Daily Life

Your Guide to Fostering Feral Kittens

Cats that live on the street have tougher lives than their domestic counterparts, often suffering from illness and getting into frequent battles over territory. To prevent an increase in the feral cat population, finding and fostering kittens is a great way to help the community. Not only are you providing a home for vulnerable animals, but you are also relieving the strain on charities and other groups that take care of stray animals until a permanent home can be found.

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Keep Kittens with Mothers Unless Weaned

If the kittens still have their mother, it is best to keep them together if possible. This is because the kittens will need her milk. As soon as they are weaned, however, it is best to separate them. Not only does this help the kittens gain independence, but it is a natural part of a cat’s lifecycle, so a female cat can go on to have more litters. If the kittens are orphans, however, you must hand feed them yourself so that they gain weight at a healthy rate.

Take the Kittens to the Vet

No matter what age the kittens are when you find them, you should take them to the vet to be checked for any health complications. They should also be neutered and vaccinated, and this applies to any adult cats you find. Visit easyvet.com to book an appointment. It’s important to know whether any of your foster kittens have illnesses that require additional care or treatment. Ask the vet what you need to do to help the kitten maintain a good level of health.

Housing the Kittens

You must keep any existing pets separate from the feral kittens. This is because the kittens may transfer disease to your pets and also because the disruption might disturb any of your efforts to gain the kittens’ trust. Use a secure crate with blankets and a cardboard box to provide the kittens with additional privacy. If the mother is with them, use a blanket to cover the crate. This will help the mother relax and look after her kittens better.

Monitor Their Weight and Feed Them Regularly

Young kittens grow rapidly when cared for well, so monitoring their weight is essential. If they have no mother to feed them, you can use formula milk and a syringe. When feeding young kittens, you must also stimulate them to go to the bathroom after each meal. This involves gently wiping their behinds with an unscented tissue. At the age of about three or four weeks old, the kittens can move on to solid food.

Help Them Gain Confidence

One of the most important aspects of fostering a feral kitten is helping it to feel confident around humans so that it can be adopted and find a permanent home where it will be properly looked after. It can be hard to say goodbye to something you have helped to raise, but remember that it’s all part of giving the kittens a great start in life.

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