Need some advice about tiny, maltreated kittens

[Greensleeves]

We've just got new boy and girl kittens, advertised as 9 weeks old and ready to leave Mum. They were delivered to us as we don't have a car, we'd corresponded with the owner and seen a picture of the mum, explained our living situation and experience with cats etc.

When the kittens arrived, they were much smaller than we expected and in a bit of a state - they were caked in poo, had gunky eyes and were sneezing, and their back legs were sort of cramped and wobbly. They were in a filthy cat basket and the owner didn't really speak to us, just dropped them off and left. We texted to ask what sex they were and were ignored.

Since we've had them (a few days) they've recovered quite a bit - we bathed them, they've been ravenously hungry and thirsty. I've been gently stretching and massaging their back legs and they are now starting to jump and play and walk more confidently.

They've just had their first vet appointment and we explained all of the above. The vet said: they both have worms as they weren't wormed when they were born, they are 5 weeks old rather than 9, they have cat flu and they were probably kept confined in the cat basket in their own poo, hence their filthy condition and their difficulty walking. She asked us to consider reporting the owners for cruelty.

They are the most adorable, affectionate, sweet little things and they're becoming bolder by the day, but any tips on nurturing them and meeting their needs, given that they are too young to be away from Mum? I know we should have asked more questions when they arrived, but frankly we felt they were better off with us than where theyd come from.

Also - daft, but I have an horrific phobia of worms (I thought they would be wormed before we got them, as previous cats have always been). Is it going to be utterly horrendous when they expel them, or will I not see much? How long will it take to get rid of them? Sorry if that sounds silly but I'm really phobic and really stressed about it.

If you got this far, thank you :)

This is v indulgent and you might want to wait until they're reliably litter trained! But my cat has one of these inside his igloo bed, and he absolutely adores it
The quality is incredible, I got the small one and it fits perfectly in a full size igloo
Yes he is spoilt
https://www.skyeskyns.co.uk/browse/c-SheepskinInteriors-2/c-Petmats-24/

And yes to the brown tinge. Mine was red/brown when he was rescued but is now a gorgeous solid black colour :)
They might like a flat cardboard type scratcher when they're a bit bigger as they're nice and low to climb on

OP our two cats (now 12) came to us in very similar circumstances. Firstly, yes please do report the owners. We did and I couldn't have lived with myself knowing I hadn't. I don't know what came of it, but I felt it was the right thing to do.

It sounds like you're doing everything right. Persevere with the litter tray. Ours had worms, fleas, ear mites, the lot. We just dealt with it all one thing at a time and as they gained weight they got healthier and healthier. I'd prepare for a few bumps in the road though.

Great they've been to the vet already. Keep taking them back for check ups, treatments and vaccines.

We kept ours together (they still sleep spooned together now) in a small box lined with a blanket. We tipped the box on it's side so they could get in and out easily as they were so small. It helped them few cosier and more secure than a bed. We also restricted them to a small area of the house until they were free of mites/fleas etc.

Well done for giving these two kitties a loving home.

Please report the sellers. Their poor mum will still be living in the shithole they can e from

Also, you won't see the worms. One or two tablets should do it but consult the vet first as it will depend on their weight.

It was liquid I used at 8 weeks. Panacur I think. Had to wrap them in towels to get the syringe in their mouth

As no one else has mentioned it I will..

What on earth were you thinking allowing them to be delivered because you had no car?!
Literally no caring, decent breeder in the world would deliver cats or dogs.
It is one of the biggest, flashing, neon red flags there is!
Always, always, ALWAYS see baby animals in their home with mum.

That said, I am really pleased they have found you, they are absolutely adorable but please, in future, make sure you visit a reputable breeder and see the animal with its mum and in its own surroundings.

I don’t have a car either, we travelled by train for our dog.

Did you get them from gumtree or something? They're lovely of course but it's a recipe for disaster buying cats in this way unless you like hefty vet bills

They are gorgeous. Please, please report the seller. For the sake of the mother. I adopted two breeding queens that were rescued from a horrendous kitten farm In a terrible state. It took a huge amount of patience to bring them out of their shells and, for them to learn how to be a cat. One of them died aged only 8 from heat disease. Which she has almost certain passed on to her many kittens. My cats are so loved now, but no cat should have to be treated like that.

