New Baby Ferals

I got my new feral mama + family to foster this afternoon

There are 4 kittens, whom were born yesterday = 2 orange tabbies and 2 gray tabbies.

They are SO sweet!

The mother is absolutely beautiful.

I get to name the kittens - their names must start with K.

Any ideas?

I have them in their quiet room to settle in before I start bothering them in a week or two for better pictures and lovin'

There is that 'shelter smell' on the stuff, anything to remove that odour safely?

Oh what a precious little family! I have a foster mom right no named Kiara? How bout Kailie?

Both are great names!

I have been reading older posts and I think I read one from you from yesterday, which you wrote back in 2010.

Did you foster 5 kittens of which 1 died, and there were 2 brown tabbies and 2 orange tabbies?  I remember because it was so similar to my foster and I thought what a coincidence to come across your post - and now here you are the first to post here!

SadiecAt said:

Both are great names!

I have been reading older posts and I think I read one from you from yesterday, which you wrote back in 2010.

Did you foster 5 kittens of which 1 died, and there were 2 brown tabbies and 2 orange tabbies?  I remember because it was so similar to my foster and I thought what a coincidence to come across your post - and now here you are the first to post here!

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More than likely hun, I have fostered more litters than I can count. I've had a few with a couple brown tabbies and a couple orange tabbies. Orange tabbies are my favorite.

Kieri for a male  (from the Paksennarion series)

Oh I like that too Stefan!!

You are a Heaven sent Angel Kailie

I shall keep a list and we can all vote later:

1. Kailie

2. Kiara

3. Kieri - male

We had a K litter at my rescue! We had Kirstyn, Kieran, Kelvin and Kaya. We've also had Kain, Kevin, Kibbles, Kinsa, Kathryn, etc.

Someone else here (I believe resqchick?) has a male kitten named Kairi.

Of course... there's always Katie :lol3:

Clara and Speak, which of your K's are your favorite?

New Pic

Yesterday the blanket that was in the carrier, ended up underneath the Mom and the kittens were laying on the plastic bottom.  I turned the heat up to 70-75 to make the room cozier.

This morning the blanket was shoved off right to the side.  I am not sure how to get a soft blanket beneath them without getting my arm eaten.

Any ideas?

Everytime I walk into the safe room (which I do as little as possible at this point) I feel like I am walking into a horror movie.  The mom, Kimba, gives off this low, deep growl that vibrates through the whole room.  She does is so quietly though so as not scare her babies.  It sounds almost gentle, but I can just imagine how much power she wants to release behind that growl!

I added a feliway diffuser and harp classical to the room as well.

She had issues at the shelter with soiling her bedding and not using the litter.  I added about 2" of 'The Worlds Greatest Cat Litter unscented' and a layer of soil, leaves and grass to the litter and the next time I checked on her she had gone both in the litter!!  Thanks to my fellow TCS folk for the naturel' solution!

SadiecAt said:

Clara and Speak, which of your K's are your favorite?

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Kelvin was one of the most darling kitten's I've had. Kaya (also known as Kayalynn) was super sweet. Took her a little while, but she eventually became a big snugglebug. Kain and Kieran were two gigantic, long-haired brothers. Kain was wonderful! Kieran took a little longer to warm up...until we realized that he was 8 months old an never been neutered (he had accidentally been skipped when he was younger- he was with a large group of kittens at the vet. And he was so hairy and not very easy-going, so it wasn't until he had finally bonded with someone that they were able to realize what had happened!) Once Kieran was fixed, he was a whole new cat and got a home in seconds

OH mamma Kimba is just beautiful. AND I love orange ( I know.... they are RED..... but I like to call them orange :anon tabbies. Just some more names in case you need them: Kemper, Kendall, Kanga, Kernel, Kari, Kara, Keen, Karmel.

That is great to hear that Kimba used the litter box. PHEW. I wouldn't think she would soil the nest :cross: Hopefully in the days to come, she will allow you a little more access to the kittens. Because they will need to be handled starting at two to three weeks of age. GOOD LUCK ... your doing a wonderful job with this new family who need you so much.

Kimba and kids are doing so fantastic she is such a good mommy, there's just one thing...

I wonder if Kimba part of the Pit Viper breed of kitty.

In a few days I am going to start to handle the kittens and I forsee my arm, hand, face, etc

being shredded and eaten as stew.

