Separating Kittens from mom

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Kitkat9301
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Separating Kittens from mom

Post by Kitkat9301 »

So with Emma better after her spaying and on the mend, I am working on trying to get her babies placed. Oct 1 I must give them up, I will have limited time to spend with them due to a very aggressive work schedule through the holidays. The good part is these babies will have spent 12 full weeks with mom - so hopefully will be better socialized. They are lively kittens and I have now allowed them roaming my home for the past few days. With Emma feeling better, it seemed to stress her out today and she followed them like a hawk, but she's finally laid down and is resting while her babies continue to play and roam.

I am hoping this effort will make their separation less impactful for Emma and better for the kittens in terms of their breaking their bond from her. That frankly already seems to have happened.

So if these babies end up back at the shelter(its a great place by the way), does anyone here know if it could alter their social skills? Could they become shy and fearful or will they still be young enough to easily adapt.
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Mollycat
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Re: Separating Kittens from mom

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Just my inexperienced thoughts but I wouldn't want any cat in a shelter unless it was absolutely necessary, and from what you've said so far I just don't see the need or use of doing that to them. Maybe there are circumstances why you can't keep hold of them?

Going straight from their mother to a new home, they are still wired to learn and develop social skills. My gut feeling says interrupting that with a spell in a shelter can't possibly be good. And if the shelter is full as most are, then taking up space and resources where another cat could be housed seems crazy. As I said before, in your position I would be fighting to keep them until they get their forever homes.
Kitkat9301
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Re: Separating Kittens from mom

Post by Kitkat9301 »

I hear you. I would hold onto them except I won't be home a lot from Oct 1 on which means the kittens will need to stay locked up alone all day in a bedroom and I will also be traveling some overnight, although I have a cat sitter I could use for this. If they were at a point where I could have them roaming the house unsupervised I would. Maybe things will change in a couple of weeks. But the shelter is working with me on adoption. We did have a couple of people interested this weekend from the PetSmart event but the shelter actually requires the entire family be present to meet the kitty's , so they were supposed to be bringing the entire family to the shelter this coming Saturday when I drop them off for the day.
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fjm
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Re: Separating Kittens from mom

Post by fjm »

Ideally, of course, the kittens would go from your house to their new home, but given how very well you have socialised them through these important early months I think they will be more than capable of coping with a few days in a good shelter if necessary. A hell hole would be different, of course, but a short stay in a well run place with plenty of kitten-loving volunteers should not set them back much. But there are still a couple of weeks for hem to find homes while they are with you - fingers and paws crossed!
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Re: Separating Kittens from mom

Post by booktigger »

Mollycat wrote: Mon Sep 16, 2019 8:22 pm Just my inexperienced thoughts but I wouldn't want any cat in a shelter unless it was absolutely necessary, and from what you've said so far I just don't see the need or use of doing that to them. Maybe there are circumstances why you can't keep hold of them?

Going straight from their mother to a new home, they are still wired to learn and develop social skills. My gut feeling says interrupting that with a spell in a shelter can't possibly be good. And if the shelter is full as most are, then taking up space and resources where another cat could be housed seems crazy. As I said before, in your position I would be fighting to keep them until they get their forever homes.
Unfortunately, not all rescues are set up to home from foster homes, which seems to be the case here. I fostered one cat for nearly a year while being advertised, the rescue suggested taking her back which I did in tears. She got homed less than a month after going back. I'm glad the shelter insists on everyone meeting the pets.
Kitkat9301
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Re: Separating Kittens from mom

Post by Kitkat9301 »

I actually think they were probably hoping I would keep the kittens. I would honestly if I felt I could give them the love and attention they deserve long term. My last kitty Max was a wonderful easy going orange tabby and it was just he and I. He was so easy going and loved being around and socializing with people so much, I think he would have loved being in a home with a family and kids to shower him with love and attention non stop.
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