Stray mom +3

Last week I fed a skinny cat that was in my garage. It showed up again 2 days ago and I fed it again. SHE left and brought 2 kittens back with her. She left nearly all day the next day and showed up that evening with another.  She only left for a short time today and no new kittens.

It is going to be terribly cold tonight and Id like to bring them all in. I am looking for opinions as to whether she only has the 3 or should I leave her outside in case she has more?  I dont want to bring them in and have a baby kitten(s) orphaned.

Advice please?

I do already own 2 cats and have a bedroom already prepared for her and the kittens.

Thank you.

*Forgot to add that the kittens are probably 4-6 weeks old. They seem in good health, playful etc. They are eating solid/canned food and drinking water I put out for mom but still nursing. Mom is just very skinny and Im praying she isn't already pregnant again.

Is there anyway you can see where she is going? 

Maybe to see if she leads you to more?

We live in a wooded rural area so it could be anywhere. Shes set up camp in my garage, more of a car port because it has no garage door. I would have to really watch her all day to know when exactly she leaves.

I know this sounds crazy, but will she let you touch her? If so, maybe take a look at her belly and see how many nipples are being used. 

I know that with Sophia and her kittens, I know exactly which ones are being used because the hair is missing around them. Maybe you can do the same with her, and if there's only 3 nipples in use, there maybe a great chance she only has 3.

But that doesn't rule out having more. 

She let me touch her the instant that I gave her food the first time. Full on loud purring and kneading the ground. I just didn't investigate her as I thought I was just giving a skinny cat a meal lol

I picked her up yesterday and she didn't fight it but got a bit nervous and then growled so I put her down. The kittens are very friendly with us.

That's a hard call. But as of right now shes in your car port with the three kittens?

Yes, they have food and water and I made a bed for them with old T-shirts but they don't use it and prefer to sleep on the floor behind some boxes. It is only going to be in the 30's tonight, which is cold for us right now.

Thanks for replying by the way.

If she is there with the kittens, its safe to say that's it, and i would bring them inside. 30 is very cold, and those kittens need to stay warm. 

Food for thought.

Yes, that's my dilemma. She did stay with the 2 here overnight (if she left I didnt notice), which means she left the 1 wherever.  I want to keep them safe and warm but I don't want to seal the fate of any that might still be out there Being that she hasn't left hardly at all today, I'm leaning toward that's all she has but I just worry.

If she has all three, i would scoop them up with her and bring them in. 

If she's staying right there with the 3, then its more than likely safe to say there's no more. 

Ok, I will go do it now - thank you very much

Your welcome. 

Another thing, that stinks, but to think about, if you can at least help her and the 3 shes got, its better than all of them freezing and possibly dying! 

So you are at least saving 4 furry little lives! 

I'd be taking her and the 3 indoors too, and make sure to keep her in until spayed if she's not pregnant again she will be soon, which you may already know. 

Looking at her nipples is unlikely to help you count kittens either, many kittens will move around and feed from more than one. 

I would too. And I didn't think it was a sure fire way to tell, just a random thought.

Hopefully everyone is doing good and is safe and warm!

My favourite comment:  they will need worming and checking for fleas.

Thanks for your comments. Yes, I'll be spaying her and getting the kittens checked out.

Momma was a little weary about coming in, as expected.  She is now pretty happy it seems. She doesn't claw at the door or try to bolt out of the room. Just a lot of purring and rubbing. She doesn't seem stressed at all so I am pretty confident we have them all.

Her belly is pretty big, I don't know if it's from eating a lot or preggo. I'll find out once I get her to the vet.

Thanks again

Keep us updated! Hopefully everything goes well! 

I want to thank everyone again for helping me out with all your advice.

I am happy to report that "Momma Cat" and her three daughters, Eva, Athena and Medusa are healthy.  They are now official members of our family, thanks to my 11 yo son who convinced me that they will be his responsibility.  Yeah right - I think we all know how that turned out.

My only issue is Momma is REALLY crabby.  After the babies were weaned she hates them, as well as my other 2 male cats.  She came into heat and one of my males was humping her (they're fixed), but now she doesn't even let any of them get close to her without lashing out.  She is friendly toward the humans and if most often lying on the couch, but if any cats come by she will strike out at them.

I will be taking the four girls to be spayed within the next couple months.  I'm not sure if that will calm her down?  Will she ever adjust or should I look into adopting her out to a one-cat-family?

She has already scratched my other male cat on the eye, not serious but I did have to take him to the vet to make sure everything was ok.

Anyone else ever have to deal with a cat like this before?

Yes, spaying should help at least some, perhaps even a great deal. It is individual.

This said, you perhaps must anyway try to find her a one cat home.  You shall look and see.

Good luck!