Looking for the best possible advice here. My heart is breaking.
3 days ago, I picked up momma and 4 kittens that are in the 8-10 week old range from the rescue, and brought them home. I set up a spare room with lots of boxes and toys, towels in the closet, and food, litter and water all in separate parts of the room. Left a bit of the furniture in there for hiding and climbing places.
I have a cam on the room. The rescue gave me some litter and adult meow mix, which they'd been eating. They're all using litter.
Momma has scoped the room out for escape. She also still offered them her milk and bathed them, though the kids ate the dry food as well. Devoured it.
I have not really tried to handle the kittens yet, but the one time I put a finger near them it was met with unanimous hissing and a swat. Momma fixes me with a glare I try not to meet. None of them were around humans until they were gathered up and transported to the rescue, including a near cross country trip and some time in a very crowded, uncontrolled rescue.
Yesterday, I decided it was best if they didn't have her example of fear and moved her to another spot in the house. Sort of slowly chased her around until she gave up and hopped into the carrier - I think she thought the window was going to lead to freedom, alas.
Changed the kids food to quality dry kitten food, which they aren't terribly happy with. I try to spend a bit of time in the room with them just talking but still haven't tried to handle them.
I have no idea where momma is in the basement but keep her food and water refreshed, and I can tell she's eaten. Tonight she started crying. :(. I can hear it but I know if I try to coax her out she will just be scared and hide. I have no idea with this rescue what their ultimate plan is with the mother... I just wish I could hold her and tell her everything is for the best and that nobody will hurt any of her kittens or her, ever.
Anyway.
In spite of her gut wrenching cries, have I done the right thing?
My next step is to try and work from their room or gather them up and get them in a stadium style carrier for them to sit and hang out while I work from home... I wonder if a wet food they'll be all over would be good to feed them but while I'm around just to try and build trust..they aren't coming out from hiding right now at all but its only been 2-3 days and a ton of stress just before .. this is going to take a while!
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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/hri8t5/advice_needed_fostering_feral_kittens/
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