I have two new rescued 7 week old Kittens. HELP?

Question

Last summer, my father pulled open some drywall on the construction site he was working on, and he found a tiny, kitten staring back at him. Don't know how or why, but this kitten had been trapped in the wall and was inches from death, skin and bones left only. I nursed her back to health since and LOVE her so much.

She lives ONLY in my bedroom (fair sized) because our dogs do NOT agree with cats. It seems unfair to keep her in one room, but she is the happiest cat I know.

Tonight, my mother came home with 2 kittens she rescued from a man she met who said he was going to drown them if they didn't have a home by tomorrow. THEY ARE 7 WEEKS OLD. I've already lost myself madly in love with them and want to protect and raise them like I have my other cat.

Advice on two 7 week old kittens being introduced into a one-room environment with a 1 1/2 year old cat? Will 3 cats survive together in one room?

I can't bear to give them up to the SPCA, but maybe it's in their best interest?

These kittens will live in my bedroom with me until I finish my degree and get my own apartment, in about three years.

I just wonder if 3 cats in one room would be too much for their happiness in terms of territoriality and need for space?

Answer 1

Hi! I wasn't going to hop in but as I read on decided to. You are NOT being mean to your cat keeping her in one room. Cats are very adaptable to living the way we raise them. I lived in a town with a cat leash law and all the cats I ever owned have been inside cats. People rage how they need to run loose and be natural. Mine thought IN was natural. Get the kitties checked at the vets and see they don't have an illness that could hurt your girl. If they are fine then try it and see. You can use a large clothes basket with the kitties under it and see how your cat acts. It can be a way for her to get to know them and not hurt them. If your room is big I don't see a problem. See your older cat has a hidy spot like in the closet etc where the kitties can't bother her if she needs to get away. Heck she may decide to take care of them! Have extra litter box in the room and scoop it often when you are home. I scoop my cats litter many times a day.
Me, loving cats, and thinking they adapt well to living conditions vote you try.
While trying and being a great Mommy Bean read the Cat.org first and then find the food that is best for raising and keeping cats healthy and into old old age. If you have any questions with the food do write me. I accept messages.

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Answer 2

Hello. Firstly i have to commend you for the work you did with your first kitty. However, i would be wary trying to house 3 cats in one room - possibly 2 cats would be maximum. We have 4 cats under the same roof and although they seem to get along ok most of the time, they do get territorial and we sometimes have a problem with spraying and territory marking. And before anyone comments...they are all desexed. You may also find the cats become more likely to try to get out of the bedroom...which in your case with the dogs would not end well. I would probably try to find at least 1 (if not both) of the new kitties a good home. You could advertise them and have an interview for applicants to try to get the best home possible. Dont advertise them as free to good home as this can attract unsuitable people.

Most of all, best of luck with everything...your heart is definitely in the right place.

Answer 3

Try posting an ad at your vet,and ask for references from the vet.Otherwise,here's something you could try.Get a large dog cage and keep the kittens in it when you are not home. Of course put a litter box,food,water and toys in there for them.This way,they will be safe,but they and the older cat can become accustomed to each other without any fights.If it seems to be working out,gradually let the cats spend more time together,but I would still use the cage while they are little - to keep them out of trouble when you aren't home.If it doesn't work,you can still try placing them.And,many people have one room apartments and have cats.They adjust to their environment pretty well.Good luck.

Answer 4

I think it depends on you. I've found that most cats are very comfortable in small surroundings. They sleep most of the time anyway, so I guess time will tell. You have to realize that the cats will need to establish their own pecking order and will fight to begin with. Don't worry, they won't kill each other. If you love the kittens and you can put up with all the associated noise, smells and cat hair, I'd say "Go for It".

Answer 5

See if you can advertise. I would suggest taking care of them until they are 12 weeks old, and then advertising them - there are some stores which will allow you to put up flyers.

I know it is difficult to let these babies go, but just think to yourself how many more you can save.
Be careful not to become an animal collector also. Apparently it is something that can happen very easily to pet lovers.

You do not want to keep so many animals that it hurts them rather than helps them.

Answer 6

NO! Do NOT keep all of those poor kitties in your room!
My goodness! That is awful!

All cats need lots of room to move around in. Unless your room is the equivalent of a decent apartment, then it is too small even for just the one cat. Since you have had success with her then by all means great. But Please do not force all of them together. First of all you don't know whether or not the new kitties have any diseases. FIV (Feline AIDS pretty much, is VERY common and is spread through bites, even if they are just playing, also there is feline leukemia which is spread in a similar way. Then there are colds, infections, fleas, ticks, etc. that you have to be aware of. We are dealing with one cat that just got diagnosed with FIV and Carona Virus and probably will die in the next couple of weeks. She has lost 3 pounds in a 2 month period, do you want to see your kitties waste away like that? We think she got it from a cat we temporarily sheltered until the Humane Society could take her.) Second you don't know if the other cat is going to be nice to them. I would strongly suggest to take them to a shelter or SPCA as soon as possible unless they can move around the house more.

It sounds like your home is a dog home then. You really need to get the dogs and cats living together or get rid of one species. You can't keep a cat holed up in a room, especially not three. Most animals, dogs and cats included, designate "rooms" like we do. THey have where they eat, where they sleep and where they potty. The more cats you have to more "rooms" they need because a lot of cats don't like sharing their space with others.

There is a general rule of thumb that you have a litter box for each cat, plus one. So you would need 4 litter boxes. You are supposed to put them in different locations and sometimes put different types of matterial in them so that the cats can decided where they like or what they like the best. Otherwise if they dont like any at all, or they have no choice. They will hold it in and this can cause Urinary Tract Infections (had this problem with one of ours til we set up the box just the way she likes it, 3 UTI's x $50 for each vet visit and medicine, do you want to spend that)

Then you have to think about playing. Not all of them will want to play at the same time. They have to have room to play, hopefully not destroying your stuff, and also the tired kitties need a place to hide or rest if they don't want to. Small areas make this difficult. I lived in a 2 bedroom apartment and I realized that there still wasn't enough room for our 3 kitties.


Please understand the more cats you have the more likely you are to spread disease, to spend money on the vet, food, litter, and other things. They will become fat and clinically depressed if they aren't able to play as much as their instincts tell them to.

These are all things I have learned first hand over the years of having cats and re-doing things to get it right for them.

I will say that you may not have any problems with them. IN fact they all could live happily and healthy, but that problem is you don't know. Not to mention, it can't be that good for you to be breathing in all of the hair and dander, etc. When you have so many cats stuck in your room. Please, please take them else where. Thank you!

Answer 7

Well, because of your experience with your first rescued kitten, it sounds like you know how to care and feed your kittens. However, the problem might arise if the kittens start annoying the adult cat too much. If she has a gentle nature, she may just try to avoid them, but she is going to need her own special place where she can go and they cannot bother her.

Answer 8

Advertise them?
If you advertise them enogh they are bound to get a home?
But having 3 cats in the one room shouldn't be a problem just depends on how long you keep them in the room and how much they get along?

Answer 9

to make it easier for them you might wanna have play time for them and let them explore the house while the dog is outside and then when he comes back in put them back in the room or have him sleep in the parents room while the kitties go out exploring

Answer 10

introduce them slowly make them frinds and spray them if you dont wont more kittens i hope it works