Can we see pics of mom, too? You are doing a wonderful job!
-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
Stray Mommy has brought me her kittens and then left!?
- Thread starter mojaverain
- Start Date
You more then likely wont be able to touch or pet the momma cat. We had 2 litters of kittens dropped off on us..never being able to touch the mother. We were able to tame the kittens tho..& they have homes now. We have a feral cat who just had kittens however we are not sure where they are or even if they are alive. The mother really hasn't been with them very much.
I would concentrate on the kittens. The mother knows you will care for them..Thank-you for doing so!!!
I would concentrate on the kittens. The mother knows you will care for them..Thank-you for doing so!!!
Actually, the OP said the mom cat fell asleep in her arms, purring her head off. So I don't think MojaveRain will have any issues there!Originally Posted by nannerpuss
You more then likely wont be able to touch or pet the momma cat. We had 2 litters of kittens dropped off on us..never being able to touch the mother. We were able to tame the kittens tho..& they have homes now. We have a feral cat who just had kittens however we are not sure where they are or even if they are alive. The mother really hasn't been with them very much.
I would concentrate on the kittens. The mother knows you will care for them..Thank-you for doing so!!!
Yeah. Dont almost never give away cats for free. As many people think free=worthless and interchangeable. Do charge some money. If you feel it is embarrasing to charge money, ask the payment go to some organization in the name of the cat. Say Red Cross, Doctors without Boundaries or such. If you or they are religious a variation is they donate money to their church to thank God for letting the cat come into their home...
................
Shy ex-homeless usually dont have issues with the residents: they are submissive to them and often also eager to get pals with them pleasing themselves in. There is seldom real problems unless the residents are aggressive. Yours arent, especielly not one of them? Begin the meetings with the most friendly of them.
But as now, when she is nursing and protecting her kittens, it may be best to held them apart yes.
But otherwise it shouldnt be big problems.
Let perhaps the friendliest of your cats meet the family when they kittens are a little older, say 7-8 weeks: the mom not longer very protective. It would be nice for the kittens with a well wishing friendly uncle.
but let the mom decide, of course.
I certainly wouldn't take the mama cat and make her an indoor kitty, unless she's seems to be 100% happy living that way. She's obviously does fine outside, and she may never trust you again if you trap her up in the house with your other cats. If you give her to an animal shelter, she'll most likely get put to sleep. The best thing to do would be to find homes for the kittens, and let the mom continue to live the way she has been. Trust me, cats don't prefer living indoors, we have 6 outdoor only cats that hate it when we bring them inside. And it's worse for cats that have enjoyed previous freedoms, and can result in health/behavior problems caused by stress and boredom.
The kittens are very cute, and I'm sure you could easily rehome them by putting an ad in the newspaper and interveiwing potential kitty owners. I would also have to say that early spay/neuter is in my opinion, not ideal. We know by experience that cats that are altered as kittens don't mature quite right, and it stunts their growth. Male kittens that are neutered are more prone to urinary tract disorders as well. 6 months is the best age for altering. Shelters do alter kittens at young ages, but it's not ideal, as many vets have said. I would find homes for them yourself if you can, that way, you can keep in contact with the owners and get updates every so often!
---The kittens are very all beautiful! Good luck!
The kittens are very cute, and I'm sure you could easily rehome them by putting an ad in the newspaper and interveiwing potential kitty owners. I would also have to say that early spay/neuter is in my opinion, not ideal. We know by experience that cats that are altered as kittens don't mature quite right, and it stunts their growth. Male kittens that are neutered are more prone to urinary tract disorders as well. 6 months is the best age for altering. Shelters do alter kittens at young ages, but it's not ideal, as many vets have said. I would find homes for them yourself if you can, that way, you can keep in contact with the owners and get updates every so often!
---The kittens are very all beautiful! Good luck!
I dont agree. For homecats who are allowed to go out the outside is much joy. And when they get hungry or scary, they can always run home. So it is true, such cats can be difficult to turn into strickly indoors cats.
But cats who were homeless know very well the outside is horrible and hungry. These cats surprisingly often are quite happy to stay as pure indoors.
Thus they are often easier to get as pure indoor than bought homecats.
Why, all fosters I know keep their fosterlings indoor. So they apparently do manage this.
Although I can agree, if our ex-homeless mom did apparently well being homeless, letting her out again if she wants (after spaying of course) may be an option. Especielly if it IS a ferale cat, not an abandoned ex home-cat.
This said as a principle.
Moma-cat here seems to be ex-homecat and it shouldnt be too difficult to foster her anew.
I agree with Stefan.
My newest was a stray that adopted us, after her kittens were rehomed and she was spayed I turned her loose as I figured she wouldn't do well as an indoor cat.
