FAQ

• When you find a single or litter of kittens there are multiple factors that you need to assess before scooping them up. Think CAR
  • C: Condition, are they unkept, underweight, or appear groomed and have round little bellies?
  • A: Age. Removing kittens younger then 5-6 weeks can be harmful to their wellbeing. Are eyes closed? Ears folded? Wobble on feet? These are all indicators they are under 4 weeks old.
  • R: Resources, have they been eating (little round bellies), shelter (are they in a safe place?), Do you see the mom or when was the last time she was seen? Even if kittens are alone, it is more than likely the mom is close by or gone and will return soon. Do not scoop them up until you know the mom has been gone for AT LEAST 8 hours.
  • If you do rescue them, first step is to warm them up. Kittens cannot digest food if they are cold. Second step is to feed them Kitten milk replacer (available at Walmart or local pet stores) - kittens may need bottle fed. Kittens should NEVER be given cow's milk - they cannot digest it. Also, offer wet or dry kitten food if the kitten is old enough.

Our adoption team will review your application which allows for us to get a synopsis of your lifestyle and everyone in it.  Our team knows all of the Noelles Foster Kittens candidates and can work with you to find the best fit.  

• So, you and your family want to add a new fur member to your household. A small kitten may sound temping however, research has proven that kittens aren’t always a good fit especially in a home with children under seven years of age.
• Both children and kittens tend to get rough which is less than ideal for interacting with one another. Kittens have sharp teeth and claws, they can get rambunctious, climb, bite, and scratch which may result in injury to the child. On the other hand, children do not have the capacity to understand or know the appropriate handling of such a small animal and can inadvertently cause serious harm or death of the kitten.
• So, who would make a good fit for a family with kids? A cat who’s around a year old as they tend to have their personalities established, still have that “kitten like energy,” increased ability to cope with stressful situations including unexpected movements and loud noises, will walk away when it gets to be too much, but they are also more patient.

We are a foster-based rescue, so we do not run the same as a shelter. All kittens are placed in a foster people with people who are volunteers, work full-time jobs, and have families. We will certainly try to make arrangements if you are interested in meeting a particular kitten. However, this is not regular practice.

• When you hear it’s better to adopt two, instead of one, it is not because shelters are trying to make space but there’s good reasoning behind it.
  • It is important for both behavioral and emotional development.
  • Bored kittens are not happy kittens, so having a playmate will keep your new family fur member occupied, therefore less likely to get in trouble and not as needy in demanding attention from their humans.
  • They learn from each other, behaviors that we cannot teach them. For example, kittens playing with siblings learn what it acceptable when it comes to biting and nipping.
  • In addition to playing, they enjoy having a sibling around to offer affection and a napping partner.
  • If you have an adult or senior cat, it will help save their sanity!
  • Two times the love does not mean double the work.

• Our experience has shown that the benefits of keeping cats indoors outweigh letting them outside. Sadly, the average lifespan of an outdoor cat is six years, and many kittens born outside won’t make six months. By letting them out, they are at increased risk that any of the following may happen:
  • Being hit by a car
  • Being attacked by another animal (cat, dog, coyote)
  • Exposure to infectious diseases (Feline Leukemia, Feline Infectious Peritonitis, Upper respiratory infections)
  • Acquiring and getting affected by fleas, ticks, and worms.
  • Getting lost
  • Tortured by cruel people.
  • Being poisoned by food, pesticides, or anti-freeze.
• So, let’s keep our fur babies inside to protect them from all these hazards and give them the opportunity to live a long and healthy life.

• DO NOT LET THE NAME FOOL YOU. Declawing is a serious surgery involving amputation. Declawing a cat would be the same as cutting a person’s fingers off at the first knuckle.
• There are many risks associated with this, including chronic pain, bone spurs, necrosis, nerve damage, behavioral problems, and decrease use of litterbox due to pain in their paws.

• There are many benefits with this both for the pet themselves and the community.
  • This is the best way to decrease and control overpopulation.
  • They will live longer, healthier lives and help prevent  uterine cancer, breast cancer, and Pyometra,
  • The males are better behaved, decrease urine-marking, and won’t have the same urge to roam away from their home.

• Constant crying
• Dehydration
• Losing weight
• Deceased appetite
• Temperature above 103F or bellow 99F
• Pale gums
• Continuous diarrhea or vomiting

Strays are socialized to people; they likely had a home at one point in time and either was left or got lost. Feral kittens are not socialized as they have had little to no human contact.

This is a universally recognized as a symbol meaning someone cared enough to get them spayed or neutered and vaccinated.

Take notice of how the cat looks and acts. Are they socialized and look healthily? Are they distressed or underweight? Get a photo if possible and ask around to see if they have a family nearby. If he or she appear to be in distress and unkempt or injured, humanely trap them and call rescues in the area or bring to a veterinarian.