Happy kitten story!

Hello! I'm new to the site and have already found so much useful information and wanted to say thank you and share our story!

Proud cat owner for many many years but always owned spayed/neutered pets and never had kitten experience. Well that changed this morning when my dog (a french mastiff) came wagging into the house and proudly presented us a tiny kitten, which she diligently began to clean and love. We asked her "where are the babies?" And out the door she went to show us 3 more! We waited an hour to see if a momma might come back, and surely she did! We placed some wet food in a dog crate which she ran to so appreciatively, scooped up her babies and brought them to safety in our garage.
She seems like a wonderful mother, all babies are nursing and have round full bellies. Two still have dried umbilical cords attached. Momma is so happy to have food and water and pets, she purrs very loudly when we check on them.

My question is about momma cat: she is a little shy but has made no attempts to scratch or even hiss at us, she did not seem to mind when I handled her kittens. Is this typical of a stray with newborns or is it possible she is someone's pet?
We have seen her around the yard the past week, our dogs do not scare her.
should I be looking for an owner? Will her behavior change when the kittens get older?
Any advice is appreciated!

Since posting it has been brought to my attention that two (maybe three) possibly have "fever coat"

Is there anything special I should look for to make sure they are healthy?

MommaCate said:

My question is about momma cat: she is a little shy but has made no attempts to scratch or even hiss at us, she did not seem to mind when I handled her kittens. Is this typical of a stray with newborns or is it possible she is someone's pet?
We have seen her around the yard the past week, our dogs do not scare her.
should I be looking for an owner? Will her behavior change when the kittens get older?
 

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I would  say,  its typical of moms.   The most important for them is the welfare of her children, not the "freedom" as such.   If and when she realizes you are the best practical chance for the kittens, she will copy as soon she has landed.

That said, yours must have had a home at some time. May be gotten astray, but more probable is she got dumped when she showed up full heat.  It may be quite enerving!

So seek some a little after old owners (dont tell ALL details, let the ex owners identyfy themselves by identifying some crucial but not so apparent detali).

But be prepared there will not be any to be found.

Try to find her another home, unless you accept to adopt her yourself.

Tx a lot and

Good luck!

What a good doggy you've got!  That's a sweet story!!!

Hello and a a big welcome to The Cat Site. Congratulations on having such a sweet dog. What are the plans for the kittens and mom. I hope it all works out well. They all surely need a forever home.

blueyedgirl5946 said:

Hello and a a big welcome to The Cat Site. Congratulations on having such a sweet dog. What are the plans for the kittens and mom. I hope it all works out well. They all surely need a forever home.

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We intend on keeping at least one kitten for ourselves and a family member has expressed interest in possibly taking one also. If momma keeps up her good attitude we have a low cost spay/neuter clinic nearby and I will happily pay to have her spayed and keep her around (at least) as a garage cat. She will have lots of mice to chase, but no more babies please!
If she gets a little attitude after the kittens have grown, I have already found a no kill shelter that will take her. I'm not the type to put her back out just to find more babies later.

All the kittens made it through the night, are warm and no longer shivering, have very full bellies and mom let me handle her and check her over. All of her nipples look healthy and full, she does not appear to have any eye, ear or respiratory problems. She is eating and drinking lots!

I have not seen mom lick any of the babies and their bellies were getting hard and distended, so I gently rubbed their backsides and they all let out quite a bit of dark urine. I then offered them to mom to see if she would lick them but she turned away. Is this proper, and do I need to continue doing this?

Any other things I should be looking for?

As you describe it, it was and is good you step in and help with eliminating.  This is necessary for them...   Although it is baffling me a little.  Bad  mom happens, or moms when not all the maternity instincs has kicked in.  But, Apparently the mom must have done this earlier, unless they are just newborn.   Also, apparently she isnt no bad mom.

'

So why doesnt she continue?   And as most moms  licks them and washes them frequently,  you would surely see it.

The only I can think of, she feels still a little nervous and on her watch.  Which is no wonder.   Make sure her corner in the garage is nice and cosy.  Be sure you talk softly and friendly {friendly noises is a natural language for cats - compare a friendly courting tom, and a dominat tom who just takes what he wants!).

Dont look straigh at her eyes, look a little aside.   Avoid raised hands above.   Both are threating.

Yawn a lot, and strech yourselfwhen standing on all fours...

Perhaps even leave them there a time...

But still, if they seem full not eliminated, you must step in.

Good luck!

MommaCate said:

I have not seen mom lick any of the babies and their bellies were getting hard and distended, so I gently rubbed their backsides and they all let out quite a bit of dark urine. I then offered them to mom to see if she would lick them but she turned away. Is this proper, and do I need to continue doing this?
 

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How is it going?  Do mom washes them now and help eliminate?  As you do have another question in the Ferale forum, I gather its ok, but please report!

When I sat on a concerto today and though about your post, it struck me:  when you write dark urine it hints they were somewhat dehydrated.  And if they are dehydrated, they are probably more or less constipated too...  It was probably why they didnt made poo too.

So, using a dropper, give them some water.   Or some homemade pedialyte. Or even, a good quality minerale water, where you let the koldioxide bubbles disappear.   Minerale water contains different salts, you can drink it as it is, but  its also a good base for homemade pedialyte.   Just add some glucose sugar, and you do have an excellent homemade pedialyte...

Using the dropper, let they be on the tummy, head up, dropper in the corner of the mouths.  Careful so you dont squeeze so it sprays into the wrong throath.

Squizze into the mouth, and let them swallow themselves.

Good luck!

I helped them eliminate another time yesterday and it was very light colored, almost clear. While I was helping them mom started meowing at me and when I gave the baby back she took over. I have seen her licking them several times since then, and mom is drinking a lot of water now.

All kittens look MUCH better today and two have eyes starting to open. Mom seems to be doing all jobs now, so I'm leaving them alone and just making sure mom has food, water and clean litter.