u/Birdsooong

The blue jay was doing a LOT

Our previous Christmas-time fosters Egg and Nog

6 years of fostering and somehow I’ve completely avoided ringworm until now. I’m doing the basics: isolating in a room, gloves when handling, clothes I only wear with them, vacuuming, washing their beds, disinfecting cat furniture…

Any tips and tricks that have helped you?

Also, our vet said topical cream would be fine to clear things up, but I thought oral itraconazole was standard practice? What if I miss a spot with the cream?

When two kittens of a litter end up sticking around for a long time before getting adopted, I always struggle to decide if/when they should be considered a bonded pair. Of course I’d always rather see them go together, but finding the line between should go together and need to go together can be tricky. Especially when I’ve watched the bond develop slowly over time.

Some obvious signs I look out for: always sleeping together, cleaning or bunting each other often, crying/distressed when separated, looking for reassurance from each other in new places or in times of stress.

Any signs or insights to add?

Edit: don’t think I made it clear enough originally that yes, kittens do much better in pairs, even if they aren’t bonded.

In Connecticut, USA. These parasitoid wasps are in the Ichneumonid family (subfamily Ophioninae). I used to know which caterpillar species this was, but I’ve forgotten… maybe a prepupal tulip-tree beauty (Epimecis hortaria)? If anyone has species guesses for either critter, please share!

Obligatory foster picture, unrelated to question :)

A vet explained to a fellow foster that kitten tummies are itty bitty, and so they need smaller portions of wet food than we are inclined to give them (with dry food out 24/7). Like teaspoons instead of tablespoons (obviously changing with age). This was in the context of persistent diarrhea (post deworming and combo testing), which the vet believed to be caused by the quantity of wet food the kittens were being fed.

However, everything I seem to read here and elsewhere online says to feed them as much as they will eat. Is this only applicable to young kittens (4-6 weeks)? Or should there be an asterisk? Like “feed kittens as much as they will eat, unless it’s making their poops horrible, then maybe scale it back.” Or was the vet wrong? Any thoughts appreciated :)