have 7 cats!!

Where are you located in Illinois? I am in Illinois too. How old are the kittens? Are they still nursing? Was the mother, Lolli, ever tested for FELK/FIV? Sorry all the questions, but it would help to get as much information as possible from you. I might have a place to take the kittens too if you are close.

How wonderful of you to rescue them from such horrible circumstances!

Vibes for mom and her babies!

Do you have any way to keep them separated from your other cats? Ideally her babies should be with her for 10-12 weeks, and won't be fully weaned until up to 7-8 weeks, but you ought to start looking for a foster group or shelter that can take them, if things don't work out with Feralvr's offer.

The best way to search is at Petfinder (http://www.petfinder.com), and typing in your zip code and looking up shelters and groups in your area. You can phone them, or conduct an e-mail campaign and e-mail them all. You should explain the problem just the way you did here. Rescue groups are much more open to helping when they know the problem isn't someone who let an unsterilized cat roam.

Welcome to the Forums!

With time, when they become weaned, she loses most of this intensive interest in them. After a while she may even reject them.
So her sorrow will not be so deep as it seems as now - at least, if you do not separate them too early.
You shouldnt before 8 weeks, preferably 10-12. Kittens do learn much from mom and siblings.
The only real exception is if things arent good, but a good forever OR fostering family is awaiting.

But I see things are on good way, either with Feralvs help or LDG advices.
(AND this lotsa of YOUR excellent job! )

Tx a lot for helping this cat mom and the kittens

but lets not forget to give a cred to your step father, who although no good caretaker, he did what he could, saving the cats live, and giving her help - as he could in his circumstances. Although this is pitifully little - and tells more about his circumstances than his will to help... He DID tried at least.


Good luck for you, your residents, and your protegees!


ps about the mom being alpha cat and unfriendly to your residents.
She does have two handicaps: 1. She is a mom - and thus protective for the kittens.
Her first priority now is not to try to become friend with the residents - like most saved cats usually try - but her first priority is to safeguard her children.

Second - she is unspayed.

IF you by any reason try to keep her - it will SURELY be much better when the kittens are weaned, and she is spayed.