I suspect Kimba remembers that people have stolen her kittens from her before and she

is dead set against having it happen again. lol  ...She was the last and hardest to trap in

her colony.  It took 2 years to get her.

Even with a towel over the entrance of the carrier she hisses, lunges, spits and claws at the

towel trying to get at me when I cleanup and feed her.

Um, suggestions please on how to get the kittens out?

I was also wondering if it is possible that she has gone into heat because I have had a tomcat

caterwauling outside my house all night the past couple of days.... Is it even possible that

he could smell her from outside?

Too much cuteness!

Kassi, Kitty, Krayon and Kinder with mom, Kimba







I still need to cuddle them!!  Mom is quite wild though and still won't let me near. 

The kittens are just starting to venture out of the nest, so the time for cuddling should be soon!!

What a darling family, talk about a cuteness overload!!

I'm assuming the carrier is not the crate they stay in, just was suprised to see them since momma is so feral. (just looked again and it looks like maybe the open carrier is inside the crate? Perfect.

I'm not sure if you have experience dealing with feral moms and kittens, so I apologize if some things/tips/advice I give here is old news...

Her tearing up her cage, and especially her not using the litterbox is very common and natural for a full blown feral, not semi-feral or tame. The reason for this is to stink up the area around her babies, it's meant to deter any possible predators from smelling new babies, who they would LOVE to snack on.

This is also meant to keep unneutered males who 1, either fathered this litter, 2, are protecting over territory where the family is (mom and kids), or 3, are attempting to mate with momma since she smells as in heat now.

A feral, unneutered male will sometimes kill the babies, I know, ugly but very real. He can smell who is female and who is male, yes even this young somehow...he believes the males are a threat and will kill them to eliminate this in HIS territory, and kill the females by attempting to mount them, to "claim" them as his girls so-to-speak, by attempting to mount them and biting their necks to mate, they are obviously not going to survive this.

That's what the lack of litterbox use is about.

Her growling is pure warning, protecting the babies. All ferals act on terror of people, most are scared to death and will do whatever to stay as far from you as possible, but some turn this fear into aggression. Still driven by fear, but to them they are fighting for their lives as you are a threat.

I once had rescued a feral very prego momma (Ariel) who I did not feel okay about aborting, she was huge and so ready.

I learned sooo much from her as the more aggressive type feral momma. 3 days later she delivered her babies while I was away for about 3 hours. 5 babies, cold and tangled together by their cords, as she did not chew them off. I'm still not sure why, but she allowed me to put both hands in her crate and scoop up this pile of kittens. (I did end up reviving all 5 by the way, miraculously) but after that and returning them, I was once again the enemy in her eyes and could NOT touch.

She just TRASHED her crate, I would clean it (gloved of course) and the minute I left, she would trash it again. I couldn't imagine it being safe for babies to be surrounded by pee and poop everywhere, but it was a dead end, this was how it was going to be, she told me! I then researched, etc. and learned what this was all about.

So it forced me to wait until just the right age when they could begin to walk, I would open the cage just enough for a baby to walk out of the door and grab him. Then I spent time with them this way. They will need to be handled often because they will watch and learn fear from mom's reacting towards you, and you don't want them feral of course.

With Ariel and kids, I had a pair of leather gloves, I took the left glove and stuffed it, then attached it to a stick and rubbed it all over my skin, to pick up my scent. I would slide this stuffed hand into the crate for her to smell (after attacking it of course) and gently pet her body, while speaking in a very soft, sweet unthreatening voice. I would do this often, so that when I wanted to use my gloved right hand, it didn't seem so unfamiliar to her, and eventually could go in and grab a kid, or clean her "room".

Another thing I learned from Ariel was even though she was super protective of her babes, she was still capable of killing them. Almost like she would rather kill them then me killing them, or so she thought.

If she gets too stressed and for whatever reason is jumping around as in to get away from you, she can easily trample one or more to death.

When Ariels kids were about 2 weeks old, I HAD to get her to a vet, she was showing signs of a possible infection and was discharging, fever, etc.

I will not forget the ordeal, ever I managed to get 4 babies out, the last one she guarded like mad, until it was to the point that she was grabbing this baby in her mouth roughly and thrashing in the cage, back and forth, slamming it into the cage sides, etc. baby was screaming by now, actually bit the neck of this tiny baby.

