People & Animals Team-up Successfully Inc (PATS)

Now the period of 5 weeks to 8 weeks.  This is the time the kitten eats on its own and is easy to socialize.  I personally think getting the kitten at 6 weeks is the best.  Within days to a week, most of the litter is sweet and friendly.  But the problem arises, what is their future? 

The minute you spot the kittens, start contacting rescue groups.  You need to have a place for your socialized kitten to meet potential adopters.

Try Last Hope Animal Rescue(Wantagh), North Shore Animal League (Port Washington), Second Chance (Petco Levittown), Hopkins Rescue (Freeport), Bobbi & the Strays (Freeport), Kitty Cove (Island Park) Kat Connection (Baldwin Petco) etc.  Visit your local Petco, Petsmart and Pet Supplies Plus stores and speak to the rescue groups there.  Wherever you place your kittens, please either give them already sterilized or be sure the group will do it PRIOR to adopting out the kitten.  You do not want these little ones to procreate!

Here is the Alley Cat Allies webpage discussion on socializing kittens http://www.alleycat.org/Kittens

Get a box trap (or convert your trap with a string and stick/bottle) and attempt to trap the complete litter in one session.  I hate to think of leaving a kitten by itself, particularly if Mom is not around.  Once trapped, recontact your rescue groups and email pictures and info such as age, description, socialization status (has it been exposed to children, dogs, etc.) 

Be careful not to introduce the kittens to your household cats until the kittens have vaccines and testing for leuk/aids and have been given flea meds or washed in dawn.  Talk to the rescue group that is willing to take the kittens about when vaccinations should be given (some groups provide low or free clinics once the kitens have been accepted into the foster program).  Be aware that some kittens will socialize overnight, some will take longer and one or two will never be friendly.  You may have to cull the unfriendly to avoid impeding a friendly one from getting adopted! Some may have to be released after s/n surgery (10 weeks) if no progress is seen.   Once again, try to avoid releasing just one.  Often if the rescue group knows the colony is not a good situation for a young cat, they may provide fosters to work on the holdout kitten or may advise you to "hold it and keep working" and may agree to take the kitten months later. 

What you want to avoid is friendly young cats with no adoption route and more cats in your house!  So keep the communication lines open and be honest with the rescue groups/adopters and hope for the best!