Took in a feral cat through rescue who gave birth yesterday. I have a few questions on feral behavio

I have had a feral cat in my care since June 20th,2015 yesterday morning she gave birth to 6 kittens July 7, 2015 (5 born alive one born sleeping.) Yesterday she spent all day with her kittens now today she had moved two and wasnt coming back for the others I had to remove our dog crate from the room she is in today so she wouldnt hide between it and the wall because the two kittens were on cold tile i was worried they would die aside from that the other 3 needed to be fed. I moved the 2 kittens using gloves and placed them back with their brothers and sisters, the cat went back and fed all 5. But watching her on the baby monitor today she spends alot of time away from her kittens unless they need to be fed she sits outside the nesting box. Is this normal behaviour for a new mom? She looks fairly young herself maybe a year old (last years litter) I just want some advice on if her behaviour is normal or should i be concerned about the kittens welfare?

Jessica Logan said:

 
I have had a feral cat in my care since June 20th,2015 yesterday morning she gave birth to 6 kittens July 7, 2015 (5 born alive one born sleeping.) Yesterday she spent all day with her kittens now today she had moved two and wasnt coming back for the others I had to remove our dog crate from the room she is in today so she wouldnt hide between it and the wall because the two kittens were on cold tile i was worried they would die aside from that the other 3 needed to be fed. I moved the 2 kittens using gloves and placed them back with their brothers and sisters, the cat went back and fed all 5. But watching her on the baby monitor today she spends alot of time away from her kittens unless they need to be fed she sits outside the nesting box. Is this normal behaviour for a new mom? She looks fairly young herself maybe a year old (last years litter) I just want some advice on if her behaviour is normal or should i be concerned about the kittens welfare?

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She is perhaps no idealic mom, but such behavior isnt uncommon.  Even among home girls.   They should do all right, as long as she both feds them and washes them (including helping with elimination!)

For a ferale it may even be wise strategy.  This way she is  prepared to keep watch, and defend them if necessary.  Also, the homeless mom must go out and find food, leaving the kittens even hours alone.    Of course, this contributes not all kittens do survive...

You can have a heat pad on low warmth, in a corner of the nest, so the kittens can crawl to the warm spot, or can crawl from it if its too warm.    It depends a little on how warm its in your place.  

Now when the mom recognized her kittens, you dont really need the gloves.  Moms dont abandon their kittens easily because a human touched them.  Rabbits may do, but for cats its largery a myth.

She were fully two weeks at your place before she gave birth.  How was she? Any agressive mode?  Very shy? Or even accepting you and trying to please herself in?

Did she allowed you to be with her at the delivery?

Before she gave birth she was fine with us being in the room as long as we didnt get to close after awhile she ended up getting a little more comfortable at one point i was able to place my hand on her tummy and feel a baby move but that was only one time most of the time if you got too close she would hiss. She gave birth to 4 kittens before i realized (1 being the stillborn) when i went down to feed her she was giving birth to the 5th and she allowed me to sit and watch the rest of the kittens be born. But after their birth she got very defensive again but 24 hrs after there birth she started to leave the kittens more and only stay with them to feed them and clean them. When they aren't being fed she sits just outside the nest keeping watch or sleeping. She doesnt seem to mind me being in the room with them now and doesn't hiss anymore when i get close to check the kittens as long as she is outside the nesting box. After I do my check she goes back to them so its like she knows im only there to help and as long as its not with her she's fine with me checking the kittens.

Sounds good she accepts you being there and near.  Its one of the marvels of our world of rescuers and fosterers.  A shy mom accepts humans helps her with her kittens.  Shows itself time and again.

Its often easier to have a shy semiferale with kittens, than the same shy semiferale alone...

I think it will go from here forward, and you can essentially take care of the kittens almost as with your family girl.

Just be respectful for momma, so anything you do, for example weighting them, you do so she sees you, and hears the kittens isnt not protesting.

Thank you for taking in this feral mom and helping her with birthing and raising her kittens. Your doing just great. This behavior is quite common for newly feral mom cats just trapped and giving birth. She needs a quite "box" type nesting area, maybe two since she will want to move the kittens. This way she will feel hidden out of sight. Very important for her to feel her kittens are safe. It seems to me, though, that she has readily accepted you! This is great news. You have been able to touch her even before the kittens were born. Excellent. Progress will be made with her assisting her with care of the kittens. Each day she will trust you more and more. Her natural instinct is to move the kittens quite often especially if the feral mom cat feels there is a threat to the kittens. I think you will be past this stage rather quickly now since she is slowly settling into this new routine of being indoors and you aiding her with the kitten care.

Do you have a baby scale of some sort? To weigh the kittens to make sure they are gaining weight. Bring a little scale into the room so momma cat can see you gently handling each kitten with love and care and then returning the kitten back to the nest. Mom will quickly understand you mean no harm. As long as kittens are gaining and appear to be thriving then you don't have to intervene. But, in case you do, I hope the following kitten care articles will help guide you.

http://www.kitten-rescue.com/
http://www.kittenrescue.org/index.php/cat-care/kitten-care-handbook/

In case you can't get KMR milk - A kitten glop recipe
http://www.hdw-inc.com/glop.htm