Stray cat gave birth to kittens in our shed/house

Hi there,

I dont know a thing about cats or kittens, was looking through this forum and people here really seem to know their stuff so let me tell you our situation.

A stray cat found shelter in our shed (which is attached to our house but only accessible from outside) and gave birth to 4 kittens 9 or 10 weeks ago. We've been looking after them since but not allowing them to stay in the house so they have had limited human interaction. Weve been feeding them and the mother seems to trust us although the kittens are still quite jumpy around us.  We want to give them away in pairs but how do I do that without the mother going crazy?

Thanks in advance guys

They are at an age where mom will start pushing them "out of the nest," so they are going to start to disappear soon. First thing first, get mom spayed. She is almost certainly pregnant again, so this needs to be done now. If you can, begin socializing the kittens - don't try to pick them up or pet them if they are not comfortable with it. But you can start sitting nearby when they eat and talking to them. If you can, have them fixed as well, before you find homes for them. Any adopters are going to need to know they may not be super friendly and will most likely need a lot of time and patience. 9 weeks is a bit on the old side to socialize but it is not impossible.

Thank you for helping them!

a couple of questions please:

what does spaying the the mom entail and how do I do this? Also, what do you mean by having the kittens fixed?

Fixed is same as spayed for females and neutered for males.  Casthratet if you want.

The vet is doing it, it s routine operations for them.

Find a good but cheap vet, get hold of the cats - you must perhaps use a trap for the mom.  Or wrap them in a towel so they cant fight and in a carrier....  Off to the vet.    If necessary, you can let them wait several hours in the carrier till the vet has time for them.

Some vets let them stay till they can be let out.  For males its easy, the females must have a couple of days recovery.    (Ferales usually heal well - the weak ones do perish early)

Otherwise you must help them with it if they cant recover at the vet place.   Have perhaps a cage in this shed, so you can look to them...

Something like that.  As Ondine said, for the mom it is rather hurry, as it isnt pleasant to spay them when they are high preg.

For the kittens not same hurry, but better to do it before they are adopted out.

Tx for caring!

Good luck!

Help for cheap spaying places:

If you are in the U.S. ,  the ASPCA has an online database.  http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/spayneuter

 Or here is a hotline number that will find you a low cost clinic in your area  1-800-248-7729    ( Franksmom just posted this for someone on another thread,  and that poster called it and they were able to help him find some options at good prices.)   

Otherwise,  you perhaps know vets in your area... Who is good and yet cheap, perhaps giving rabates for strays / found.   Talk with animal owners in your area.

If you have a shelter there who works with homeless too (many shelters dont)  ask them which vet they do recommend.