[missh]

I need support and guidance. I’m animal lover at my core (esp cats). I volunteer with a local rescue and until recently, had four beautiful indoor cats. Before Christmas, I had the urge to help another kitty find a home. I went to the local high-intake shelter and I ended up coming home with two. One was a female black kitten and another was a bigger male kitten who has been waiting a long time for a home. Both very sweet and friendly.
I kept them isolated for a while but I let them out with the other cats after a week for different reasons. I had taken them to the vet and they seemed healthy.
Fast forward to a few weeks later: All of my four cats have now experience signs of illness or injury. They seem to have caught an UR virus of sorts. One of my cats has an injured eye, which I believe came from playing with the male kitten. Both of the new kittens are sweet, but the male is especially playful/clumsy and this can result in accidental injuries.
Not only is my heart crushed to see my cats suffering, but the male kitten bites the females necks and tries to mount her. This has caused her to develop a sore on her neck. She is also now losing hair in certain areas. It just never ends.
Okay, vet appointment is scheduled tomorrow for the eye injury, but I’m feeling true regret right now. Everything went downhill when I adopted these two cats. The male kitten clearly has a lot of hormones still because he is engaging in this mounting behavior. I have been forced to isolate the female kitten to keep her safe and let her neck heal and also figure out why she is losing hair in areas around her head and neck. I can’t imagine ever surrendering a cat back to a shelter, but I feel like at the very least the male kitten needs another home. I have to protect my animals. It was out of love for animals that I brought home two more, but this has caused me severe anxiety and even starting to feel depressed. It’s affecting me in a very negative way. Everyday I come home to a cat vomiting or some other problem. Please be supportive in your responses because I’m very good with animals and I know a lot about how to care for them. This is just beyond anything I could have imagined.

 

[marie73]

"Rehome" is not a bad word. Sometimes you're just the middle man in finding a great home for a cat. I've had to rehome two cats in the last 15 years. They went to great homes and after the second one, I promised my girls I would never do that again. I understand your stress because I tried for 1-1/2 years with one cat. I regret that to this day. We were all miserable. If the shelter will take them back, that's what I would do in your place. I did find good homes on my own, but it was time-consuming and very stressful.

 

[missh]

Marie73, I really appreciate you sharing that experience. I’m sorry you had to go through it though. I realized today that this is affecting me in so much and I have to do something. I have contacted some people about rehoming, but if I have to take him to the shelter, I will. It will be hard, but it’s a no-kill shelter so that makes it an acceptable choice. Thanks again for your compassionate and helpful response. It means a lot as I have not been able to talk about this with other people yet.

 

[marie73]

Aww, yes. Let the judging begin. I finally had to tune it out and take care of my little girls. I wish I had the choice of returning the new cats. I even signed paperwork that said I would return the kitties if it didn't work out. But everyone was too full, leaving me no choice but to do it on my own. Things didn't work out with one of them and she was returned to me. Good luck with whatever decisions you make.

 

[Mosi]

The bottom line is that you and your cats, however many and whoever they are, need to have a peaceful friendly home atmosphere. This is not a frill, it is a need. If the cats you brought home, or one of the cats you brought home, are/is not working out with the current home environment, then it is better to rehome that cat than to keep trying and have everyone being miserable.

trust me on this, I kept trying one time for three years because the cat was inherited from a loved one who died and I had promised to look after him. In hindsight I truly wish I had rehomed him at least 2.5 years sooner. He had a great home where he was loved and only died of old age recently.

Ignore anyone who judges you. You acted in good faith, and it is not your fault if it is not working. If you find the male kitten a new home where he is happy, what would there be to feel guilty about? Even if you take him to the no-kill shelter, it is not a bad thing. Far better than continuing in an untenable situation for everyone.

 

[missh]

I’m sorry you dealt with a bad situation longer than you should have. You are spot on with regard for the need to have a peaceful situation for everyone! Thank you for the advice and supportive words!

 

[Mosi]

I’m sorry you dealt with a bad situation longer than you should have. You are spot on with regard for the need to have a peaceful situation for everyone! Thank you for the advice and supportive words!

Yes, people told me over and over that I needed to rehome that cat. My feeling was that I had made a promise, and I always without fail keep my promises; it is part of my integrity, so how could I do that. But now, I hope that I can help others learn from my experience and not make the same mistake.
Best of luck to you and your kitties.

 

[missh]

I’ve had a six-month old kitten for a 3 weeks. We adopted her from the shelter. In the few weeks after we brought her home, she started developing bald patches almost all over her body. We took her the vet and the vet said she had a URI and possible flea allergy (although she had been treated for fleas and we don’t have any that I know of). It’s been almost a week of her being on antibiotics and the skin isn’t better. I see her frequently scratching and grooming. I’m beginning to wonder if she has a food allergy. When she came from the shelter, she was on Hills SD (I assume kitten formula). I read the ingredients and while it’s not “grain free,” it doesn’t have corn or soy from what I see on the ingredients I looked up. It also doesn’t have beef fat or other beef products. The Purina kitten chow that our vet recommended does have those ingredients. Does anyone have experience with beef or grain allergies in cats/kittens? I have five other cats who have zero food allergies that I know of so this is new to me but I desperately want to help my kitten find relief. TIA!

 

[Mosi]

Take the kitten back to the vet and have more tests run, or else take her to a different vet for a second opinion. Since you have no way to really know what is really causing this, assuming it is an allergy and messing about with different foods is pointless. If it is an allergy then tests need to be run to find out what the cat is allergic to. And it may not be an allergy but something else. That's why another vet visit is important.

 

[SophiaQ]

Tips for all of the people who found a homeless cat and what to keep the cat at home.
Firstly, vets recommend checking the cat for fleas or any other disease.
"

• Most people have the capacity to bring a cat or kittens into their home, at least temporarily. If you have other pets of your own, just keep the cat/kittens in a separate room away from your pets.
• Put the cat/kittens in a bathroom or separate room by themselves. Note: they feel safer in a small space, and if you have cats of your own, this will limit the possible transmission of diseases.
• Take the cat/kittens to a vet ASAP for exams; testing for feline AIDS/leukemia (FIV/FELV); age appropriate rabies and distemper shots; treatment for worms and fleas; and spaying/neutering when appropriate based on health and age.
• Keep the cat/kittens separate from your cats for at least 10 days to watch for possible infectious diseases, such as upper respiratory infections.

"​

They also recommend purchasing a flea trap 10 Best Flea Traps Reviewed in Detail (Jan. 2022) to prevent flea.
You should allow the cat as much time as possible to calm down. Take her to a quiet spot where she can be alone–a bathroom works good. Let the cat to approach you first if at all feasible. If she's hesitant to approach but appears interested, try providing her a tiny mouthful of canned cat food or tuna as you chat to her; this may persuade her to come to you.