2-3 day old kittens with a farel mother. Need advice please!

Hello everyone, I'll start with the background

I was shocked when I found the black stray cat in our neighborhood who went missing the day before yesterday. We knew she was pregnant for awhile so I figured she went hiding to give birth. To my surprise she snuck inside my old shed that's falling. We placed a box with a towel in it and she moved her kittens in there that same day and the next day (which was yesterday). We managed to give her own food and water dishes.

Now this cat is the most skiddish cat i have ever met. get anymore closer than 2 feet from her and she bolts to the other side of the neighborhood. The problem here is that we already care for 2 strays, another neighbor of mine cares for one, and another farther up the block feeds the rest including the new mother.

I have never been put in this situation before and what my goal is to get those 3 little kittens new homes. I don't know how to interact with the kittens so they don't be afraid of humans without scaring the mother away and possibly moving the kittens. I really want to get these kittens used to humans and eventually give them happy homes.

Any help and tips are appreciated! thank you! :3

For some aww, here they are

You will need to take it very, very slow and easy, or you may end up spooking her and she may abandon the kittens.  Leave some food and water where she can get at it, but at first don't let her see you.  Then in a few days, maybe a week, see if you can whisper to her softly.  Then as you gain her trust--if you do--you can gradually let yourself be seen as you talk softly to her.

I have had success doing it this way, but have once inadvertantly so spooked the mother that I ended up with her family to hand raise.

Good luck with your project. 

JaniKit said:

 
Now this cat is the most skiddish cat i have ever met. get anymore closer than 2 feet from her and she bolts to the other side of the neighborhood.

Click to expand...

Im not sure this is really any extremely shy!    Be happy you can get nearer than 20 feet at all!

So I think, Angelinas advice surely suitable with a really high sky anxious mom, but is a trifle to overdo here.

Come forward with the food and water, but make sure you talk sweetly and friendly, in a low tone...  Dont look straight in her eyes, look a little aside.    Besides, you dont need to let the food and water be immediately at her nest... Let it be some distance, so you yourself dont come too near.   As the photo is from near, you apparently CAN come near...

Friendly talk is a very potent help with cats, its a language they themselves use.  For example, compare a friendly tom who is courting, and a dominant, territorial tom.  You dont need to guess thrice whom of these is using a lot of friendly, soft  tones.

The starting question here is:    Is it possible for you to take them inside, and let the kittens (and their mom) grow up inside?   Its much easier to foster them inside...

We shall take next plans depending on your answer.

Tx for caring!

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice Angelina and Stefan! I spent a good 15-20 minutes leaning on the washer machine admiring the kittens while speaking to the mother. She seemed antsy the entire time but it went well, the only thing that spooked her is re-filling the food bowl. XD

I did came up with something that I wonder if it would be a good idea but I may have some questions on it. When the cats are big enough to walk I would like to take them inside and try my best to get the mother in to. If I can't do so and they are not accustomed to food yet, I would buy kitten milk formula in the meantime. I really don't want those kittens disappearing and becoming too afraid of people just like the last sole kitten I believe that cat had last year. So my question is, when is it appropriate to remove the kittens from their mother? I've done research and saw that by 3-4 weeks kittens can walk and begin learning to eat food, is that correct?

When you  see the mother make yourself as small as possible so she wouldn't be frightened. For example you can kneel down on the floor and throw some cat treats or meat at her. You have to make sure she knows your scent so she can get used to your smell and wouldn't be afraid of you. You have to try and bond with the momma so you can move her out of your shed. My cat snuck into my room and she wants to have her kittens under my bed. Happily, i got her out.

Good, so you ARE wanting to take them inside?

There are several variations, including to take them from mom at about 5 weeks (recommended ONLY with kittens from ferale moms).

But I think the main variation here is, you basically just take the whole nest with the kittens inside, and carry it inside into your home.   Hopefully, the mom will follow after...    Several of our forumites did so.

  As she isnt extremely shy, and begins to be used to you and yours as a friendly food source,

chances are good, even excellent, for it.

They are good moms, most cats.   And their childrens welfare is more important for them than "freedom".   when she sees being at your place nobody is mean, nothing is treating, humans friendly and even docile, she will copy with the situation, and even let you handle her kittens, as long you are respectful...

Having inside such a semiferale mom with her kittens, is in many situations easier than having this same highly shy female cat alone and try to foster her.

There IS some risk she wont follow in...  So it is wise you are prepared and buy some kmr or goat milk, and suitable gears, as dropper and bottles...

we dont need to do anything at the moment, so we shall discuss it more, and your thoughs and plans shall mature.

But I do think its the main variations, and I think you shall have your eyes open - you MAY get a situation where you can just do it, at once, it the spur of the moment.

Be prepared!

Good luck!

ps.  The tip of making yourself smaller, less threatening, is a good one. It works with home cats too, so it works even more with a shy semiferal.