On September 9th, I drove down to the shelter and picked up a litter of kittens to foster. Meet Corny Cornucopia, Tornado Tommy, Lemon Drop Larry, and Meowy Shelley (from top to bottom)
They were feral and were on bite hold for 10 days because when they were found they resisted being captured in the only way they knew how. The safest option is to put them on "bite hold" and only allow people who have been vaccinated against rabies to handle them on that one in a million chance they were exposed prior to the bite.
I was told they weren't eating that well when I picked them up. It is so hard to assess feral kitties when you bring them home because they are so fearful.. are they not eating because they are ill or because they are feral? are they not using the box or having diarrhea because of the stress?
I gave them some food that they could not resist, so at least I knew they were getting some calories, but they still felt very thin and the diarrhea was concerning. I reached out to the shelter and got some dewormer and when things still weren't going in the right direction I pulled out some milk for them and they started turning the corner.
Except Lemon Drop Larry.
He was still struggling. He was grumpy and stressed over being held and cleaned and tended to. Just when I started getting hopeful, he passed away It was absolutely heartbreaking to walk into the kitten room to see him there.
With that, I was not taking any chances and they spent a few days getting fluids and regular care and they started to pull through. I waited another good week before the kittens graduated from the bathroom to the full foster room to be better socialized and on the off chance they had some major communicable disease, I wouldn't have as much to disinfect.
Corny came around fairly easily. He was not a lap cat, but I didn't really tighten him that much anymore. Meowy Shelley and Tornado Tommy were less than thrilled when I was walking around but in the end, they realized that humans were a good thing. When they made weight (to be neutered) I was a bit hesitant about sending them back not 100% fully socialized, but I thought it might be a good idea that they get into their homes and let their people love on them, which would be more frequently than I could
They were quite playful and awful cute.. it was totally fun to be part of their lives. I am guessing I am done fostering for 2021. I am considering investing in some new flooring for the foster room as what is in there really isn't kitten proof and the water is getting into the joints of the flooring and we have a little warping, but I'm not sure when or even if I am going to do that. I do want to do some more catification in there with shelves and other climbing options, but then again I also want to do that for my own cats.