Feral mom cat plus kittens

lauren1989

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 22, 2014
Messages
21
Purraise
1
First of all, I apologize if this is a redundant post... I am new to this forum and frankly haven't the time to read through all 150 pages of threads. :/

I am going to try to be as detailed as possible, but first my question so you wonderful people know how to help me please. I need to know the best way to proceed with 4 kittens regarding timing of and what to do with weaning, taming, etc.

About a month ago a cat showed up in my back yard and was stalking birds on my bird feeder in broad daylight. She looked so pitiful and hungry I started putting food out for her that day. She began coming every night and eating every speck of food I would give her. After about a week of letting her eat I started trying to acclimate her to my presence by being outside for her when she came for food. Within that second week she was allowing me to touch her while she was eating. Please don't misunderstand, she is feral in every sense, she was just more hungry than afraid. During that second week I realized that she was heavily pregnant and little more than a kitten herself (probably 6-8 months old). My neighborhood is no place for kittens, and so I decided the best course of action for both Annie and her unborn kittens was to bring them in. I was able to trap her and gave her the spare room with a large dog crate cave, which she avoids, litter box (which she took to like she's always had one), and a nest box lined with soft cloth for her to give birth in. During the week in the house I made little to no progress in taming her, in fact we backtracked A LOT. I know this is the result of her being upset about being trapped. She hid from me and only came out one time to eat in front of me but was skittish in the extreme while she did.

The day after that milestone, 4 beautiful kittens arrived. Annie hisses if I get close, but doesn't object to me being in the room. The kittens are 5 days old as of today (8/22/14). All of them appear healthy and well fed. What do I do from here? I've never had kittens before so I don't know the process. I'll tell you what I've found in extensive online research and please tell me where I go astray from what is best for the kittens and advise me on what to add or modify from my "agenda."

Weeks 1-2 I plan to be mostly absent other than housekeeping things and a look without touching in the nest box to check up. I have switched Annie to kitten food to help her and the babes' nutrition.

Week 3 begin minimal handling for 5 minutes or so per kitten in the room with mom hopefully if she can refrain from hissing. (Is there a risk of Annie abandoning them as a result of stress and scent contamination from me?)

Week 4- begin handling kittens outside the room for longer periods perhaps 20 minutes each and begin exposure to a kitten formula/moistened kitten kibble gruel. Expose kittens to handling by other people besides myself (adult friends and family of course).

Week 5- extend out of room visits to 30 minutes twice a day and continue offering gruel mixture. Additional exposure to other people

Week 6- Spay Annie (TNR style) and release 24-48 hours later outside (my blinds would testify to her hatred of being kept inside). Yes I will continue to feed and care for her outside :). Move the kittens into a higher traffic area of the house in the extra large dog crate to acclimate them to the household activities. During this phase I will extend the handling every day to ensure socialization. (Is this too early? Too late?). At this time I will release any kittens to their new homes if they already have one.

I will be keeping 1-2 of them, have already found a home for 1 and am looking for a home for 1-2 more. I will find them good homes. All will be spayed or neutered.

Sorry it's so wordy, but I think it's easiest to give accurate advice if you understand the situation. Thank you in advance! I have no experience with this and no one to call for advice. I really appreciate anything you can tell me whether it's to tell me I'm headed in the right direction or I need to completely rethink my plan. Just FYI, a shelter is not an option. I have been told unequivocally that they will be put down if I bring them there.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #2

lauren1989

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 22, 2014
Messages
21
Purraise
1
Oh and one other thing... Annie hisses at me when I get close so I also have some concern about the impact that behavior will have on the kittens' perception of me. Recommendations?
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,971
Purraise
10,596
Location
Sweden
please tell me where I go astray from what is best for the kittens and advise me on what to add or modify from my "agenda."

