Mama cat + son or daughter?

[mamabear]

Eileen I needed to throw my 2 cents in as well....
Traci is right ,that I am sure of!!!

I would like to just give you a been there done that with the ring worm thing....I have had ringworm myself from working for a vets office, as a matter of fact I've had fleas as well ....You can just imagine what I was called after having both of those.

Well ringworm stinks as an adult so children will be worse.

The culture i think is a great idea...My only fear is is that even if the one who had it the worst is ok it doesnt mean the ones that supposedly had it mild are ok. I do hope this vet knows what he is doing. Having had this I would have to say that you do not want this introduced into your home.

If you are worried about the cost then I would highly rethink about keeping all three kitties. Not scolding you so please don't think this...I am only suggesting that you really think about what you are getting. You have to pay for 3 cats shots per year and the initial testing and spay/neutering. I know the initial tests are one shot IF you keep them inside ONLY, just to make sure they don't hvae any diseases. I think there is another test 6months later or 12 months later just to be sure. And hte spay/neuter is a one shot deal as well so that cost is just right now. But every year you will have to give shots and if they get sick you will have to take them in as well. That cost can add up and add up fast when there are more than 1.

Think of your family, go over your budget, and make sure you can not only do this mentally but financially as well. Your heart is in the right place but you have to for your kids sake make sure your wallet is.

Low cost spay/neuter is great but after that is done it is up to you to make sure they stay healthy with food and vet care and all of the things that people buy for kitties.

Good luck with this dear. Make sure vet checks these kitties the right way before you take any home.
I know you want to have them and get them back together fast but patience is a good thing when dealing with ringworm.
Does this women that is fostering them have ringworm in her house? How did they initially get it?

[Traci]

Eileen, yes, a culture can take up to 5-7 days, but worth it to determine if treatment is working/successful.

No, at this point, you do not need to do anything further, that is as long as it is determined by culture etc that it is eradicating, and as long as you are working on the environment, daily: vacuum, vacuum, vaccum!, wash bedding, clean all pourous surfaces, thoroughly wash and clean litterboxes, etc.

[Mama Zoe]

The woman who had them (and still has the other two) kept them quarantined once she knew they had ringworm, but she did have one other cat in her home get it.

This little mama and her babies have been bounced around quite a bit. They were found about 125 southeast of where I live in a rural area. They were taken to a home where there was another litter that turned out to have ringworm and gave it to this family. The granddaughter of the woman living there also got ringworm. Then they went to another home, then one more, then mine. All this moving around happened before the lesions appeared. (They became obvious after I had all four cats for about 2 days.) That's when I gave them back and they were all living in her bathroom for the past month. (I didn't even mention what a mess they were in other ways! They all had respiratory infections and were on antibiotics. The little runt, Rocko, had the worst of it. His eyes were so drippy we thought he might end up blind. He's the one I have now, and he's GREAT.....except for the ringworm thing!)

I guess what I need to do is take in the two that I already have to be checked, and hold off on thinking about the others until I get the results back on these. Since it has now been a week that I've had Zoe and Rocko, I could have already exposed my family to it. I am just kicking myself now that I didn't go through with the culture before taking them back, but I let my cat-need overwhelm me! I worried about Zoe stuck in the bathroom, and I worried that I was missing all of their "kittenhood."

Just writing this is making me feel all itchy.....

eileen

[Traci]

I definately understand the "need", it's that impulse to rescue, and it sounds like all of them definately need rescuing!

It's not your fault they weren't tested properly, nor cultured. The vet really should have been more diligent with the entire kitty family and should be following up by requesting cultures, since he is well aware of the situation and the stress these poor babes are enduring!!

Do you know the true environment of the others in the foster mom's home? Is she diligent or is she just getting by? If she too, isn't working hard with eradicating the ringworm, that's not helping any of the cats in the home! Simply confining the infected kittens/cats isn't enough, she has to also ensure their stress is reduced at all costs and that they are otherwise healthy and getting plenty of love and attention, activity, bonding, socialization, etc. Being cramped in a bathroom isn't good for them either, ideally they need room to exercise, play, and to be active.

[Mama Zoe]

I believe that the other foster mom is doing her best under less than ideal circumstances. She has been a volunteer at this rescue organization for 5 years. The reason she has this family in her bathroom is because the other rooms have foster animals waiting for adoption or her own pets. I think she is doing her best to treat them for the ringworm (because I know she wants them cured, if only to get them out of her bathroom!) I know that she can't give them the time or the space they need though. They must be going stir crazy! When I brought mama Zoe and Rocko home to my house they were SO happy! I swear they were INSTANTLY acclimated. I really mean it when I say that Zoe is the perfect cat. She is so sweet to my kids, she is friendly and outgoing, playful like a kitten at times, and amazingly calm (she lets me use the shop vac right next to her and doesn't even run away!) During the month I was waiting for the cats, I had lots of time to prepare....I went a little crazy on cat toys and a huge kitty condo! I know that the other two kittens would be much better off with all the fun stuff here, not to mention the family!

[Mama Zoe]

UPDATE:
Okay, here's a little Peaches and Herb for you...."Reunited and it feels so good!"
We are all (cats and humans) ringworm free and under one roof!
Patch hid for the first day he was back, but now everyone is getting along well, playing, snuggling etc.
Whew!

[Traci]

Wonderful news! DO you have momma and all 3 kittens now?

[Mama Zoe]

Yep, all four are here, healthy, and non-stop action! Between the kittens and my two boys, it's gets a bit wild, but we're loving it. They are really great together. Now the hard part will be letting any of them go!

[Traci]

I thought you were adopting them?

[Mama Zoe]

I originally planned to just foster the whole family until the kittens were old enough to be adopted out, and then I was going to adopt Mama Zoe and baby girl, Mia. But my whole family fell in love with the little runt, Rocko, (he was the first kitten we got back after the whole ringworm thing) and clearly we are not going to be able to give him up! That was why I sent my question about the dynamics of a 3-cat household or siblings together, thinking that I may end up adopting Rocko, Mia and mama. I would prefer, though, if the other brother, Patch, was adopted with a family member, too. So now I'm thinking I'll either keep all four, or I'll let Mia and Patch go together to a good home (assuming one comes along!)

Did I tell you I found out a little more about their story? It turns out that they were taken to a shelter (a notoriously high-kill shelter) right after Zoe had the kittens. The person who dropped Zoe off claimed that she had found the cat, but it seems clear that she just didn't want to deal with, or couldn't afford to deal with, the family. So basically someone who was too cheap to get their cat fixed dumped off their beautiful pet and kits and denied ownership.

I picked them up from the vet today, spayed/neutered, in good health, happy to be home!