By then I was freaked, she was killing it! I finally had to just make a fast and aggressive dive into the crate and pin her against the back of it, making her drop the baby, and it was swooped out from the cage. She went BALLISTIC. Poor thing, she had no idea what was happening, only that I stole her kids from her. She howled and whined, it made me cry for her. It was so scary, but so tragically sad that she had to go through this. It was 1 1/2 days later she was allowed her kids back, whew!

I don't know if yours is as wild as Ariel was/is, but the growling makes me think so. Lots more advice if you have any questions

Catwoman THANK-YOU so much for your information.  I definitely think Ariel and kimba went to the same charm school.

You were very necessary and brave to hold down mama to save that baby!!

This is the current family set-up.  Before I cleanup I always put a towel over her carrier, she absolutely hates this and lunges but

I don't know of another option.  I have tried to just close the carrier door but I am unable to lock it, because she tries to get

at me as I finger the lock.

That is very good advice to wait until the kittens wander out.  I think this is what I must do.

I wonder if the shelter has any plans to remove the mama at about 4 weeks to make

kitten socializing easier - and SAFER!

I feel so sad for her.

My next question - How do I not adopt my favorite kitten??

Does the shelter have a plan for her? TNR'd to where she was trapped?

In my group we start transitioning the kittens to food when they start to eat moms food. So at 8 weeks old, you must separate the kids from her, so she can dry up and get spayed.

This part is always sad to me, I never get used to this no matter how many times I've done it

Then when she is dry, about 10 days later she is good to be fixed and returned.

Your question about the male outside, she is very likely in heat, yes!

As for cleaning the cage, oh by the way, your set-up is great, a few things you can do, either wear a glove and quickly close/latch the door, or use a stick or something to close it, holding it closed and put a towel over the front including the latch and latch it through the towel to protect your hand. If you use your hand, always keep your hand low, it's much less of a threat to her than a hand coming right towards her.

I always feel sad for the ferals too, they have such an unfair life. Deep inside they are the very same as the kitties we all have snuggling in bed with us at night, they just don't know that people are good. They all need love, a name, a place they feel safe, babying when they are hurt, a place in this world and a feeling they belong and not seen as a pest/nuisance, not trash or desposable.

Very sad to me.

Your question about how to not adopt your favorite kitten?? Haha, well now, it's like this, you can adopt your fave, why not? Or if you are like me and already have resident cats who are not ok with a newbie, or just don't need yet another, remember this-if you fill your home with cats you fostered, then it takes up room for the next cat or kittens you can foster.

Believe me, I love each and every one of mine, 100's have come to me, ferals, old, tame, babies, kittens, orphaned, may, many who I pulled from being euthanized, and each time one of them leaves, a piece of my heart goes with them, leaving a hole inside of my heart, to be filled up with the next one who needs me, and so on.

I remember all of them. I hope they remember me. It's sad to let go, but it passes for the next in line. There's sooo many who need help.

That's what us cat angels are for

Fee free to ask anything!

I fostered a litter last year, and whilst Mum had a name as she came to me with one, I never named the kittens.  Naming them would have started turning them into my pets rather than my fosters. 

It helped that I only had them for 8 weeks before mum went to the home that was lined up for her before she came to me.  In the last week and a bit their personalities became much more obvious, so letting go would have been harder.

At 8 weeks the kittens went back to the friend I fostered for for a week without mum before they went to their new homes - she gave them names, but because apparently it helps to get them fostered.  (they got their first vaccination and a vet check as well)

Giving them names is fun! I've been asked if I ever run out of names since there's been so many, but no, each has it's own look and personality. Plus I have to give them a name to enter into the database.

I think sometimes it does help them get adopted, and there's always the option for an adopter to change it

I started naming the 10 babies here now according to their looks and personalities-One is Indy, since he's always been faster than the rest, one is Tatertot, because she's small and the color of tater tots, Gabby is very vocal, oh and Metoo, he was the 2 day old orphan newborn I rescued and plugged into my feral momma. Hey, Me too!

It's fun.Hope all's well on the homefront

Love those names!

I've had Fiddlesticks (who always managed to trip over his own paws). Bartok had huge ears and was named after the bat from Anastacia. Bauble was a 6 month old kitten who was the size of a 2 month old and her best kitty friend treated her more like a toy than another cat  XD (Bauble is now the princess of her house). Karma was....well, we all know what they say about Karma.