I HATE the local animal shelters

[aidan724]

I really do mean that I absolutely HATE them! I am beyond being mad. Almost a week ago my husband and 13 y/o son were working at a friends house and found a very miserable scene. They found a mother cat who was obviously still nursing that had been killed by another animal. Being that they were out in the country the list of suspects was long. They knew that they had heard mewling kittens for the past hour or so but until they found the mother they weren't worried. After having found her body they set about finding the kittens. They found 3 healthy, fat kittens that were probably about 4 weeks old. Unfortunately they were VERY hungry and wet so they brought them to me. I had intended to take care of them for the night and then set about finding somewhere to take them that had more experience/resources to care for the babies while they needed to be bottle fed. Now that night we bought all that they would need. Litter box, litter, bottles, formula etc. I bottle fed them all night and the next morning I went t calling all the local shelters and cat organizations. By the time I was done I wanted to commit murder! The animal shelters would take them off my hands and put them to sleep. But what really got me were the cat rescues that told me they would not accept kittens that needed to be bottle fed! They wouldn't even give me any advice as to what to feed them, when to start weaning them etc. Now I have done this before but there are some problems with me doing this now. First of all when I did do this before it was years and years ago. Second I'm about 13 weeks pregnant with complications and wasn't really up to taking care of more animals. Lastly I'm allergic to cats. LOL I just can't take them to a shelter and have them put to sleep because they are too much trouble and there are no organizations willing to help.
Here are some pictures...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y220/aidan724/cats/100_1313.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y220/aidan724/cats/100_1314.jpg
They aren't the greatest pictures but they are still cute. So if by chance there is anyone in SC that wants a Christmas kitty please let me know. They have been great with the dogs, the kids and haven't shown (yet) any interest in the birds. One boy (the one on his back) and two girls. LOL

[keet_tweet4]

We have to respect that the animal shelters do not have the time and the space to look after every single animal in the world.

But it is stupid for every cat rescue not to want to take in those kittens. How lame.

They are cute and it is kind of you to care for them. Are you going to adopt them out when they get older?

[mskimber]

they are adorable, tho

[Paper-Hearts]

I would totally take one, if my dog liked cats (she likes to bug them horribly) and I didn't have to pay extra rent for a cat, and I lived in SC. Luckily caged animals don't count as pets, but sadly another cat would.

[Taz the devil]

I would just take all of them. We adopted faith from the Toronto humane society, and she was 8yrs young. We adore this cuddle baby!

[ronsig]

Isn't there a cat forum where you could post the question?
For bird owners, cats are not usually the perfect pet.

Your kittens are so cute. My friend found kittens under similar circumstances, and she found homes for all of them. She kept "Nacho" the cutest kitten in the world.
I hope your kittens will find good homes too.
Sigrid

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/3932/changedcat02cj9.jpg

[aidan724]

While I understand that no shelter can take in every animal and have to pick and choose based on funds etc what gets me is the kittens would be given no chance by any of the 10 different places that I called. Not to mention the fact that I had to pry a bit to find out that a few of them would take them from my hands and put them directly to sleep. It's irritating in the way that they handled my call/request. I'm thinking that one of two things is going to happen. Either my kids are going to get their way and we will end up keeping the 3 of them or I will keep them and adopt them out myself.

[lovesbudgies]

I would keep them and feed them and when they are old enough adopt them out. Don't give the kittens away for free. charge at least 20 bucks so you make sure they all go to loving homes.

[Goldielover]

It won't be long before they will be weaned onto solid food and you don't need to bottle feed. Maybe only a week or so. Things should get considerably easier then, although by that time they will probably be zipping about your house and getting underfoot. It isn't always easy having both cats and birds, but lots of us do manage it. If you decide not to keep them yourself (and good luck in telling the kids that) then I hope you manage to find them some great homes. They deserve it after what they've been through.

[enicol6]

Try to play the heart strings of someone at the kitty rescue. Tell them the reasons that you cannot take care of them and if you take them to the shelter they will be euthanized. They may just say the same thing they have already told you but you may find someone who would be willing. Start calling local vets sometimes the workers are willing. But remember to be very animate that you cannot do it.

The pound is so inundated with animals they just can't do it all. So are the kitty rescues and if they think there is a shred of hope that you will do it, they won't. Be sure to tell everyone your only option is the pound if someone does not step up(even though I know you wouldn't).

If you have no luck, call your animal shelter and tell them you will foster them until they are ready to adopt, they may set you up with supplies. They look as if they only have a few more weeks. The Michigan HS has foster people all the time for sick animals or babies.

Good luck and keep us updated.

[atvchick95]

Here is what you need for to be feeding the kittens It's called KMR ,

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=18523

http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20071030125019/www.drsfostersmith.com/images/Categoryimages/normal/p-33777-43775P-cat.jpg


I know animal shelters (most any way have this) because my sister works in one and has to feed the babies this when they are taken from their mom for what ever reason, plus when she'd foster the ones that didn't have moms, She'd bring it home with her depending on how many cats she was fostering and for how long there were times she'd bring it home by the case


I looked at petsmart.com and couldn't find it BUT that doesn't mean they don't sell it I know alot of stores don't show everything they sell , on their website

also place an Ad on your local craigslist , I'm sure you'll find a loving caring home for them.


p.s. i have never in my life heard of a shelter killing animals that young, that is just down right crazy... and what is the point of a "cat rescue" if they don't take in cats?

