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Help...Baby Kittens Outside in 20 Degree Temps

post #1 of 10
12/6/09 at 10:37pm
Thread Starter 
We have recently been taking care of two 1 to 2 month old kittens, their mom and an older sister in our garage and yesterday morning, I had to open the back garage and the sister snuck out. So it being about 20 degrees out, we left the back door cracked open for her to come back in. Well, the mom also ventured out it is of no worry because they are fixed. Problem is, the mom coaxed the babies out which are about 1 maybe 2 months old outside. We thought they would be back in yesterday since it was very cold out and as of tonight, the mom nor the babies have come back. I did check today and saw the mom nibbling on some food but she has not brought the babies back in the garage yet? They have to be freezing so what should I do to get them back into the garage? This is the second night below 30 degrees...
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post #2 of 10
12/7/09 at 12:27am
Lets hope the mom found them a sufficient place....


If you find them, try to get them back. Otherwise, hold the opening ajar, and the rest is up to them. Moms ARE supposed to take care of their babies. Even ferale mothers not seldom do accept the situation if friendly humans take care of them and their babies.
If she doesnt, their choice and their fate is theirs.


Good luck!
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post #3 of 10
12/7/09 at 7:48am
Set up a nest in the garage and feed the mom near that nest. If she finds the area to be a safe spot, she will return the kittens there. Your other option is to discretely follow her and find out where she moved the kittens and return them to the garage.

I had feral kittens born in October and luckily, their mom kept them in our garage and I pulled them into the house the second they were weaned in December. I hope you can get them to return.
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post #4 of 10
12/7/09 at 8:25am
Yeah, Momofmany advice is a useful reinforcement of my remarks.

Thus, I do second these advice.
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post #5 of 10
12/7/09 at 9:18am
This was easier to do for me because at the time of the October litter, I lived way out in the country. I kept the garage side door ajar enough for a cat to get through it and hung heavy plastic sheeting over the opening (except for the very bottom for the cat). It kept the drafts out of the garage for the most part, and my "nest" was a walled off section of the garage where I placed a heater. I had a big box with blankets in there to give them a soft place and keep them off the floor. While it wasn't as warm as being inside, it was quite a bit warmer than the outside, therefore more tempting to the feral mom to remain there.
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post #6 of 10
12/7/09 at 4:02pm
Thread Starter 
yeah, right now we leave the back garage door open enough for them to come in and out easily, and although we are building a nest in the garage, we currently have about 6-10 inches worth of blankets stacked up to keep them off the floor, and then we have a pop up tent setup over that for them to feel safe in. Our garage stays quite warm, about 55 degrees I would guess so not warm, but warmer than outside. Last night I went into the garage to see if the two babies were at least in there and I found the smaller kitten in their and she is now safely in the house. The other kitten is still outside and we have seen the mom a few times without her, both in the garage and outside so I am hoping she has her safe somewhere. I am going to try heating up some tuna and putting it near the door and hope that they smell it and the baby kitten comes back in. to be honest, I was more worried about the kitten we got back last night because she seems less able to handle the cold as she is smaller and very skinny. You can feel her bones but she has just started eating ALL the time this past week and seems to be growing a little. I think I am going to take her in this week to see if she has warms which I assume, could keep her from growing faster if they are eating the food she eats?
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post #7 of 10
12/7/09 at 9:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by naviracer23 View Post
I think I am going to take her in this week to see if she has warms which I assume, could keep her from growing faster if they are eating the food she eats?
Yes, that is half of the drawback having worms inside.... Fleas is another big sucker. And if they have fleas, they may also have tapeworms (fleas are in-between host for tapeworm).

Have her somewhere it is easy to clean up until she is devwormed and deparasited. Bathroom is perfect for this.

How is it, do you have own resident animals?

If they are freely outside going, you shall have some quarantene, but dont need to overdo the very much. If they are only indoor, you should keep teh quarantene rather strict.


Good luck!


ps. Use only anti-parasite meds recommended you by a vet, or so. Do not use over the counter medicaments - they are often dangerous....
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post #8 of 10
12/8/09 at 8:25pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks everyone. The mom cat was calling me and I followed her out into the woods to a shed but I could not find the baby white cat that was missing. I had to go to work for a few hours today and when I came back, the missing kitten was there so we have everyone back. I was getting quite worried as we have a blizzard warning until tomorrow at midnight and it is supposed to be below zero at night for the next few nights.

In addition, I did get some deworming meds for the kittens so everyone should be free of tapeworms and roundwarms shortly if the kittens have it.
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post #9 of 10
12/9/09 at 1:39am
So the mom and her young kittens are back and seemingly well? Oh joy!

And the older sis??


The perhaps best part of the adventure is, the feral mom did called on you to help her and her babies. And she also did returned back with the last baby. Ie she choosed to beg you for help and she choosed to return.

The great breakthrough is hereby done. I dont say the rest of fostering process will be an easy piece of cake, but it will surely be easier than before.
It is my belief you have now even a fair chance to socialize the mom too.


Tx a lot, and good luck!
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post #10 of 10
12/13/09 at 4:07pm
Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! Mom and babies are back!!!!! You have made my day!!!!!
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