Expert: Shanti Zinzi - 5/17/2011

Question
Hi
I have 2 kitten that I found on the street it's about 6 weeks old and some people found them in the trash can in a bag so they rescued them and I took them. But there's a problem the bigger boy sucks the little one's penis and the little one cries.... I punish the big one by hitting him slightly on the mouth. What should I do? Is it good that I'm doing? I see this is not effective because he continues. Except today I did it 3 times and he's sitting in a corner. Will he damage his brother's penis?
I'm looking forward for your answer,
Penny

Answer
Hi Penny,
Thank you for saving them. Are you sure they are six weeks old? They might be younger.
Well, they are completely traumatized not having there mother. If you want then to have the most success as adult later in life, I would call all of the shelters around and rescue programs and try to find a surrogate mom. You might have to have a few lined up because some queens may not accept the kittens. He needs to suckle a mom cat. They both do, and they need to get there proper skills from a mom cat.
They will not have proper social or psychological skills as adults and i often see these poor kittens grow up to have cognitive issues and some other unresolvable issues.
Make sure the mother you try to introduce them with is not overwhelmed herself with too many kittens-for ex-if she has 2-4 that should be fine. But don't try a mom with 8 kittens-she already has too many.  
If a queen refuses them, definitely try another.  Be there to monitor so they don't get hurt. You can try at the local shelter, they should allow you to try and if you mention you ca foster her and her littler until everyone is weaned they should be happy to help!  
A "good mom cat" often will take struggling kittens if introduced to her. But, someone who is in this line of work may direct you to the cat with the highest probability of success to accept them.
Kittens need each other and there mom in order to grow up into healthy adults. It is kitten season so there will be many, many, many moms cats you just have to find them.
Don't give them to a shelter, bc many shelters will put them to sleep. So call rescues and shelters and ask around. You can take a mom cat from the shelter and give her a temporary foster home at your house and save her life and hopefully she accepts them. When they are properly weaned she can go back to the shelter for her spay surgery. You could try an spca or humane society.
Do NOT punish him or punish a cat ever, this will cause a whole host of other problems. Just get him a mom cat preferably today if you can. You can give him a kitten bottle with kitten formula to suck on in the meantime. Yes, don't allow him to suck his brother's penis but give him a bottle until then, poor dear he needs his mom so much :(((
Best of luck! Remember kittens need each other to learn skills and their mom, they should NEVER ever be raised solo. These guys really need a mom cat. And other kittens to be around until at least 8 weeks for weaning. And with other kittens at least until 10-12 weeks and ideally with another buddy their whole life.