Stay Litter

I found a litter of stray cats in the basement of my apartment. There are 5 kittens and the mother.

I let my landlord know and I would assume he will call a local shelter. I'd like to adopt one, but I am assuming I should let it stay with its mother, for they look too young to be taken from the mom.

I have no idea how they survived for so long. When I found them, I went out and got solid cat food for them, which the babies ate.

Here are some pictures. Do you have any idea how old they are? (3 or 4 weeks?) Also, if I want to adopt one, should I let it go to the shelter with its mom first.

http://img835.imageshack.us/i/dsc00194oq.jpg/

http://img848.imageshack.us/i/dsc00188x.jpg/

http://img51.imageshack.us/i/dsc00196xwd.jpg/

http://img819.imageshack.us/i/dsc00199ug.jpg/

I would guess around 4 weeks but since I've never had a litter of kittens I really don't know. I'm sure someone else will pitch in soon.

All I can say is WOWZA they are freakin adorable
I hope Mama and babies all find a loving, forever home

I don't think those are stray cats. Not with as calm as the mother cat is - placid, paws tucked in - while you take pictures. And the little gray fluffball right at your feet. Kittens unused to people would be be hissing and spitting and backing away. She is an abandoned or lost pet.

Here's hoping that any shelter that takes them in is a no-kill, and that they all get good, loving homes.

Very cute and darling kittens. The mother is looking very sweet and calm and I bet she is lost or someone in the apartment complex dumped her off. She looks to be very friendly. The kittens look about five weeks to me. They should be kept with their mom for another five weeks if possible. Could you take them in temporarily until you can find a rescue or foster situation? You could even offer to foster the mom and litter when you call a shelter and then they would pay for any vet bills and their spay and neuters, etc. Thanks for caring and helping this family.

Could you take them in temporarily until you can find a rescue or foster situation? You could even offer to foster the mom and litter when you call a shelter and then they would pay for any vet bills and their spay and neuters, etc.

Click to expand...

I really can't take them all in right now because I am going on vacation for a few days. Plus, my apartment really doesn't have room for 6 cats.

However, I am feeding them in the basement for now and it is actually a nice place for them: there is a lot of room and a ton of old carpets, appliances and supplies that they can explore and play on.

I'd love to adopt the gray one, as it is really friendly. I just hope the landlord tells me the details of what shelter takes them in. My landlord is really lazy, though, so you never know; those kittens could end up being down there for a few more weeks. If they get old enough, I would take one in and get it vacinations. And I will continue feeding them.

I'll let you know what happens. Thanks for the advice, all. They really are adorable and I'm glad I found them, because who knows how the mom survived for 5 weeks down there without a good source of food.

Try to play with the kittens, to be with them. To handle them (taking in them and such). Tame kittens are much easier to get a adoption-home, than not so tame...

About taking immediately or waiting the proper 10 weeks. It depends on the fate, or rather, on the shelter...

If it is a well kept, no kill shelter you should let them be together. If it is some sort of death factory - there are several different sorts - save what can be saved. This is THE exception to the 10 weeks rule of thumb. IF there IS a loving home waiting, and the fate of the litter is highly endangered - just save them.
BTW, take 2 - most cats like company, and most cat owners can witness it is easier to have 2 cats than just one.

"Death factory"? Some shelters, and some town authorities, are kill shelters - if nobody fetch them in a couple of weeks, off they go. Others arent so bad, they wait 3monts. (some of these latter are relatively decent kept).
Some shelters are well meant, but bad kept. So not seldom the URIs and other sickednesses goes around...
Etc.
But there are also some well kept shelters. Many of those do have cooperation with a network of fosterhome.
The only real way to know is to know the shelter in question. Or to contact them and talk with them. Mentioning also you would buy out at least one of the kittens.

So the proposal YOU take charge and is their fosterer - preferably with the aid of this shelter - is the optimal solution.
The limiting point of most good shelters is not necessary money or good will, but lack of foster homes. Lack of place is the most severe weak point.
So please think more about this!

Another proposal I want to ask you, is YOU do contact your relatives, friends, acqutances, and recruit more adoptions homes?
Perhaps even some neighbour, who can help you with feeding of them, while you are taking this vacation?
And the landlord. If he dont have a hurry with contacting the shelter, he may perhaps be talked into letting them be there, IF you promise to keep their place clean, and change the litter...

Another point of talking with the landlord. IF he is really lazy, he perhaps dont bother with contacting some good shelter. He perhaps will do it the easiest way. A sack and off they go...
Such things does happens. They perhaps dont even bother to put in a stone in this sack.


Some thoughts.


Tx for caring,
and good luck!


ps. Welcome to the Forums!

Ohhh that gray kitten is so precious! Well, they all are, but... that one especially!

We used to have a gray barn kitten like that, I named him Gandalf- and then my sister-in-law renamed him 'Pantalones' because it apparently looked like he was wearing fluffy pants.