need help with litter - no mom

hi everyone.  i'm hoping someone can dive in with me and give me some 'live" help via KIK messenger or something else i can use on my phone.  the mom of a litter of kittens went awol a couple of days ago, so last night we brought them into the house and gave them space and a box, etc.  we have no idea how old they are, maybe 5 weeks?  6?  my wife and i don't want to actually keep them, we're really hoping the mom eventually comes back, but so far that's a no go.  we know people on farms that want some kittens but until they're safe, healthy and ready to go, we don't really want to pass them on.  we feel somewhat responsible for them.  

anyway, if someone could contact me on KIK preferably so we can chat on the phone i can even send live pics and get some tips?  my KIK name is the same as here.  i can maybe check in on the pc a couple times a day but it's somewhat inconvenient.  there's nothing seriously wrong with them that we can tell but i'd rather have some experience helping out.  we would take them to the vet or a haven, but i just really don't like not knowing how they're treated or where they end up.  you'd assume they'd be safe, but that isn't always the case.  

anyway, if someone could please help that would be great.

I just found the forum on tapatalk so I can keep track better. The kik request still stands tho pls.

As far as I know we use the forum here.

Just very occasionally, in real emergency, like birthing, it happens some forumites use some sort of chat.  And this is done on the forumists own will.

I for myself, I like the forum. It gives me time to think a little.  

Get the answer to mature.

Last, but not least. We do have quite a lot guests, who dont register, but do read.

Text in forums they do read.

Text in chat, or private PM´s,  is invisible to others, and soon disappears.  In practice was never there.

Effort for one, when it could be effort for at least 10.

Come with your questions, and sooner or later somebody will answer, or give some sort of feedback at least.

So the kittens are themselves semi-feral, born outside?

It may be a God send chance for them, you took them in.  Now, at this young age, they are quite easy to foster and socialize.

Later on it would be more difficult and take more time.

What are you giving them for food?

Tx for caring!

Good luck!

Welcome to our Forums!

Well tonight the mother cat showed up. She knows the kittens are in the hose, she could hear them when we carried them to the door for her to see. We gave her a can of food but when she saw a kitten we set down for her she had this low rowring growl. We changed our minds about letting her get closer but left the food. We were afraid she would kill them. Hopefully that was the right choice? It's dark now so if she I'd natch one we'd have no idea where. How do we manage this?

I stopped at the vet and told them everything I've been doing and they said it was all good. They wouldn't have anything to do with the bottle I bought but when I mashed some wet food with the milk replacement to a kind of slurry and they go nutty for it. It's messy as all get out but they clean the dishes. One used the litter but the others haven't yet. The vet said it could be the lack of food when mom left or stress.

I myself think it is best as it is.  NOW you will foster and socialize them.  At this age, they are essentially like any other orphaned kittens.  So socializing will be really no extra effort for you at all.

This way, you will give them a life, a future. You can adopt them out to any home.

Just make sure they do meet some friendly children and dogs too, and other adults of course., a little later, of course.

You are doing all right so far, as I understand it.

The mom?  It would probably work out either way, both let them be outside with her, and to  bait her inside with her kids.

But if you arent anxious to help the mom, dont bother.

Concentrate on the kittens and their welfare.  Which is to become home cats ready to be adopted.

IF you want to help her, catch her, probably in a trap, and do spay her!  THIS will be the best help for her!   Afterwards, if you notice she may be fostered and socialized after all, nice if you do it.

If not, just release her when the wound is healed.   She managed so far on her own being preg, she will of course manage excellently on her own when she is NOT pregnant.

Good you have this friendly vet.

Good luck!