kittens showed up in my garage

Maybe 6 weeks? It's a little hard to tell. It's a cute little kitten. Did they eat this morning?

Yes, they ate this morning.

Managed to get them to play with a peice of grass today, they are about the length of a double food dish including their head.

Is that four kittens in the picture? Or just three?

This is good news to hear they are eating and playing!

Can you put some toys down - like balls with bells and play mice?

If you can buy some kitten milk they might lap that up too.

I think you may be able to get these little kittens soon if this keeps up. Try moving a tad bit closer each day. I would sit down to play with them if you can.

I only got 3 of them in the picture. I'll pick up some toys for them and try to find some kitten milk.

That sounds good! It may help!

KMR is available at pet stores and Walmart. It's kitten formula and it's good for them and they usually love the taste.

Bit of an update, kittens seem to be in the garage 24/7 and the mom doesn't seem to be here as much and isn't eating as much as she was. Kittens are doing good, still can't get super close to them and haven't gotten to pet them yet but they like playing. Surprisingly strong when they grab the end of the toy and start pulling.

Were you able to set up a box for them?

Oh, wonderful news! They will likely move in for good if they have access to food 24/7, which they need at this age, and with you playing with them and leaving toys out.

If you sit on the floor near them they may begin tentatively approaching to sniff you and check you out.

I'm hoping you'll be able to bring them in soon. We'll just have to trap mama afterwards.

Are there 4 kittens everyday? Do you think they are sleeping in the garage now?

Yes there has been 4 kittens every day, and I'm pretty sure they are sleeping in the garage.

This is terrific news! I think the signs are good for bringing these guys in soon and socializing them for proper homes.

Here's a bit of an update, I managed to block all the holes in the garage and the mom and kittens are trapped in there. They are all eating and drinking well. I can get 2-3 feet from the kittens if I approach them and can get them right next to me if I'm playing but I can't pet them yet. Now for them mom, she doesn't hiss at me if I walk towards her and her kittens any more and doesn't care if I'm playing with them close to me, she just lays down for awhile watching me then gets up and walks to another part of the garage. Now that I can see her better i notice that she is missing part of her front leg. I'm thinking she may have gotten it caught in a spring foot trap and lost it (someone that lives near me is supposed to have caught a cat and a dog in his traps before). My question is do you think the mom cat could have been a pet that was dumped/lost and is just scared of people from the possible trap ordeal or do you think she's feral? She seems so relaxed about me being around her kittens which seems weird if she was feral.

Great news! I am happy to hear they are all together in your garage. It's obvious the mom was someone's pet if she is not hissing and is this relaxed around you. She also realizes you are a wonderful, kind food source.

I am terribly upset to hear she has part of a leg missing from a trap! How cruel can someone in the neighborhood be to domestic animals - poor mama kitty! Is it healed though? Poor thing - must have been an awfully painful and frightening experience - and yet here she is, bringing her babies to you and behaving very nicely. Wow - I sure wish this garage was attached to your house!

You're doing a great job of working to get these cats to where you can bring them in your home. Are you sure there is no place that mama can dig out?

Keep me updated - I think you are getting very close.

Her leg looks healed, but it does look a bit swollen. The floor is concrete so I don't think there's any way she could get out. Since the mom cat has been acting so much different I might bring her inside and see if she will warm up to me as well once I get the kittens. Hopefully her leg isn't too infected or damaged that she would have to be put down.

fordranger said:

Her leg looks healed, but it does look a bit swollen. The floor is concrete so I don't think there's any way she could get out. Since the mom cat has been acting so much different I might bring her inside and see if she will warm up to me as well once I get the kittens. Hopefully her leg isn't too infected or damaged that she would have to be put down.

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Nay, now when it had healed all on her own, she should manage nicely rest of her life.   Perhaps some corrective surgery may be useful, but the life is saved.

She may be ex pet, she may be real semiferale with the excellent healing meat as surviving homeless always have, whom recognized you as a friendly human, a safe source of food, the best practical chance for her children.  Cats are not stupid, and the welfare of their children is more important than "freedom".     Lets say it so:  A friend of mine children is a friend of mine.   To paraphrase on a similiar saying.

Anyway, its just to preceed with your plans, as it goes forward.

fordranger

If the kittens are eating well on their own, you can go ahead and bring mama cat inside. You may want to put her in a pet carrier to do so, so that she doesn't jump out of your arms. This way you can get her to the vet to look at her leg. It may need an antibiotic for infection. It sounds like she will not have to be put down.

If mama is inside, the kittens may come to you more easily. You can also set the food bowl inside the carrier or dog crate or trap, to lure them inside. Once inside close the door quickly and take them in. You may get a couple of kittens at a time this way, but you'll get them. They are hungry and not as wary as a full-grown adult. Esoecially if you put the crate out and feed them inside it for a couple of days they will suspect nothing. I'm hoping you'll have them all inside the house real soon.

Keep us updated and good luck! Sounds like so far so good!

I caught two of the kittens tonight and brought them inside, it's supposed to be really hot and humid this week and I thought it would be nicer to have them inside. I just put the food in a medium size cat carrier and closed the door when they went in like you said. They don't seem to freaked out, they let me pet them a little bit but I wouldn't say they enjoyed it. What should I do to get them more socialized? I currently have them in a jumbo dog crate with food, water, a big towel, and a small box with non clumping litter. I can do a bit of rearranging so they would have the whole room that they could wander tomorrow if that would be better. Also that room has a ac just for that room, around what temp should I have it at for them? Thanks for all the help.

Also when I catch the mom should I put her with the kittens or separate her?

fordranger said:

Also when I catch the mom should I put her with the kittens or separate her?

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this depending a little on the strategy and circumstances.   Both alternatives are possibly.

If you want to separate them, for easier fostering of the kittens, and TNR of the mom.

Or if you want to let them be together.   SHE will surely be happier being reunited with her kittens.  And them seeing the mom...