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stray kittens


Sent to Cat Experts July 01, 2006 4:22 a.m.

We've recently begun feeding about 10 outside cats (a neighbor moved and didn't take them) and want to start having one or more neutered each week. Our worry is after-care since we don't have any way to bring them inside after their procedures. It's too hot here (Texas) to close them up in one of the metal outbuildings. Also, we have a mother cat and 3 kittens at least 2 months old. Would it be okay to take them all in at one time? We've been medicating the runt and feeding him many times a day and are afraid to take the mother away from him for even a day. Since they will be going to Cause for Paws, I don't believe there's any option for them to stay there for any time. I'm sure our regular vet could keep them all together, but the cost would be much higher.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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July 01, 2006 8:26 a.m. (4 hours and 3 minutes later)
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I would suggest considering setting up a 'hospital crate' in your home if you can. I use a big German Shepherd size wire crate for my sick cats as a 'hospital' I can put a cat box in the front, bedding in a box in the back for a cat to hide in. You can throw an old sheet over the whole crate to let the cat have privacy in their hospital space. I also use a 'shelf' in the crate for the cat to have an upper area to climb up to. I slide a board through the wire of the crate and set up one of the cat window perches using the board and the crate sides for supports. They also make 'cat condos' and www.petedge.com usually has them at a fairly reasonable price. The dog crates are cheaper though and can often be found at yard sales or in the newspaper for very little money.
Yes I'd do the mom and kittens at the same time and if you think you can find the kittens homes this might be a good time to separate them from mom.
Hope this helps you!

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Reply to nholmes
Sent July 01, 2006 9:06 a.m. (39 minutes and 50 seconds later)

Well, unfortunately we already have that setup inside the house for another stray kitten who was in very dire straits but still became pregnant and would not have survived the surgery to abort those kittens. She's a poopy butt Manx and we're treating her for diarrhea and also treating the runt with antibiotics now. We have a very full house right now with 4 dogs and 6 parrots and 3 other cats--plus the 4 in the "sick room." Bringing anybody else into the mix would be a disaster. As I said, it's too hot outside to contain them inside a building, but we definitely want to get them all fixed--as long as they won't have serious problems afterward from being outside.

Thanks for your help--I'm sure it would work for 99% of the people. In fact, we did that with the first two stray kittens we took in and had spayed and it worked just fine.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
July 01, 2006 9:07 a.m. (1 minute and 29 seconds later)

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PictureNancyH  -- Cat Health, Behavior, Care Expert -- 100% Positive Feedback on 2086 Cat Accepts
30+ years cat owner, rescue, breeding, study of behavior & health care

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