A few weeks later she came back in and has never wanted back out, she's content to watch the outdoors from my screen door and my youngest cat is her best friend.
My newest was a stray that adopted us, after her kittens were rehomed and she was spayed I turned her loose as I figured she wouldn't do well as an indoor cat.
A few weeks later she came back in and has never wanted back out, she's content to watch the outdoors from my screen door and my youngest cat is her best friend.
This is not true for all cats, especially ones that are not truly feral. Last summer someone abandoned a young cat near my house. Goldy slept on my patio and lived outdoors for about three weeks before I brought her into the house, and the whole time she was begging to come in. She loves to lay by the screen door and look out, but if I actually open the door for her she backs up PDQ. She does NOT want to go back out there. The only time she's set even one paw out the door since last July is when I put her in a carrier and took her to the vet.
The OP's cat sounds like she may have been a pet at some time since she's so friendly and has settled in so well. Putting her back outside could be more stressful than keeping her in.
We found a pregnant mommy cat on our patio and it looked like she had been hit by a car or just beaten very badly. When I found her I was scared for her and knew I needed to help her but she wouldn't let me touch her. I tried everything to no avail then she had 4 kittens in our patio shed. The kittens were easy enough to handle but it looked like they may be contracting early signs of what I thought could have been distemper. I got them to a vet and he was able to treat them but said I needed the mother checked too.
I asked my mom who has dealt with many animals and she said to get a towel and when shes close enough grab her with it so to avoid claws and teeth and bring her in with the kittens. We did that and yes, it scared the daylights out of her at first but if you hold her close and be calm and speak softly the cat will calm down too. Sure enough I put her in with the kittens she settled down quickly. We also had them in the bathroom to keep them from our male and female cat whom we kept separate till we could get them treated. We fed and watered then twice a day spending time with them as they ate so they knew we weren't a threat and I was able to take her to the vet and have her treated.
Bathrooms tend to be very bright so if you have like vanity lights or bright light bulbs I would try to swap them out with dim ones. The dim lighting and cool air will also help keep her out of heat longer. Also I would look into getting kitten milk from your pet-smart or pet-co. If she's small then she may not have enough milk to go around. Just mix it in the wet food so they can get that little extra vitamins.
As far as the Tom cats go they have a salt like substance that repels male tom cats. You can find it at places like Ace or Wal-Mart. Just sprinkle it around you railing or ask your downstairs neighbor if you can sprinkle it on the ground around theirs so they'll stay farther away.
Hope this helps and good luck!
I asked my mom who has dealt with many animals and she said to get a towel and when shes close enough grab her with it so to avoid claws and teeth and bring her in with the kittens. We did that and yes, it scared the daylights out of her at first but if you hold her close and be calm and speak softly the cat will calm down too. Sure enough I put her in with the kittens she settled down quickly. We also had them in the bathroom to keep them from our male and female cat whom we kept separate till we could get them treated. We fed and watered then twice a day spending time with them as they ate so they knew we weren't a threat and I was able to take her to the vet and have her treated.
Bathrooms tend to be very bright so if you have like vanity lights or bright light bulbs I would try to swap them out with dim ones. The dim lighting and cool air will also help keep her out of heat longer. Also I would look into getting kitten milk from your pet-smart or pet-co. If she's small then she may not have enough milk to go around. Just mix it in the wet food so they can get that little extra vitamins.
As far as the Tom cats go they have a salt like substance that repels male tom cats. You can find it at places like Ace or Wal-Mart. Just sprinkle it around you railing or ask your downstairs neighbor if you can sprinkle it on the ground around theirs so they'll stay farther away.
Hope this helps and good luck!
My outside ones would never be happy inside. They are afraid of inside and do not enjoy it in here. When Mama had tp stay inside for 2 weeks after her prolapse she decided she had had enough and calmly let herself back out after a week. Since she had been on dry and hadn't prolapsed again and she came everyday to eat I was confident she'd be fine and she was. If any of the kittens(except Blue) come inside all I have to do is shut the door and they rocket out the second I reopen it.
I know Mama had an owner at one point since she knows what a litter box is, how to use and that if you are inside that is the only place you go. However she has been outside for long enough that she wants love and scratches but does not want to be in a house, it makes her miserable.
This one sounds young so you might find she would much rather be an inside kitty but only how she acts will tell you.
Taryn
I know Mama had an owner at one point since she knows what a litter box is, how to use and that if you are inside that is the only place you go. However she has been outside for long enough that she wants love and scratches but does not want to be in a house, it makes her miserable.
This one sounds young so you might find she would much rather be an inside kitty but only how she acts will tell you.
Taryn
