stray pregnant kitten

well, when she came to eat this morning she was skinny.  I knew she had the babies so after she ate I followed her down the street to a neighbors house.  she went under their stoop at their porch.  I went up and looked and there she was with those newborn kittens.  I coaxed her out and grabbed 4 of them.  I couldn't get to the other because she went back in and sat on them.  A couple hours later I went back and the neighbor was home.  He pulled the step off and I got another one.  I had thought there was 2 left but I could have been wrong.  I hope she hadn't started to move them.  So I brought that one home.   I just hope she didn't hide one somewhere.  I went to the vet and bought a nurser and some KMR.  I tried to feed them, but they didn't do too good.  then just a while ago the mom came back to eat.  I put the box with the kittens on a towel, inside the crate and put her food in there too.  I put her in the crate and she got in the box with the babies.

So, I now have her locked in the crate with food and a litter box.  The crate is then covered with a tarp to keep wind and rain out.  But open in the front for ventilation.  This crate is the xl size . it would fit a great dane.  I had to move her and the babies because the neighbor did not want her there and the kids in the neighborhood I wouldn't trust around new kittens once the kittens stared getting around.  So I think they are safer here.  I feel like I should let her out in case he has one baby hidden somewhere, but I can't leave the babies outside without her to keep them warm and if I leave the crate open, she may move all of them.  Am I doing the right thing?

Kat Thompson said:

 
well, when she came to eat this morning she was skinny.  I knew she had the babies so after she ate I followed her down the street to a neighbors house.  she went under their stoop at their porch.  I went up and looked and there she was with those newborn kittens.  I coaxed her out and grabbed 4 of them.  I couldn't get to the other because she went back in and sat on them.  A couple hours later I went back and the neighbor was home.  He pulled the step off and I got another one.  I had thought there was 2 left but I could have been wrong.  I hope she hadn't started to move them.  So I brought that one home.   I just hope she didn't hide one somewhere.  I went to the vet and bought a nurser and some KMR.  I tried to feed them, but they didn't do too good.  then just a while ago the mom came back to eat.  I put the box with the kittens on a towel, inside the crate and put her food in there too.  I put her in the crate and she got in the box with the babies.

So, I now have her locked in the crate with food and a litter box.  The crate is then covered with a tarp to keep wind and rain out.  But open in the front for ventilation.  This crate is the xl size . it would fit a great dane.  I had to move her and the babies because the neighbor did not want her there and the kids in the neighborhood I wouldn't trust around new kittens once the kittens stared getting around.  So I think they are safer here.  I feel like I should let her out in case he has one baby hidden somewhere, but I can't leave the babies outside without her to keep them warm and if I leave the crate open, she may move all of them.  Am I doing the right thing?

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I think you happened to copy a post you had already send 13 hours ago.  And your faithfull supporters had already answered and are awaiting further development.

I want to add on the bold stile.  Its often easier with a needle-less syringe, especielly if they are weak.  You must know EXACTLY how to do it, as it has some risks, but once you know, its easier.  Try to get an 1 ml syringe.

Goodmorning everyone.  The mamma and babies are doing fine.  I went out to put fresh food in the crate this morning.  Seems everyone is fine.  I have not let her out of the crate to try and follow her to see if she has another baby out there.  Sadly if she moved one of them before I got them all it could not have survived overnight.  It got a little chilly here in Virginia,  45 ish.  I feel bad, but at least 5 of them are with her and seem to be nursing and moving around.  When I opened the crate to put food inside, momma did not try to get out.

A woman came by this morning who fosters for a local shelter.  She checked the crate out and looked in on the momma. She said they would be fine in the situation I have them in.  She told me if there was one baby left that it most likely didn't survive the night.  She said if I left the crate open that momma may try to move the kittens and I will never find them.  So it is best to just leave them where they are, they will be fine.  She said that in a week or so to start trying to handle the kittens so that they get used to human touch so it will be easier to adopt them out and they don't get wild. 

I plan on taking as good a care for this kitty family as I can.  I'm hoping I can get them into homes when they are ready to leave.  I will have momma spayed.

Thanks for the update. Do you think it's worth looking under that porch one more time? I really hope she only had the five babies ...

The crate will work for now. Are you leaving dry food down all day for the mama cat? She needs extra nutrition now.