[aidan724]

Unfortunately I gave them all all the reasons why I "couldn't" do it and I still came up with zip. With that I have just decided that I will do it and adopt them out myself. Sadly this isn't the first time I've had to do this with puppies or kittens. The local shelters only hold any animal for 7 days regardless and if they aren't ready for adoption on day one they are euthanized. The closest no kill shelter can't accept them because I live in a different county/don't have a local address. The cat rescues won't take them because they need extra care. I'm trying to understand why they are willing to take in adult cats with severe medical problems but would turn away 3 kittens that really only need to be weaned but who am I to judge?
I always got my KMR from the vets office. It never occurred to me to look online. LOL I really do need my head examined.

[Rebeccaveggie]

Good luck with the poor kitties. I hope they are saved. Your doing a great thing.

[Will]

since they're about 4 wks old they'll around the right age to start weaning.
we found 3 kittens in our backyard about 5 yrs ago. they were only a few days old, if that and we bottle fed and kept them :)

[atvchick95]

Unfortunately I gave them all all the reasons why I "couldn't" do it and I still came up with zip. With that I have just decided that I will do it and adopt them out myself. Sadly this isn't the first time I've had to do this with puppies or kittens. The local shelters only hold any animal for 7 days regardless and if they aren't ready for adoption on day one they are euthanized. The closest no kill shelter can't accept them because I live in a different county/don't have a local address. The cat rescues won't take them because they need extra care. I'm trying to understand why they are willing to take in adult cats with severe medical problems but would turn away 3 kittens that really only need to be weaned but who am I to judge?
I always got my KMR from the vets office. It never occurred to me to look online. LOL I really do need my head examined.

Do you know if the no kill shelter has a Box outside for when they're closed for people to drop off their animals?

I know one of my local pounds back home has this, and that's when most people dropped off the Animal After closing because they couldn't afford the 35+ per animal to take them to the pound

I never knew you had to pay to take a animal into the pound until my dad found some pups and took them Because mom said we had too many dogs (which we didn't we have 7 acres and only had 4 dogs out side, don't even know why she cared me and dad took care of all the animals not her lol)

and they told him it would cost him 35 bucks plus processing fee per Pup, he said He wouldn't pay it they were not even his to start with so we ended up keeping them any way ( I always won in those situations)

but that was about 8 yrs or more ago, its no doubt went up since then.

I know it's not good to just drop them off, BUT if you can do it real close to the time they open, they'd only be outside for a little bit, Feed them right before you drop them off - they wouldn't know who dropped them off, so it wouldn't matter if you lived there or not.

but thats only a last resort of course.. but if your allergic to them and pregnant and having complications as it is... it might not be safe to keep them.

Also not sure if you know this ( a lot of people do not) BUT do not change a litter box while you are pregnant! - even washing up after wards isn't enough

my grandmother did it when she was pregnant with one of my aunts and she was born Blind in one eye, and the doctor said it was because she changed the litter box while she was pregnant

there is a technical term for it but i can't remember what is called now.

[Sweety&Tweety]

I would also list them on the website kijiji.com with a small adoption fee. This time of year someone may be looking to find a kitten to add to their family with the holidays right around the corner. Thank you for caring so much about them. I'm sorry you were not given more help by your local shelters/rescues. It sounds like us "budgie people" are more worried about them than the local "cat rescues".

[jessica]

Maybe find someone online in your area that can take care of them and find them homes?

[aidan724]

I did a bit more digging on the no kill shelter and I couldn't drop the cats off there regardless. Evidently another no kill shelter closed recently and they ended up with all their animals too. So they are really over crowded. They are having to turn all sorts of animals away and threatening to have to become a kill shelter. It's really sad. That said, I will be adopting them out myself. There really isn't a better option that I'm finding.

Thanks for the reminder about not handling the kitty litter. I did know thankfully and since the 13 y/o is trying to talk me into keeping them he has been doing a beautiful job of keeping it spotless. IF I do get talked into keeping them (it's 4 against 2 at the moment 3 kids & my mother are for keeping them against me and the hubby mostly the hubby) I won't ever be touching the litter box. The technical term that you were thinking of is Toxoplasmosis. I was tested for it my past 3 pregnancies since we had cats then and I got the big lecture about the cat boxes every time. LOL It's always worth telling/reminding a pregnant woman. While I'm at it it can also come from contaminated soil and rare or uncooked meat.

Thanks for the reminder about kijiji. I always forget about that one. I'm keeping my fingers crossed though that I won't have to list them. I know a few people that are mulling over adopting one and since I know how they are with their animals already I won't really have to worry or ask for an adoption fee.