Foster Care Information

Orphaned kittens 3-4 weeks old

Temperature
Make sure the kittens are warm and stay warm. They can't regulate their own body temperature, so do not let then get to cold or hot. If they are cold warm them up gradualy. Hold them in your hand and let your body temp. warm them, or place them in a box lined with towels freash from the dryer. Avoid using heating pads, which can short out or become too hot.

Feeding time

hydration
feeding
ocular, nasal discharge and sneezing
gaining wieght daily
elimination
It is very important to note that small kittens need to be stimulated to go to the bathroom. By 3 weeks most can do this themselves but might still need some help in the absance of a mother cat or if the mother cat is not interetsed in looking after them. internal parasites
when to start deworming cat vaccines
Feline Social Skills

CREDITS: Some information comes from the Kitten USA 2000-2001 article "Be a Hero to an Orphan"

fostering an Intack male without worring about spraying!

[example of a cage for uneutered male cats, cat would need toys and beding to make more comfortable.]

Often very sweet lovable uneuttered males cats are brought in or turned over to the shelter, normally they are neutered and then can go for adoption, after 2 weeks they will have lost all the urges to spray or wander looking for a mate. Unfortunately some of these fellows come in and have or get URI. Since they can't be neutered while they are ill and most people worry about spraying, these cats have little to no hope of being fostered. Cats 2 years and over have the high posiblility of marking territory in the house, but with a little extra set-up you can help one of these guys make it to adoption!!

First, please read the section on fostering a cat with URI if you haven't to get all the information you need.

[model 340 from Ultralite Products, larger models avaliable as well as cheaper ones.]

[model 340 from Ultralite Products, larger models avaliable as well as cheaper ones.]

In order to foster an unneutered male, you will need a warm place for them to live (a finished basement, room without carpets or heated garage are ideal for a kitty that may spray) you will also need some type of large cage, i.e.: a dog crate, cat condo or a home made wire and wood (or plastic) cage for him to live in while he recovers from the URI. The cat is quite happy in these large cages, and with TLC from you and fresh air he'll get better and be able to be neutered.
Some People are concerned about the cat being unhappy in the cage, this isn't the case as long as you spend some time with him and give him some toys to play with.. Also when you consider the alternative this is a much better solution for the big guy. Once he's able to be neutered he'll be ready for a new home and become a full blown house cat. Some people foster the cat for a recovery time and start to let them loose in an isolated room (inside now, not a garage) while others after a few days recover send Mr. Kitty back to be adopted.

Useful links| Nursing and Mother cats

Back to http://come.to/fostercats [and dogs]

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