I just talked to the regular vet. The kitten is medically doing fine at this point - her temperature and glucose levels are back to normal, she's able to stand and walk, etc
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Arrgh. That is a tough decision. If her behavior is due to her feral nature and not neurological issues, I can't imagine how she or your household would benefit from a week of isolation in your apartment. I suppose the uncertainty is why you would be keeping her under observation in the first place, and you are good and brave to consider it. But is there even such a thing as feral cat rescue? And if she really is that aggressive, consistently and unrepentantly, maybe the worst option is really the best. There are certainly plenty of cats who've come out of alleys and vacant lots and into people's homes, but it's unlikely that one so human-unfriendly would get placed or even taken in. Though that spay is odd ... .
In any case, I'm sure you've already thought of all this and the right thing to do so whatever you decide to do, because you and Bo are thoughtful and careful people and I know you will do right by yourselves and that kitty. Good luck.
I've been doing some research. There are feral cat rescues, but I don't know to what extent they take them in vs. just providing advice and resources. Still, it's nice to know we have someone to call. I found a bunch of contact names at Chicagoland Stray Cat Coalition.
It appears in my research that feral kittens are socializable, but it becomes more difficult after 8 wks of age. I would guess this little one is about 8-12 weeks but that's a total guess. Back in my day they didn't spay before 6 months of age so the spay is throwing me a bit.
The hope with a week of quarantine is that we could better determine feral vs. neurological and then have the info we need to go from there. Also, there's the slight hope that she's freaked out by the veterinary environment and is not so aggressive away from the vet. I dunno. I am emailing the stray cat contacts soon.
I do hope that she perhaps will be less aggressive away from the vet or with some socialization, but of course only time will tell. And I also hope that your vet or other resources will be able to help guide you in making some of these tough decisions. Again, please let me know if you need anything (except somewhere to keep the kitten, because I really don't think Vicious Kitty vs. Asshole Dog is the resolution any of us is looking for.)
As you said, the worst option may be the best, but I think for now it's just a matter of not defaulting to that and trying to figure out a way to give her a chance. The worst part is that all of this has moved pretty quickly, we've already lost quite a bit of sleep, and we're trying to make decisions we're not really equipped to make.
There should be some sort of time out shelter where we can put her and postpone decisions for a day. Unfortunately that shelter seems to be House of Kazbo.
Of course, that's only an option if we can get some assurance from the vet that we're not putting Kitty at risk by bringing the kitten to our place. I guess the best case would be that after a few days she could show that she may not be entirely vicious and was just freaked out by her ordeal, but I don't know if this is a realistic expectation.
In any case, I'm sure you've already thought of all this and the right thing to do so whatever you decide to do, because you and Bo are thoughtful and careful people and I know you will do right by yourselves and that kitty. Good luck.
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It appears in my research that feral kittens are socializable, but it becomes more difficult after 8 wks of age. I would guess this little one is about 8-12 weeks but that's a total guess. Back in my day they didn't spay before 6 months of age so the spay is throwing me a bit.
The hope with a week of quarantine is that we could better determine feral vs. neurological and then have the info we need to go from there. Also, there's the slight hope that she's freaked out by the veterinary environment and is not so aggressive away from the vet. I dunno. I am emailing the stray cat contacts soon.
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There should be some sort of time out shelter where we can put her and postpone decisions for a day. Unfortunately that shelter seems to be House of Kazbo.
Of course, that's only an option if we can get some assurance from the vet that we're not putting Kitty at risk by bringing the kitten to our place. I guess the best case would be that after a few days she could show that she may not be entirely vicious and was just freaked out by her ordeal, but I don't know if this is a realistic expectation.
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