Help please! Feral cat just had kittens on my porch

A little backstory: My fiance and I love cats and have 2 indoor only cats that we've taken in since kittenhood.

When we moved into our new apartment about 6 months ago, we were soon greeted by a feral male cat outside and started feeding him. We earned his trust quickly and he is now very affectionate.

Then, about 4 months ago, a female cat came up and joined in on the feedings. She gets along with the male but is still not quite warmed up to us. She will (cautiously) come around us but will not let us pet her.

A couple months ago, since it was cold, we decided to make them a shelter out of a large storage container and a Styrofoam insulated cooler. We also added a blanket. They love it.

We recently learned that the female was pregnant. She had 4 kittens in the shelter last night.

Everything seemed fine up until tonight when I heard one of the kittens crying really close to our door. I went outside and 2 of them were outside the box roaming around. The mother cat didn't seem very concerned, she just looked at them.

I wouldn't be so alarmed if we didn't live in an upstairs apartment. Just a few more steps and the kitten could easily fall off our small porch.

One of the kittens was right outside the shelter and the other was too close to the edge so I got my fiance to put on some gloves and gently place them back from inside the shelter with the mom.

I know that was not ideal, but I'm not sure what to do. I know the mom knows what's best for their well being but she could look away for a few minutes and they could fall.

Keep in mind that she is a very young cat herself, this is her first litter, and the kittens are only one day old.

I wish we could take them all inside but there is simply no space in this 1 bedroom apartment. I'm just afraid something bad will happen.

Anyone have any advice to give? It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

kaylamichelle09 said:

A little backstory: My fiance and I love cats and have 2 indoor only cats that we've taken in since kittenhood.

When we moved into our new apartment about 6 months ago, we were soon greeted by a feral male cat outside and started feeding him. We earned his trust quickly and he is now very affectionate.

Then, about 4 months ago, a female cat came up and joined in on the feedings. She gets along with the male but is still not quite warmed up to us. She will (cautiously) come around us but will not let us pet her.

A couple months ago, since it was cold, we decided to make them a shelter out of a large storage container and a Styrofoam insulated cooler. We also added a blanket. They love it.

We recently learned that the female was pregnant. She had 4 kittens in the shelter last night.

Everything seemed fine up until tonight when I heard one of the kittens crying really close to our door. I went outside and 2 of them were outside the box roaming around. The mother cat didn't seem very concerned, she just looked at them.

I wouldn't be so alarmed if we didn't live in an upstairs apartment. Just a few more steps and the kitten could easily fall off our small porch.

One of the kittens was right outside the shelter and the other was too close to the edge so I got my fiance to put on some gloves and gently place them back from inside the shelter with the mom.

I know that was not ideal, but I'm not sure what to do. I know the mom knows what's best for their well being but she could look away for a few minutes and they could fall.

Keep in mind that she is a very young cat herself, this is her first litter, and the kittens are only one day old.

I wish we could take them all inside but there is simply no space in this 1 bedroom apartment. I'm just afraid something bad will happen.

Anyone have any advice to give? It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

OK, trying to answer.   I suspect, the momma being young and not really knowing what to do, knows you are friendly and docile humans, and thus, hopes you will take over.  Like a young girl would perhaps to with her mom, theirs grandma.

The optimal is if you take them in, at least momma and kittens.  You can have them in a dog cage, or a "pet taxi", so it really doenst matter much your flat isnt big.

Its also the best and easiest way to ensure they are fostered and socialized properly, into nice home pets.  Easy to find adoption homes too, when the time comes.

You are apparently more than halfway for being a foster home.  Momma, although shy, apparently accepts you. Yes, even chooses you.  You are Chosen, by mom, by dad, AND by the Fate.

Anyway, even a shy semiferale mom usually does accept the fact and does copy with the situation, once being inside a rescuers house.  Just to take it respectfuly to her and her kittens, and give her possibility to cool down, to land...

But if you cant, its just to proceed to do what you do.   Help them in theirs this little shelter.   Help perhaps to change the soiled bedding - it may be why she took them out, it was soiled after the giving birth.

And make sure they cant crawl out by themselves.  If ma or da wants to take them out, its their right, they are the caretakers (I guess dad is helping her, friendly toms do it often if itsa family group) but unnecessary the kittens happen to crawl out before they are ready for some exploring.

And please, spay the parents, begin with the dad.

Giving the hungry food and shelter is a praiseworthy deed, but it becomes dear to God and other humans,  firstly when you also neuter them both - you see yourself what happens otherwise.

They just multiply, and if unlucky, they also are adding the numbers,  by fetching pals from elsewhere. "you can get food here for free"

Good luck!

You need a box the kittens cannot climb out of first off. Secondly, like Stefan said, bringing them all in would be best.

Then, you need to buy some KMR by PetAg at Walmart or the pet store to have on hand (this is kitten replacement milk) in case you have to hand feed. Kittens this young will not take a bottle when mama is around. You would also need a small dropper or 1ml syringe. If you end up having to hand feed, you will need much more advice about body position and pottying the kittens, so let us know.

Mama needs plenty of wet and dry food and water all the time while she is nursing.

She may also decide to move her kittens at any time and you will not know where they are if you do not take them in. Since it's an apartment complex, she will likely become intimidated by the foot traffic. Also the management may disapprove.

Since the male is friendly and lets you pet him, I would recommend he get neutered asap to stop further mating, as this little mama will eventually go back into heat again.

Thank you for caring and let us know how it goes and what you decide. You're a good soul and a true cat lover to have done this much already! Good luck!

Thank you guys soooo much for replying!

The Mama cat is doing great now. She hasn't moved them yet! If a kitten crawls out, she is quick to put them back in.

She is also getting more used to us.

I think she just needed some time to figure it out.

I really appreciate the great and timely advice. I will definitely be back if there's another issue.