they're giving her fluids and she's doing better now. I am so relieved. They reassured me that the death of the other kitty was not my fault, not that I needed much more reassurance than I got here and from my neighbors and friends, but it was nice to get. They sort of invited me to take her back when she gets healthy, or to take in another, older set, but I really have to think about it. The neighbor who visited them during the day came and spoke to me about them, and she said it before I could even ask- that it was frantic, and chaotic, and almost a little scary in that room, that the kitties were not at peace, especially not the active little darling who passed on so quickly. I just feel SO relieved that someone else understood how I felt. I've said goodbye to baby kitty, have wished her spirit well, and told her I'm sorry but that I tried my best. Her spirit lingers above my home but it is welcome there. :)

    Cheers all!

    Posted 2 years ago by Dana Miller #

21. 

    Dana, maybe there's another foster mom that you could talk to and share your experiences. Maybe you can 'shadow' her with some of her kits and see how the process works.

    DON'T GIVE UP on fostering completely... the world needs big hearts like yours.

    Posted 2 years ago by Siobhan #

22. 

    {{{{Dana}}}}} I understand, with what you have been through, you are not ready yet to have another kitty. But you have a big heart, and when the time is ready and you feel more confident I'm sure you will once again open your home. But please don't feel pressured by anyone to do this before you are ready. But the world needs more like you...willing to try!

    Posted 2 years ago by 2bpurring #

23. 

    [[[[[[[[[Dana]]]]]]]]]]

    Posted 2 years ago by Buttercup #

24. 

    Glad you came to peace with it all Dana. Please, don't let this stop you from chatting here ! Please, stick around.

    Posted 2 years ago by 2 Popoki #

25. 

    Dana, I agree that the SPCA did not prepare you sufficiently, that there was nothing more you could have done to save the little one, and that there are other ways for a busy person to help animals than to foster tiny babies. Thank you for coming to TDK, and please do stay.

    Posted 2 years ago by Leeny #

26. 

    I'm so glad that the other little guy is going to make it. You know, the reason that I'm able to foster so frequently is that I am a homemaker. Right now, I'm in grad school, but I have to get out of class every three or four hours if I'm there all day, just so I can come home and feed/check on/love those little munchkins. It's really not a good job for someone who is away for eight to ten hours a day, and that's certainly not your fault!

    Although I always encourage people to try fostering if they think they can do it, I also want you to know that there are plenty of ways to help St. Francis's forgotten creatures (or Mother Nature's, if you aren't religious :) ). If you are up for fostering again, maybe some older kits who don't need you every four hours would be better, or ask your SPCA about fostering adults who come from neglect or post-surgery. They also sometimes need foster homes for adult dogs, who might be better with your dog. They might need someone to answer the phone for them, or to help with mailings. Your willing spirit is what matters. And stick around TDK! You never know what you might learn or be able to teach us.

    Posted 2 years ago by FosterMom #

27. 

    I too am sorry for your not likeing the mess of those poor babies,they have to learn like all animals,and there loney and miss there mom so they want to be with you.its all worth it if you can stand a few messes and a kitten or two up your leg.It a hard job but someones gotta do it.

    Posted 2 years ago by mom #

28. 

    Awww, Dana...I am so sorry for all the anguish you have gone through....I too, agree that it was NOT your fault. I hope you can be at peace with it and move on. Perhaps sometime you might want to consider an older kitten or cat to foster. I hope you will continue to chat with us on TDK!

    Posted 2 years ago by katthays #

29. 

    Dana - so glad to hear that the 2nd kit is doing better! Perhaps you could volunteer AT the shelter, loving the kits and the older cats that had to be surrendered 'cuz their human died... And when you are REALLY ready, and not guilted into it, you can decide if you want to try fostering again. I agree with the earlier posts - an older cat in need of rehab or an older set of kits needing socialization might be a better match for you right now!

    Posted 2 years ago by nawlins catmom #

30. 

    I think JCAT hit the nail on the head -- "these babies were too young for you. If you've never fostered before, then I think the SPCA were crazy to give them to you as a first try."

    Also, yelling at a young kitten in frustration is a sure sign that you do not have the patience to foster young kittens. I would suggest you give up on this idea. I am sorry one died on you and that it was the one who was clingy and crying. God has other plans for that little one.

    Posted 2 years ago by SylMiaFelixMomma #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply »

You must log in to post.