Trying to find some lost kittens so they don't freeze

My cat recently gave birth. Aww. The problem is, right before she gave birth, she slipped outside and ran off. Me and my roommates want to find the kittens, so we can bring them inside (She gave birth during a warm period, but now it's around freezing most nights). We see the mother cat all the time, and we let her inside to feed her. We have tried following her back to the kittens, with no success.

We really don't want these kittens to die of exposure, can anyone tell us how to track her or find them? 

If possible, try to keep her inside (during the warmest possible part of the day) for a little while (maybe 30 min). Once you let her out, she should go running straight for her babies- to feed them. Also try to follow at a distance and be as silent as possible!

ClaraAdele said:

 Also try to follow at a distance and be as silent as possible!

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Or the other way around: follow her and talk sweetly!

So did my coworker with the feral mom at her place. The first time she was led astray, but the second time the mom allowed her to find the nest...

Talking sweetly was my coworkers and her husbands main tool to work with these ferales. (mom and her two litters, making them into loving outside cats).

Good luck!

So far no luck. We think she's nested up in a thicket nearby, but we cant find where exactly.

Valiant4Funk said:

So far no luck. We think she's nested up in a thicket nearby, but we cant find where exactly.

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As it is going on, they are apparently alive. One week older now they should make it now. 

Apparently the mom found them a good place for nest, decently warm.

She will bring them inside to you when they are perhaps 5-6 weeks.  They commonly do this.

Good luck!   *vibes*

ps. When everything is done and they are weaned, please plan on spaying her - and the kittens too when they are old enough.    

So! we were not able to locate them. But! One day all three kittens and the mother showed up at our deck. They are adorable. Thanks for all the advice, even if it didnt work like i wanted it to!

Valiant4Funk said:

So! we were not able to locate them. But! One day all three kittens and the mother showed up at our deck. They are adorable. Thanks for all the advice, even if it didnt work like i wanted it to!

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Wonderful news!  Just what we hoped for!

So now for next phase in "our" plan; socialize, take indoor, spay the mom, etc...

If the vet spays mom in the flank, it can be done already now, even before they are weaned.

(Not necessary optimal, but if you must so you must.  If she were a well behaving pure indoor cat, I wouldnt recommend this as yet.)

This is my recommendation here, so you dont risk her sneaking out again and become with a new litter.

Second aspect is, she MAY be pregnant already.  IF so, spaying now in early pregnancy is no big deal, easy done.

If you wait, it will get tricky, both ethically and more difficult medically too.

Good luck!  *vibes*

ps. contact a vet whatever you do, for check up, deworming, deparasiting...

they are hopefully healthy, but as free living they have surely some worms and parasites... 

Dont use randomly bought over the counter medicals, do use only those your vet recommends, or at least, you KNOW are good.

Talking with the vet about suitable deparasiting you can discuss also the spaying of mom, and a little later on, the kittens.  This way you may perhaps get a little price reduction, as it is a package of 4, not 1+1+1+1.

StefanZ said:

Wonderful news!  Just what we hoped for!

So now for next phase in "our" plan; socialize, take indoor, spay the mom, etc...

If the vet spays mom in the flank, it can be done already now, even before they are weaned.

(Not necessary optimal, but if you must so you must.  If she were a well behaving pure indoor cat, I wouldnt recommend this as yet.)

This is my recommendation here, so you dont risk her sneaking out again and become with a new litter.

Second aspect is, she MAY be pregnant already.  IF so, spaying now in early pregnancy is no big deal, easy done.

If you wait, it will get tricky, both ethically and more difficult medically too.

Good luck!  *vibes*

ps. contact a vet whatever you do, for check up, deworming, deparasiting...

they are hopefully healthy, but as free living they have surely some worms and parasites... 

Dont use randomly bought over the counter medicals, do use only those your vet recommends, or at least, you KNOW are good.

Talking with the vet about suitable deparasiting you can discuss also the spaying of mom, and a little later on, the kittens.  This way you may perhaps get a little price reduction, as it is a package of 4, not 1+1+1+1.

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Well, everything in there sounds good...but my roomate (who actually owns the father) doesn't want to get him or the mother fixed, He's worried about it "changing their personalities" Is that true? And is a good enough reason to not fix them?

Does he really like the smell of tom cat pee, or is he over-sympathising?  Does he fancy having to hear form the vet that the girl has breast cancer or pyometria?  Does he like the idea of kittens 2-3 times a year to be raised and found homes for?  Does he like the idea of a sexually frustrated cat taking it out on his hand, or singing their desire all night?

Valiant4Funk said:

Well, everything in there sounds good...but my roomate (who actually owns the father) doesn't want to get him or the mother fixed, He's worried about it "changing their personalities" Is that true? And is a good enough reason to not fix them?

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I had myself done this journey. As my both residents were toms and studs, both father and son.  I felt like your pal, him my cat begging for not to be neutered by behaving exemplary, sweet, wellbehaving, not aggressive save some hisses at foreign cats, and no spraying until he was 2 years.  Only deep meowing and being restless sometimes.

But his time had come, when the neutering come as a relief for both him and us...

He become more harmonic, not teaching lessons to his sons, the upcoming pissing ended in 2-3 days...

He began merrily to play like a kitten again...  And go around with his tail swaying high up.  

The son had it easier, as the father although neutered proceed to be the revire holder, and thus he was never forced to defend revire and always be high strung on watch.

But even he, once neutered, become apparently more at ease...

And we could sleep at nights, no more of these very deep meowing when they search endlessly for a female...

Nay, this of not castrathing is our human, male, thinking.  Cats dont think so, their burden becomes just relieved.  They dont change MUCH, they are only not so high strung, always on their watch. They begin to be playful again, etc...

Some tend to go up in weigh, that is the ONLY drawback.   ALL other medical issues go on plus, like Oriental hinted..

Valiant4Funk said:

Well, everything in there sounds good...but my roomate (who actually owns the father) doesn't want to get him or the mother fixed, He's worried about it "changing their personalities" Is that true? And is a good enough reason to not fix them?

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Sure, it will change their personalities - they'll be more relaxed.  Their brains aren't constantly focused on finding mates and defending territory anymore.  And it is sure as heck *not* a reason to not fix them.  She's YOUR cat - your roommate can do what he wants with his boy cat but please, please take her and get her spayed when the vet says it's okay.  There is a huge cat overpopulation problem - so bad that kill shelters will euthanize pregnant moms and litters of kittens under a certain age - 2-4 weeks.

I have been around cats for the past 30 years of my life, some fixed, some not.  They are all a joy to be around.  The ones we got fixed as adults were always more friendly and easy-going afterwords.  Not to mention, the females didn't each produce dozens of kittens over the course of their lives.