I asked the rescue if they'd reported the breeder, but they hadn't as they felt the RSPCA would do nothing. I have no idea who it was other than the city they were rescued from, so I couldn't take it further either.

I will report the breeder, you've all made me feel really worried for their mum

It wasn't gumtree, it was a specific cat website but I completely accept the criticism about the way we got them, and the red flag of the breeder offering to just drop them off. We did talk about it at the time, that it wasn't a sign of a loving owner, but frankly we knew we would take them and care for them whatever home they had come from and we weren't put off by the state they were in, just upset for them and angry that they'd been mistreated. It hadn't occurred to me that they would be so much younger than advertised and shouldn't be leaving their mum, but I still think on balance they're better off here. I take the point about vet bills as well, but they've been added to our pet insurance now and will have their vaccinations, microchipping etc and check-ups as part of the plan.

Thanks for all the advice, we really love them (even though we were chumps to buy from a crap breeder) and they will be properly looked after now!

Feed kitten milk mixed with kitten mousse and smoothed down to a gruel. It is kinder on their tummies than kitten food and at that age they should still be fed by Mum cat. I would also offer a bottle made up of kitten milk replacer as they need to suck as kittens or they could become difficult as adult cats. Make sure they are warm enough by sleeping them snuggled up together and with soft blankets. Kittens should be wormed at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks and then every couple of months. We have kittens who are 3 weeks old but their mother is caring for them beautifully. We used Beaphar syrup for worming. It has a little pump and you squirt into their mouths. You will never get them to eat a worming tablet so syrup the way to go. Stroke them a lot as that is what their mother would do with her tongue. Poor little kittens had a poor start to life but now you have them and can shower them with love. Definately report the breeder to RSPCA as they will do it again and the queen cat will need to be rescued too.

frankly we knew we would take them and care for them whatever home they had come from and we weren't put off by the state they were in, just upset for them and angry that they'd been mistreated

And this, unfortunately, is why we will always have so called puppy/kitten farms.

I completely understand why people struggle to leave animals that are in obviously shit surroundings, it tugs at the heartstrings and makes you feel guilty but by buying the kittens you have inadvertently guaranteed the mistreatment of more animals.

No sales = no breeding.

I agree also that they must be reported.

Shoud I have sent them back, then?

I do see what you're saying, but at least this particular pair of kitten is no longer malnourished/trapped in a box/caked in shit.

They are beautiful. Is there anyway you could give their mum a lovely home as well?

should I have sent them back, then?

Yes.
And I understand that it would have been a harrowing, exceptionally difficult thing to do.

I would have been in absolute bits about it in your situation no doubt, absolutely overwrought with guilt but the sickening thing is these people care only for money.
You buy they breed more and the cycle of suffering continues.

I do see what you're saying, but at least this particular pair of kitten is no longer malnourished/trapped in a box/caked in shit.

Indeed and I am so happy for them that they will get to live their lives as they should, well looked after and well loved.

Hopefully you aren’t the only person to report the people responsible and the RSPCA rescue the rest.

I see the logic of your position, but respectfully disagree that we should have sent them back. That would have been madness. I will report the breeder to the RSPCA and to the website they advertised on, but I don't regret taking two kittens out of a bad situation.

One of those "agree to disagree" situations, I think.

It’s such a difficult situation. I only get cats from the cats protection as I think it’s the only ethical way to obtain a cat/kitten.

Of course you can’t send a kitten back once you’ve seen how ill treated it is, but I don’t think I’d pay for one either. It only encourages the kitten farm.

As well as reporting to RSPCA, I’d definitely report to the Cats Protection as well, they are better than the RSPCA imo.

I think. It’s incredibly common for kittens to be of unknown age and usually they are too young to leave mum. Poor kittys to have got cat flu at such a young age. It can reoccur I believe. Take advice from your vet and be guided by them.