My foster cat moves one kitten; others have eye goop. Are they sick?

Question

The cat we're fostering keeps picking up one kitten only to move it and leave the other four behind. She sits with the one kitten and leaves the rest of the litter alone and comes back later. Why is this? Are they all sick? Two of them have yellow goop around one eye. Are all four of them sick? My sister had a cold and handled the kittens, but she was careful about it. The kittens are 10 days old. Pet's info: Cat | Siamese | Female

Makenzie Kurth, DVM · Accepted Answer

Cats commonly want to pick up their kittens and move them to "safety". My guess is that, left unattended, she would move all of them one at a time. Consider moving her basket/box to a more secluded area (under a coffee table, in a small closet, etc). This might appease her concern for her kittens. As for the eye goop, keep an eye on this. If you need to, gently wipe it with a warm damp cloth on a daily basis. This could be nothing or it could be an early viral infection. If you see snotty noses, reluctance to eat, or any other concerning signs, see the vet. You can start mom on a lysine supplement (we think this helps interrupt replication of the feline herpes virus.) And don't worry, human cold viruses do not transfer to people (and vice versa). Hope this helps and best of luck to you and the kitty family!

My foster cat moves one kitten; others have eye goop. Are they sick?

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