Okay, my mother has been feeding some stray and feral cats. I took a female stray about a week and a half ago and had her spayed. She is doing well. There is another female who had kittens about 4 weeks ago. The kittens are up and around now and we have been picking them up so they can get used to people. Our hope is to find them homes. The kittens are still pretty small and now that they are walking around, I'm afraid they will wonder off. The mother is still nursing them. Do I need to be worried about the kittens? Will they wonder off? My mother is elderly, and does not need kittens under her feet, or I would suggest she keep them in the house. We have introduced the kittens to food and some of them are eating, or trying to eat. Tonight, before I left my mother's house, we did put some boards up to keep the kittens from wondering off. We left plenty of room for the mother to get in to nurse them....as they are not fully ready to be on their own. Will the mother quit nursing now that we have put the boards up? What's the best way to deal with this? By the way, in about 2 weeks, I'm taking the mother of this batch and having her spayed.
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feral female had kittens
- Thread starter agraham
- Start Date
If you improved the security of mom cat's "nest," she will probably be happier rather than leaving. She will naturally wean her kittens at about 8 weeks, usually after teaching them to kill prey that she has brought to them.
If she is still lactating they may not spay her, check before you trap her and make the trip.
Usually the moms will look after them until they are totally weaned, but if you are trapping them in an area, she may move them for security, like they do at a day old or so.
Usually the moms will look after them until they are totally weaned, but if you are trapping them in an area, she may move them for security, like they do at a day old or so.
As soon as you have the Mamma spay her milk will dry up. 6 weeks is kinda early to fully wean, unless you have got the kittens to feed fully and they are drinking a good amount of water from a dish. Also you need to be careful of the toms in the neighborhood, sometimes they come around and if the kittens are out they may go after them. Good luck with your little family. Also your Mamma cat may be pregers again right now, so when you take her in don't be suprised.
The safer the better they are. Intact Toms are a threat to the kittens as are raccoons. I would wait to spay her at least until the kittens are 6 weeks and able to fully eat soft food. If you were willing I would also take the kittens from a feral mother at this stage in order to socialize them. Feral Moms have been known to move house and you may not be able to find the babies then.
Good luck.
Good luck.
