This time of year has the capability of breaking my heart many times over. Because of my one website www.kitten-rescue.com I receive emails from all over the world from people finding orphaned kittens, or when the queen has fallen ill or died and the person now has to care for tiny, defenseless beings.
I truly wish I could help each individual that contacts me. I have an extensive list of other rescuers, but I know before contacting them the story is going to be the same- “there is no more room at the Inn.”
Last night, I turned down the fourth litter in a matter of days. It isn’t that I don’t want to help the local people. It’s that I have to keep the reality of helping in check. No one seems to realize (though I am not sure why) how much the price of rescue can be. I was talking with another rescuer about this- she mentioned I should put a chart here about what it costs to raise a tiny kitten to health- well, there is one flaw in that plan. Actually, there are several flaws. Not all the kittens are healthy when they are rescued. For example, Charlie was in such bad shape that by day three of him being in our lives we were over a thousand dollars in vet debt just on him!
I’m not complaining here- just trying to stay real. So for him, his care and boarding bill is overwhelming. But when, dear reader, you decide to accept into your home and your heart a bottle baby- here is the basic cost you are looking at. Here are the supplies you should have before even opening your heart to this young being:
Pet Heating Pad- essential to provide safe warmth to a small kitten- $29.95
Nursing Bottles- $1.30 apiece
Kitten Milk Replacer- you don’t use cow’s milk causes digestive prob. $12.49 depending on how big the litter is will depend on how long a can will last. But keep it in the frig and it lasts a good while. I freeze mine all year, buying in bulk when they go on sale and then using it during kitten season.
Kitty flea treatment- $36.50 Important to NOT flea treat without direct vet supervision if kitten is under 8 weeks old. You can have a professional tell you how to stop a bad parasite invasion but it has to be when the vet has seen the kitten and assessed the health. Remember that the chemical is poison and to much can do great harm to a small kitten.
Initial Vet Visit- $35.00
Dewormer (again only at the clinic) $12.00
Depending on the age of the kitten, you will need to pay for first vaccinations which can run anywhere from $54.00-$65.00
Other suppplies you may have on hand in your home are soft rags, bedding for the kitten, cotton pads for stimulation, safe kitty shampoo because not all kittens are clean eliminators.
Although in this set-up your kitten is still on the bottle, you don’t have to factor in kitten food, both canned and dry. Litter pans, food and water bowls, toys to keep the kitten stimulated.
What you can never put a price on is the time spent staying awake bottle feeding round the clock, how much you worry that the kitten isn’t going to make it despite all you are doing. How many cups of coffee you consume during this time frame and how many gray hairs suddenly appear on your head!
Before your kitten is weaned off the bottle- you will have spent hundreds of dollars toward her care. This applies to just one kitten and many of you will find yourself with more than one kitten to raise. If the kitten has other issues and needs bloodwork, earmite medicine, supportive fluids the cost can add up pretty quickly. That’s one of the reasons why I tried to find professionals to show me how to do most of this safely from home. When you deal with kittens during kitten season you can quickly find yourself overwhelmed not only in the number of kittens arriving, but at how fast your greenbacks are vanishing from your wallet.
I sometimes wonder why kittens are so easily disposed of in today’s society. Could it be because we refer to these tiny beings as a “litter?” We dump cat litter on a daily basis. Some motorists “litter” the highway with their trash. Yet, we take these wonderful, bundles of fur, fun and energy and refer to them as a “litter.” Does that perhaps mean that deep within our subconcious some believe they hold little value? Just something to think about as we begin a new day during kitten season.