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About Jana Connell RVT, CVT
Expertise
PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING TO ME: I am NOT a vet and do NOT diagnose diseases. That is only for a licensed Veterinarian to do. I will give you suggestions and steer you toward calling your vet for help. You can call the vet's office and talk to the technician there or the vet at times. Don't be afraid to call them! If you have a serious issue with your pet please post it to one of the veterinarians in here- I will tell you the same thing in my answer. IF your pet is injured or in an emergency situation, CALL YOUR VET- Do not wait and post in here. Just call the vet's office and get them in to see the vet right away. Critical treatment time is lost if you seek answers here when you should have your precious pet at the vets!! Don't sit at home waiting for an answer when your pet is critically ill or injured!! I can answer most questions about small animal and wildlife care as well as small animal nutrition. I can also answer questions about all phases of dental care for small animals. I DO NOT do birds (unless it is wildlife or songbirds) or HAMSTERS/GERBILS/CHINS/GUINEA PIGS/REPTILES/FROGS/RABBITS/PET BIRDS OF ANY KIND so please submit these questions to the appropriate sections. I, as well as other experts in here, do NOT do homework questions- that is for YOU to do! Please respect these rules for all of us. Thanks!

Experience
I have over 35 years experience in the field of veterinary medicine. I specialized in small animals and did wildlife rehab for over 25 years, mostly raptors, squirrels and opossums. I am a Small Animal Nutritional Consultant with 6 certificates from Hills Pet Foods, CNM and Purina. I also specialized in Small Animal Dentistry which is a field I truly love.

Organizations
Audubon,World Wildlife Federation, American Society of Veterinary Dental Technicians.

Education/Credentials
Licensed with California and Oregon, RVT and CVT. Certified Veterinary Dental Technician Have over 500 logged hours of Continuing Education Credits(that means I keep up to date!).

You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Pet Birds > Ask the Veterinarian > Taking in a Stray Mother Cat and her 3 Kittens

Ask the Veterinarian - Taking in a Stray Mother Cat and her 3 Kittens

Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT - 11/8/2009

Question
Hello Jana,

I hope you can help me, I'm not sure if this falls under homework questions. I'd just really like the advise from someone who knows their stuff. Please tell me if you can't help me :)
This is more of a precaution as I have not taken the mother cat and her kittens in yet.
I had seen them by my friends house the other day and they said she often hangs out between their house and their neighbors house.
She's a very friendly cat. She allowed me to go up to her and pet her. She was covered in dirt and her fur was crusty with sweat and little bits of debris were caught in her fur. She's seems very small and fragile for a mother cat.
The kittens could walk about and jump around, but I have no idea how old they are.
What I would really like to do is taken them home, get them checked up and healthy then find homes for them.
Now my questions are more advise based then medical.
I was wondering if this is a good idea at all. I'm a college student (I no, it's a bad idea, but I have 3 roommates willing to help) and have my own apartment, but my real concern is how much would it cost? I'd like to get the kittens up-to-date on their shots, as well as the mother. And what about sickness they might already have? Is food and litter going to cost a bunch, I'd like to give them the good stuff?
Generally how long does it take before i can get the kittens right for adoption? And how hard is it to get them adopted?
Thank you for your time, I just really want to help these cuties.
Stephanie

Answer
Well Stephanie,

It is a wonderful thing that you want to help her and her kittens. The biggest cost is to get the mother spayed, but she needs to have that done very quickly. Next in cost is an exam and a leukemia test at the very least. The reason for this is that if she has it, the chances of her babies having it are very good, which is very bad.

If she is clean, then the babies will be. You don't want to adopt out kittens with a fatal disease, and leukemia is fatal eventually.

The kittens vaccinations are going to cost the same as the mom's, and these run about $14- $22 each depending on where you go and if the vet will cut you some slack for helping these darlings. Some will, some won't. You should be able to get a certificate from your local Humane Society that will pay for part of the spaying of the mom. These can be a huge help financially.

Get her a slicker brush at Wal-mart for her coat. It will improve however, once her nutritional needs are being met because right now they are not. Cat's don't sweat via their hair coats, so she may have oil or something on her mixed with the dirt.

Getting her kitty litter is fairly cheap- I use Johnny Cat for my daughter's kitten. I feed Science Diet food and one 8 lb bag is about $12 or so at a pet store. Some of the vet's sell it cheaper than the pet stores do. She really (the mom that is) needs to be on Kitten food as well as the kittens at this stage. If they are walking and playing they are old enough for solid food and this will really help the mom. She needs Kitten Growth for all of them. Don't buy Purina Kitten Chow or they will all get diarrhea. It is coated with milk and cats are lactose intolerant.

Since prices vary so much from vet to vet, you need to call around and ask for the prices of spaying, vaccinations, etc.

If you can do it, some vets will sell you the vaccine much cheaper and you can give the shots yourself. Ask your animal lover friends- maybe someone has done them before.

Then you only need to pay the vet for spaying and the leukemia test and a lesser price for the vaccinations.

I hope that helps. I understand about college- my daughter and myself are both in college as well.

Let me know how it goes.

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