u/GasRemote6808 — reddlx

FIV/FeLV testing for 7 week old kittens- when?

TL;DR: I'd like some guidance on when to get our two 7 week stray kittens tested for these diseases.

Background:

A feral mom had her babies under our porch. We are adopting two. They've been quarantined for two weeks since we nabbed them.

my fiance took the two kittens to their first vet appointment a couple of days ago; i couldn't go due to a doctor appointment. They got dewormer, the FVRCP vaccines, had their claws trimmed, and the vet said they looked healthy and said we could introduce them to our completely indoors senior cat in two days (today).

I asked over text if they got bloodwork for these two diseases, and my fiance told me no. He asked if i wanted him to ask about it, i said yes, and the vet said that they don't do either until at least 12 weeks because of the maternal antibodies. this was a concern for me- i've never had kittens NOT be tested at least once by or at 8 weeks. I've had many cats all my life, many strays and rescues, and since we have this senior cat, i do not want to risk it (and personally never risked before.)

this has caused tension that I'm not looking for advice over- neither of us want to delay meeting our resident baby, but i am staunchly against potentially passing something so deadly as FeLV. i want to know if it is genuinely correct to get them tested now, or if we should be waiting? If we wait, how long should we wait to before getting a test run?

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u/GasRemote6808 — 5 days ago

▲ 72 r/Feral_Cats

Socrates + Toffee: Well, that was fast!

I know, lots of updates, but I figured a very positive one is always welcome!

Not even 72 hours into having them, they've already fallen asleep in my lap twice and run up to me when I tap on the door. Sock still gets flighty when i get close, but Toffee stays where she is and even jumps on me without a toy involved. I can pick them up without wiggles, help them groom their butts sometimes, and they adore neck scritches. As I type, Toffee has collapsed asleep while grooming, and Sock is a heap atop her.

they also dont cry for me when i leave most of the time, or if they do, it only lasts a couple meows!

Also, I'm confident little Socrates is also a girl from a brief glimpse! I was hoping whatever cat we got as a companion to our senior cat was a girl, and now we have double the dames to keep our pathetic tonkinese busy. Sock is still too wiggly to get a good look or a photo to ask, so i will leave it to the vets to confirm.

One more week until the vet, so not much longer until the end of quarantine is in sight!

u/GasRemote6808 — 14 days ago

▲ 150 r/Feral_Cats

Update on 2 street kittens, +cat tax!

1 day update of my previous post asking about how often i should be visiting these fellas, plus cat tax! Photos are from before and then after a very long play session with a newly discovered favourite toy: the fabled Worm On A String (removed their googly eyes first).

Black is Socrates (aka Sock, unknown sex, too wiggly for now), tabby is Toffee Von Puddington (aka Toffee, female). We intend to adopt these two after everything is sorted if they don't have a major condition that would affect our existing cat. I have a soft spot for black cats due to the stigma against them, and we wouldn't dare adopt one without another. Toffee won my fiance over fast.

Their littermates and momma are being looked after by our neighbour due to me and my fiance being disabled and unable to juggle a very feral mom and four tiny beepers + our existing senior cat and lizard. these two were the bullies of the litter, so it also gives the other two kittens a chance to grow stronger and nurse from their mom longer. fiance used to bottlefeed wildlife (mostly baby possums and squirrels) so if a bottle is needed, he has the experience.

Both Toffee and Sock got a dawn bath after our first post and it went impressively well. Sock didn't even care about the blow drier! Additionally, Sock is already using the litter box, and has climbed into my lap during playtime and meowed for pets and attention! Toffee has climbed over my legs, but is still more skittish.

We know Toffee's sex because we had an ER visit at 4 am because she had black tarry stool, but the good news is they ran tests and strongly believe it is due to diet change. Outside, they ate on low grade kibble, occasional tuna, and nursed on mom. Then, we gave them Purina Pro wet food and kibble mixed with KMR, so it was like giving a frail victorian-era peasant child a flavourful curry made by a Michelin chef. Tummy Hurt Disease; i relate strongly.

We got 24 jars of BeechNut chicken and turkey baby food and were told to feed them this for 2 to 3 days, then reintroduce The Good Stuff slowly. They have their vet visit in 9 days, so it won't be long now before we know how long they'll be in quarantine.

We have a large playpen ready for them, a second playpen to separate and do one on one socializing, and our resident cat has already seen and heard them from afar with no negative reaction, only curiosity (we held them in our arms while they burrito-dried after the bath). he is a very gentle (and kinda pathetic) breed, so we trust him to be a good boyo. the lizard is a lizard; unless a cricket is involved, he cares not for the agenda of humans or sentient lint balls.

so, here is hoping the rest of the wait goes well and they get a clean bill of health or minimal issues. i am now just absolutely exhausted after a very raucous ~60 hours between becoming a new father of tiny twin fuzzy bumper cars and now. the sweet song of slumber cannot grab me soon enough.

u/GasRemote6808 — 16 days ago

▲ 9 r/Feral_Cats

took in two street kittens: how often do I need to check on them?

Hello! I have recently taken in two 6 week old littermates while working on catching the other two (also will try to socialize) and momma (who will be TNR), and have them in a 25 sq.ft. storage room connected to my bathroom as the earliest date a vet can see them is june 3rd. there's an obscenely serious feral problem here, and all the vets are slammed when kitten season hits. it's the same for miles.

this means the two need to be quarantined from my senior cat and other small pet (which they shouldn't be able to get to) until cleared medically, and it also means the two will be in this space that whole time. i have had cats my whole life and some as young as 8 weeks, but these are the youngest two i have ever had.

How often should I check on them? Right now, I'm trying to establish a routine of feedings every 6 hours, and make sure to stay with them at least an hour or two when i do, determined by their behaviour. They're very early into their socializing and don't eagerly trust me, but at the same time one has eaten off of my hand of their own volition. the painful part is them meowing for me when i leave, but do my best to ignore because i know they're fed and safe.

some facts about the situation:

- they got a flea comb bath, didn't see any eggs or fleas. no noticed signs of ringworm, no signs of mites. i have a brief shower after interacting with them and never wear clothes i enter with outside of the room.

- their main meals are eating wet food mixed with KMR, and a little bit of churu for smell. they're given this when i enter the room for positive socialization, and they eat this like absolute monsters.

- they have a bowl of kitten kibble mixed with cat milk supplement to graze on through the day, since theyre so young. i have seen them on camera eating it.

- both are able to pee and poo on their own and have done so a few times. the floor is lined with training pads and towels, and they have a litter box nearby after the kittens felt comfortable using the pad outside of their hiding box for their business. there is another litter box further away in another corner.

- they have a cardboard 'hiding' box on its side lined inside with a fleece blanket and a gentle warmer under the box set to 100 F to keep them comfortable through the layers. if they seem especially scared, i have a blanket on top that i lower over the opening halfway so they can see me but feel more secure

- there's a good assortment of toys ranging from soft kickers and heartbeat plush, to balls with bells and crinkle toys, and a scratcher to mess with. there's a white noise machine in there set to bird sounds during the day, and night sounds during night. i have extra toys around, too, to swap out daily including wand toys i can play with them with (though they get scared, so i opt to roll a little ball to them) and some i want to keep away from them until medically cleared as they're not the easiest to clean.

- i have a baby monitor camera to observe them while not in the room and am notified when things are happening, so i know if they're up to shenanigans or can be alerted quickly in case something happened.

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u/GasRemote6808 — 17 days ago