Weeks 1-2 I plan to be mostly absent other than housekeeping things and a look without touching in the nest box to check up. I have switched Annie to kitten food to help her and the babes' nutrition.
Please, continue with reports, questions, some pics.   :)

Good luck!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

lauren1989

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 22, 2014
Messages
21
Purraise
1
I actually had hoped that she would tame up but I was worried that her feral and fearful behavior toward me could negatively impact the kitttens' socialization. Could it? I'll make sure to get some non-clumping litter for them to learn in. Glad I should keep them until 8 weeks. :) I wish I could keep everybody! When I keep her inside for a few days after her spay, should I separate her from the kittens or leave her with them for her recovery? In case I have to catch her again to put her outside I would hate to stress her so much so soon after surgery. It is a major thing to catch this cat and I planned to remove the kittens for the deed so as not to frighten them. What kind of behavior should I expect from her if I let her back outside since I'm keeping the kittens in? Will she stick around and look for them or move on?

Thanks for the info! :)
 

ondine

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
5,312
Purraise
780
Location
Burlington, North Carolina
Stephan had a lot of wonderful advice.  I wouldn't worry too much about the kittens learning to dislike you from mom.  I have a feeling that by the time they are old enough to realize what's going on, mom will have warmed up a little.  You are, after all, her source of food, so she will not want to get on your bad side.  She really sounds as if she had some sort of socialization at some point - if only because she came inside without going completely bonkers.

As long as you take is slowly and don't make sudden moves around her, she should soon learn how to act in human society.  She sounds like she's been on her own for awhile, which makes her distrustful and a little touchy.  Plus, her hormones are probably a little wacked out.

Everything else you've planned is solid.  Once she is spayed, keep her in a separate room from the kittens and begin the weaning process.  You might want to reassess at that point to determine if she's house cat material.  She may never be a lap cat but if she tames just a bit, she would have a better life inside than out.

If not, she can be released back outside.  You should continue providing her with food and shelter - is there a way you can confine her to your yard - say an enclosure or "catio"?  It will decrease the chances of her being hurt or killed outside.

She will not pine over her kittens - by that time, mom's have kicked them out of the nest anyway, so it will all work out.

Thank you for helping her and for doing your homework.  You have a nice, solid plan!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

lauren1989

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 22, 2014
Messages
21
Purraise
1
Thank you both for the kind words! I appreciate the advice too, any random thing you can think of would help. I've never had a cat before, but I just couldn't turn Annie away. We are our true self in how we treat the helpless. Annie and the kittens needed help, whether she agreed or not ;)

She seemed like an ex domestic to me as well... She used to call to me at supper time, meowing like she was asking if supper was on for her yet... I read that true ferals don't meow much if at all. She also allowed me to touch her after only a week. The transition into the house was not smooth at all though. She scaled the walls like a cartoon cat, it would have been funny if it hadn't been so upsetting. She hasn't wanted anything to do with me since I brought her in. She is petrified of being in the house... She climbed the blinds every night before she had the kits even when I left them up looking for a way out. In that way the kits have calmed her, at least she's not still manicly trying to escape. It's not like I can withhold food for when I'm in the room with her to try to tame her. With her having a litter in tow her nutrition is the most important thing to me. I know she would be more inclined to come out for food if she was hungry, but that could take days and I can't rightly put her and the kittens through all that, and I wouldn't regardless. There is not a way to contain her in my back yard humanely as I have a German shepherd dog who lives back there. She's a great dog and loves cats inside and on the porch, but the second that one fears her and flees, her instincts kick in, and that wouldn't be good for anyone. I'm holding out hope for her socialization, and I don't expect her to turn into miss cuddle pants, but she is just fearful in the extreme inside and truly a sweet cat when outside. My thinking was that if I can't bring her around by the time the kittens are ready to go I would keep two kittens and allow her to be outside if she still wants that. If I can I'll look to keep on kitten and hopefully rehome two others together for solidarity. The one I have found a home for has a cat there already so it will have a friend.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #10

lauren1989

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 22, 2014
Messages
21
Purraise
1
So I don't want to be inappropriate, but if I was to post some pictures of the kittens' "business" could any of you help me to gender identify?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

lauren1989

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 22, 2014
Messages
21
Purraise
1
Following advice, I held the kittens for the very first time today. I'm smitten! I'm in love! They're so perfect. Annie got over herself quickly and didn't even swipe at me, she just vacated the nest box while I checked up on the kittens. The kittens nuzzled and cuddled into my warmth and within seconds relaxed into being held for the whole minute I held each of them... Figure I'd start slow with Annie, as soon as I left the room she had to rush back to the box to check on them. Thank you for the encouragement! That was an incredible wonderful experience.
 

