EC01: Kitten Playtime Class

Kitten Playtime Class : This class is for volunteers that want to help socialize the foster kittens and assist with the daily care while in the Kitten Cabana during their stay at Big Cat Rescue.  If you are interested in helping to bottle feed nursing kittens you must complete the Kitten Nursing Class.

Foster Kitten Program: Kittens housed in the Kitten Cabana are being fostered by the Interns.  These kittens have been rescued from Animal Services and were picked up by Big Cat Rescue from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.  The kittens are fostered until they reach 2 lbs, then they are returned to the Humane Society to be spayed or neutered and adopted. We do not accept kittens by any other means, so please do not bring stray kittens to Big Cat Rescue.  The reason this program works for us is because we do not have to worry about finding homes for the kittens.  That is the responsibility of the Humane Society. If kittens are brought to us that have not come from the Humane Society they will not take them to adopt out.  It would be left to us and we have not had great success in the past finding homes for cats or kittens. We do not have the space here to provide a permanent home for unadoptable cats or kittens.

Kitten Vet Care: Kittens receive de-worming with Pyrantel and Marqui, FRCP vaccinations against Feline Rhinotracheitis, Calici, and Panleukopenia and a SNAP test to test for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukemia Virus.

Kitten Health and Safety

– All kittens are kept in Intern Housing until they have had their first set of vaccinations, have received a SNAP test, and are healthy enough for handling by others.  After they have been cleared they will begin spending time in the Kitten Cabana where volunteers who have completed this class are welcome to visit with them during the day.  

– These kittens have been rescued from Animal Services and often come with a host of issues, so this class is to help keep your own cats safe and help us get these kittens up for adoption as soon as they are 2 lbs. and have been spayed or neutered.

– Remove your shoes before entering the Kitten Cabana and leave them outside the door.   

– Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling kittens.

– If you have kittens out of their cage make sure there is a safety entrance set up between the kittens and the great outdoors.  The exotic cats will kill them if they get past you, or someone else, at the door.

– Always put the kitten back in their cages when you are finished playing with them.  Kittens should never be left loose in the main building.

– Do not bring food or toys from home.  These kittens are on a special diet that they will remain on once they return to the Humane Society. Any toys should be new and pre approved by Jamie Veronica, Carole Baskin or one of the vets before given to the kittens.

– The kittens need to learn to trust people so be gentle and take care to not drop them, step on them or scare them.  

– If you accidentally hurt a kitten, report it to your Coordinator right away.  You will not get in trouble and it is important for the vet to know if something has happened.

– Be cognizant of your clothes.  If you have pets at home and they have touched your clothes, or skin, please wear a gown or towel to keep the kittens from being exposed to any germs your pets may have.  Your pets may not show signs of illness, because they are older and stronger.  Dog diseases are even more deadly because there are no vaccines to protect cats from diseases that have been primarily related to dogs.  These kittens are fragile at their young age and are highly susceptible to infection.

– Please help keep the kitten area tidy, by scooping the litter pan, cleaning up any food that has been scattered, refilling the water bowls etc.  

– Help the kittens find fur-ever homes by keeping the Kitten Cam on and pointed where there are kittens.  Tell your friends about adopting foster kittens.  Post photos of the kittens on your social media sites. If you are someone you know is interested in adopting a specific kitten we can put you in touch with the Humane Society of Tampa Bay for the adoption process. It is free for the new owner if they have been referred to the Humane Society by us. Kittens can not be adopted directly through Big Cat Rescue, they must return to the Humane Society to be spayed or neutered and they can then be adopted there.

– Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling kittens.