cat sitting new, diabolical mama cat

Hello everyone,

For starters, I'm so glad I found this site and I hope you guys can help me out.  I know nothing about cats.  We have been cat sitting our neighbor's cat for the last 2 weeks.  I don't have a lot of info about the cat, but I do know she's less than a year old and she's always been a little temperamental. Also, she's fully vaccinated.  I'm always a little skittish about petting/showing affection to her because she'd turn on you in an instant with no warning and I'd end up scratched.   While I've been cat sitting I've gone over there once or twice a day, fed and left water for her, and changed the litter box if necessary.  I'd check on the cat to make sure she was ok, and there hasn't been much of a problem between us.  Anyway, the owners knew she was pregnant when they left, but the delivery date was kind of up in the air.  My neighbor said she might deliver while they were gone.  Well, she had the kittens yesterday.  

Now, remember....I'm NOT a cat person, so I don't have a lot of knowledge about cat maternity & postpartum care.  The cat decided to have the babies in a tall laundry hamper.  When I found her in there I looked down and she was meowing but nothing scary (to me.)  You cat experts are going to think I am the most ignorant person with this next part, but  I was worried the babies would be trapped in that tall hamper and mama cat wouldn't be able to get them out, so I called my husband over to the house and we gently and carefully tipped the hamper over on its side.  In an instant, the mama cat went ballistic.  She came straight at me and bit my leg hard and scratched me up pretty good.  My husband managed to control her while I escaped the bedroom, but as he was leaving she scratched and bit him on the hand.  He finally managed to hold her down, and was panicked when he let go she would come at him again, so we got a towel, he covered her up the best he could, pointed her in the opposite direction, and, when he was ready, let go and we both got the heck out of there.  (One more time...we're not cat people, and I'm sure we made lots of mistakes in this cat-human interaction.)

We went to the ER and got the bites looked at (and were prescribed some antibiotics) and I let the owner know what happened.  She's dealing with some stressful things on her end, but she didn't seem too concerned and told me the cat has bit & scratched her before too and she was fine.  I don't think she understood the severity of the attack, but like I said, she has a lot of things going on where she is.  

Here's my question and where I really need some help in deciding what to do.  The neighbors won't be back for another week, and I'm still responsible for taking care of this (crazy) cat.  However, I'm more than a little scared about going back into that house.  (On the plus side, I'm already on the meds so if she attacks again I'm covered! LOL)  Is this cat going to remember that we inflicted that "trauma" during her postpartum time?  Will she likely attack again?  I'm not even considering going near those kittens again since apparently she's quite territorial about them.  But I have no idea if they're ok or how many there are.  The bedroom where she had the kittens is on one side of the house, and her food/water/litter box is in the laundry room on the other side of the house.  Is it safe for me to enter the laundry room through the side door, check food/water/litter status and then hit the road?  As you can probably guess, there's no love lost between this cat and me, but I do feel a responsibility to take care of her until the owners return.  Any help would be really appreciated.  Thanks in advance!  

Wow, I'm so sorry you have been put into this situation.  The cat's owner was remiss in leaving their cat with someone who has no knowledge of them, let alone one about to give birth. It was very kind of you to do this for them.

Even being a "cat person", I wouldn't be so keen on getting in this mama's way after your first encounter with her after the birth of the kittens.  She obviously is very protective towards them, maybe more so since her "humans" are not there.  I'd imagine she is feeling somewhat confused by your presence to say the least.

I think it would be ok for you to just come in and attend to her basic needs as you mentioned, staying out of her way.  I would, however, stress to the owners how urgent it is they return home.  It isn't fair to the cat to be completely ignored; and the kittens certainly should be checked on.  If you feel a bit more confident in a day or so, maybe you can go in to check on them, even if it's from a small distance.  I'd just be sure to announce myself as I'm approaching, talking softly to the mama cat, letting her know you're coming in just to make sure all is ok.  If, she shows any signs of aggression towards you; hissing, growling, ears laid back, etc.  just leave the room, don't try and push it.

Perhaps after some time alone she may have calmed down anyway - after all, you are both strangers to her and keeping the kittens safe is built into her DNA.

Good luck!  I'm sure others with much more experience will chime in too.

Thanks so much for replying to me.  I wasn't sure if I'd get kind words or words like, "You dumb lady!  Why'd you bother that mama and her babies?"  (Which is how I feel anyway!)  

Unfortunately, I don't think the owners will be returning early.  They are overseas and the husband was supposed to return Friday, but there have been health problems in the family so even that return date is in doubt.  

I think I'll certainly provide the basic needs, but both my husband and I are wary of getting anywhere near those kittens.  Not to be harsh, but the neighbors knew we didn't know a lot about cats.  As a mother myself, I really feel for those little kittens and I hope they're ok, but I don't want to risk being attacked again.  

