The story of how I used my hardships to save lives.

Welcome back to the pet fostering series! The previous blog was on orphaned kittens 4-6 weeks old, and this blog is on orphaned kittens 6-8 weeks old. Kittens at eight weeks of age, are healthy, and weigh two pounds are eligible for adoption! So this is the last time to foster kittens before they find their forever homes. Kittens at this age are almost independent, super active, and tons of fun.

General Expectations

If you foster kittens at a younger age, when they reach 6-8 weeks old, they are a lot of fun and pretty crazy! If you get them when they are 6-8 weeks old, there is a chance that they will be slightly afraid of you at the beginning. This age group has a lot of energy and will be moving around a lot, so you will want to give them a decent amount of space and an assortment of toys. If they are a little bit afraid at first, you will need to be patient and win their trust over. This will require some socialization to humans.

Time Commitment

Depending on how healthy the kittens are you are fostering will depend on the time commitment. Healthy, 6-8 week-old kittens will need feedings every 5-6 hours, their weight checked, their litter cleaned, and playtime. If they are on the r end, they will need close weight monitoring, and feedings every 3-4 hours. It’s important to evaluate the kittens as soon as you bring them home to see where they are at health-wise and make a care plan accordingly.

Supplies Needed

These kittens would do best in a space where they can run around and play. This may be a closed room or a room with a gate. They would also be fine in a playpen as long as they have ample amount of time to run around and play during the day. For example, in my previous home, I did not have an extra room, so I kept the three kittens in a large playpen, but I let them out to run around and play while being monitored multiple times a day.

These kittens will also need a litter box, non-clumping litter, toys, water, dry food, and wet food. It is important to give them options between wet and dry food, so they can learn what they like the best. I leave out dry food for my fosters at all times and provide wet food during scheduled feedings. You will want to provide water in a low bowl to reduce the risk of them drowning.

Conclusion

In conclusion, kittens 6-8 weeks old are a great mess to have around! They will want to be playing all of the time they are awake, but will still take long naps. They are great for most people who want to get into fostering and it provides a look into the world of fostering kittens. I would highly encourage anyone who wants to foster felines to bring home 6-8 week-old kittens – they are a good learning experience but not as complicated as younger kittens.

The only type of home I would not recommend for these kittens is one that you cannot carve away space for them. Since these kittens are running around, a home with heavy furniture, glass vases, or other fragile things is not the right home for these wild ones. If you do have these items in your home but are willing to relocate or store them away, for the time being, you will be ready to foster these felines as well. Subscribe to my blog for more information on fostering adult animals!