wijody

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 19, 2014
Messages
48
Purraise
4
Awww, they're so sweet :)  Like you, I never really wanted a cat and now have 4 kittens (mine are about/almost 4 months old now, though).  It's easy to fall in love with them :)  I've even found myself acting full-on 'cat lady' when I'm in the cat aisle of stores, finding myself easily having cat conversations with other people, lol!!!


You're lucky to be able to socialize the kittens so early!  Mine were about 6 weeks when I found them and already hissing, swiping and spitting away at me :)  Good luck and have fun with the kitties - it will be an adventure!
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,971
Purraise
10,596
Location
Sweden
Following advice, I held the kittens for the very first time today. I'm smitten! I'm in love! They're so perfect. Annie got over herself quickly and didn't even swipe at me, she just vacated the nest box while I checked up on the kittens. The kittens nuzzled and cuddled into my warmth and within seconds relaxed into being held for the whole minute I held each of them... Figure I'd start slow with Annie, as soon as I left the room she had to rush back to the box to check on them. Thank you for the encouragement! That was an incredible wonderful experience.
That wasa major breaktrhough you got there.  Not only with you, but mostly with Annie, I think.

You went quickly on from the encouragement into action.  If you took the inbetween  step of asking, I would recommend a somewhat slower approach. BUT you were lucky,everything went marvellous and the Victory is yours alone.    :)

Im sure now Anne was so hissy not because she is such a wild feral, but because she is a good, protective momma.  As any good mother shall be.

But she dared here  to let you try.  The kittens werent protesting nor squeiking, no harm was done with them when in your hand for a full minute, they come back unharmed and contend.  Your scent was on the kittens, it it was nothing wrong with this scent.

  I think thereafter it will go easier and quicker with the socialization of Annie too.

Cat moms are in much alike human moms.  Its the welfare of their children which is most important, not the "freedom" by itself.  If they see everything is going well with the children, and the rescuer is apparently  their best practical chance for the kittens, they almost always cooperate, even the ferale.

Its not always the mom gets socialized in the process, not if she is ferale for real, but usually she doesnt mind her kittens get handled and socialized.  As long as the handling is done respectfully and with some carefullness...   :)

I think and hope you took now the step even beyond.  It should be much easier from now on.   :)

Good luck!
 

ondine

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
5,312
Purraise
780
Location
Burlington, North Carolina
Good job! She may be feeling a little confined - not having the freedom to come and go as she pleases may be spooking her a little. But she is in the best place possible for her and her kittens. Of course, wait until the kittens are a little more mobile; then she will know what confined really means.:lol3:

You are on the right track - keep up the good work. To answer your question, yes, go ahead and post pics and we will all dive in to try and sex the kittens.
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #16

lauren1989

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 22, 2014
Messages
21
Purraise
1
Well after looking closely and checking google I have zero doubt. I have 3 females and one male. Thanks for your willingness! It was really easy to tell once I had something to compare to.

 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #17

lauren1989

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 22, 2014
Messages
21
Purraise
1
Wijody, I know! It's like I got a free membership in a club I didn't know about... My work colleagues who are "cat people" have adopted me all of a sudden. Although that might have to do with my constant proud momma showing of kitten pictures. ;)
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #19

lauren1989

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 22, 2014
Messages
21
Purraise
1
Okay, so eyes are opening now and all four kittens are hissing and meowing a lot every time I pick them up. They usually settle in after a little bit, but is this normal? I'm very gentle in picking them up and I always support their whole body and all feet.
 

ondine

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
5,312
Purraise
780
Location
Burlington, North Carolina
It's normal. They have no idea who (or what) is picking them up, so they are instinctively hissing. As they get used to you, it will get better.

It is sweet, really - tough little kitties - fending off the monsters!
 
Last edited:
Top