Is there anything I should do to protect myself when I do go over there?  Like I said, the attack was so sudden I don't think there was anything we could have done to prepare.  

Oh no, nobody here would react that way.  In fact, I'm pretty sure everyone is as grateful that you are committing yourself to their care all things considered.

I wonder if it is possible for them to contact their vet, and have a tech come over to make sure they are all ok - someone who is well versed in handling stressed cats.  Surely this would put everyone's minds to rest.  If it were me in that position, I would pay anything extra for a home visit to be sure of it.

If you are going to try and check up on the kittens, make sure to wear long pants/sleeves and wear a pair of gloves just as a safe measure - you obviously are not going to try and touch them, it's just more assurance against the mom, since you have already been bitten.  When you come into the room, move slowly, do not make eye contact, but speak to her gently.  Try to get yourself as calm as you can before entering, she will sense your trepidation otherwise and it might make her tense if she wasn't.  I would also have some food with me, something to entice her and make associate good things happening with you.     Keep the visit very short - just long enough to take a peek and see that everyone is ok.  

Most likely - all is ok.  But it would be a good thing if you were able to get in there at least once to make sure.  Oh and, she also may calm down a lot in a day or so.  She has just given birth, so her maternal instinct is very territorial at the moment - she's worried about predators, and might even view her own owners as one for all we know.  Some cat really do not like visitors at all in the first hours after birthing but settle down afterwards.  

If she makes any kind of aggressive motions at any time, directly staring for example even, calmly leave.  Even if it is as you are first walking in.  Do not, raise your voice at her if at all possible.  You are trying to get her used to you, and trust you.  Respecting her boundaries is the best way to do this at this time.  

I'd tell you to get a Feliway diffuser or spray - which is a pheromone therapy used to calm cats and help with behavioral issues (I used it for one of my cats).  It seems to work for many, a lot of people here recommend it but, I fear you don't have the time to see if it will work as it can take from several days to up to a month sometimes (for us - it seemed to kick in around the 3rd day).  Plus, it is expensive - around $30ish more or less depending where you get it from.  But, might be worth a shot so I'm throwing it out there.

You had already got good advices.   Im sorry you got into this mess...  Having maximal unlucky situation, not by your fault.

Now, for basic needs you dont need to near them at all if you dont want or can.

I mean, this mom is no worse than if she got dumped and was forced to make do on her own.  Here she is inside a house, has food, water, litter. no predators.  If she needs to change the bedding because it begins to be smelly she just does it...    An ideal situation for a dumped mom, or a feral mom whom somebody tries to rescue.

So I say, dont even try to get near, unless you want.

You could bring this food and water nearer their room, but it is extra.

As you feel afraid and anxios, do have by all means extra par trousers, long sleeves, gloves and protective glasses /googles.  If a cat goes into a deadly fight, it goes often to the face.  So have eye protection.

I dont think you will need it, if you dont provoke her again.  But it will make you feel safer and better.

. There is of course much more possible to do, but it is to demand much of you, and for this moment, you need a workable starting point, just the necessary basic.

Bth, what your husband did, wrapping the cat in a thick towel, and holding her immobilized in it, IS the standard advice in all such situations, where you must hold a cat who is or may get aggressive.

So you did it right!

Please, continue with reports and questions!

Tx for helping them!

Good luck!

Welcome to our Forums!

Continuing.  The mom is not diabolical, but she is very defensive.  Many moms are.  It is usually fully possible to manage also these defensive, or say, rescued semi-feral moms and their kittens.  But you must know how to do it, be cafeful and respectful.  You, not knowing Konw How, werent.  Really not your fault, the owners should prepare you and give you exact instructions.

Her becoming aggressive when you pet her.  It is not unusual, they want to be petted, but after a while they got overstimulated - and can claw you.  Experienced cat persons feel of when they are going to get enough and stops in, but new bees  can get caught...

Another variation may be, they have love bites.... Bites who are perhaps a little too hard...

What Im trying to say, she isnt crazy nor anything, just a bit touchy...  And now being mom,  defensive to protect her children.  Which is of course every moms holy duty.

Good luck!

Thanks again for all the replies and the advice.  It has truly been really helpful.  I am not at all comfortable getting near those kittens again.  I hope that doesn't make me a terrible person.  I'm going to make sure her basic needs are met, and hopefully her maternal instincts will guide her well enough to take care of the kittens.  I completely understand Mama Cat's behavior--she was protecting her babies.  I sorry if I offended anyone by calling her "diabolical."  That was meant to be tongue-in-cheek.  (Although she certainly seemed quite possessed when she was coming after us--but I would have reacted exactly the same way if someone came after my babies!)  I'll give an update after we go over there, but hopefully things will be uneventful.  

Thanks again for all your help!

Perfectly understandable, given circumstances.  Let us know how things go if you are able to.

Good luck and thanks for being there for her.  Hope her family finds a way to send at least one of them home to care for them quickly.