You can start handling the kittens in about 2 to 3 weeks. It won't make much difference right now as they need to eat and sleep a lot and are quite fragile.

The problem will come as they get older and need more room to play and move about, but we can cross that bridge later.

Glad they are together and that you are caring for them. I wish it were warmer out though.

I went back and looked, and could not see another baby last night  .It is near 70 today.  Sadly the runt of the litter has died.  it was a lot smaller than the others so it may not have had a chance.  She is taking care of the remaining 4 I can see them moving around.   I go out to check on her about every 2 hours.  She still has food and water.  She let me reach my hand in and pet her, then I removed the dead baby.  I buried it.  I felt so bad, but I know sometimes the smaller ones don't make it.  I am going to look very closely later on to make sure the babies are latching on and nursing.  If they are not I will try to bottle feed them.

I am sorry the runt died. It may not have been strong enough to latch on or maybe got too cold. Is there any way you can place a heating pad under the blanket in the crate? Don't know your electrical set-up outside (use an extension cord?), but it would help the babies to stay warm at night. Set on low is adequate.

Thank you for looking for the possible extra baby last night, and for such good care to this family. Hopefully mama cat is fully nursing them all and they will thrive without you having to supplement. The way to know is to weigh each baby daily in grams and write it down. They should initially gain about 10 grams per day. The better nutrition mama has the more she can pass good milk to the babies. The early days are critical.

Please keep us posted!

If you do have to supplement, you would need to start with a 1 ml dropper with 1 to 2 drops at a time in the side of the mouth. The baby is placed on its tummy with head slightly up. If this becomes necessary you need to read about the procedure. And to use KMR powdered kitten formula by PetAg. But let's wait and see. I think some extra heat might be a priority right now if mama is nursing them all well. They nurse frequently now so you should be able to observe easily.

So sorry about losing the one baby

You should not have to supplement, with 4 kids they can each have one of the 4 lower, more productive nipples and should all choose their fave one in the next few days or so, even at this young, they decide which they want and claim as theirs throughout the rest of the nursing period.

How cool is that?!

how can I be certain the mom is producing milk?  also, when I looked in on her this evening the towel in the box was nasty. covered with some diahrea looking stuff.  there is a litter box in there.  ifs the mom pooing around the kitties?  I took the towel out.  she is laying with them on a blanket now.

If they still alive, i would say she is producing. Did you mean producing enough milk?

yes.  so if they are still moving around she must be feeding.  what is the diahrea stuff that was in the box?

Are they crying a lot? If so they not getting milk or enough

If her nipples are not flat and babies are steady nursing then she has milk.

It's pretty uncommon for moms not to make milk to feed them.

Plus you would be hearing crying going on

Regarding the diarrhea, moms get that from eating placentas.

It sounds as though all is well. The loose stool was just from eating placentas and from giving birth. Have you not seen the kittens latched on and nursing yet? Were you able to give them a heating pad or sock filled with rice warmed in the microwave and put under the blanket? Good you put fresh bedding in. Keep posting!

All is well.  .  I let momma out to walk around in the yard and eat fresh food.  While she was out I got the babies out and changed the bedding.  they seem to be doing great.  Momma came back to the crate and nestled down with them.  the babies are a bit more active and I can see them nursing.  I'm so glad that the momma is not running away.  I was a bit skeptical of letting her out, but it worked out fine.  I think she is trusting that this is a safe place for her and the babies.  I really appreciate every ones comments and concern.  I will keep you updated.

babies and momma still doing well

Thank you, Kat, for the update! Carry on! And all good wishes! Keep us posted!

momma cat and babies are still okay. I have them in the extra large crate and it s working fine.  they seem to be doing good.  I noticed one of the babies has a sort of cough.  is there anything I can do?  their eyes are open now too.

  I let momma out to walk around the yard a little each day, but last night she took off with another stray from the neighborhood and was gone for over an hour.  I can't tell if she is in heat again.  can I take her to get spayed while she is still nursing?

the babies are now 2 weeks old, their eyes are open, but I notice one has a little cough.  Should I do anything for it?

Momma took off with another neighborhood stray last night, could she be in heat again?  can I get her spayed while she is nursing?  She was gone for over an hour and when she came back the other cat was right with her.

The coughing could be a sign of uri, if you have a humifdifier, run that it will help

It very possible that she in heat, some vets will spay while she nursing