Stray cat had kittens in my balcony.

I need some advice as to what to do. I live on an upstairs apartment and just two days ago saw three kittens in my balcony. I honestly have no idea how old they are because I don't know anything about cats. We never go out to the balcony and don't have anything in there but there is tiny room where the heater is. I'm assuming tat door was open so the mother found shelter there.

I do not like cats so I cannot keep them. My roommate thought we should throw them out but I think that's too cruel. They don't really bother me out there since I never go out into the balcony but I don't want them to die out there. The mother seems to be very protective of so I guess that's a good thing. Today, I put milk in a small cup and left it out there. The mother drank the whole thing within a few minutes. Two of the kittens got curious and tried to drink the milk but I don't think they know how to feed themselves other than being fed by their mother.

I guess I just need sme advice as to what I should do. Like I mentioned before, I don't like cats but I also don't want them to die. I asked a friend about a cat shelter and she said they won't take them in this young. I'm assuming once the kittens are old enough to climb, they will leave. My question is, how long will this usually take? Will a shelter take them? I hear shelters might put them down and I wouldn't really want that. I also considered offering them for free on Craigslist but I'm sure no one will take all three kittens and the mother and I don't want them to be separated.

Shelters will normally take kittens that aren't weaned yet if their mother is with them--at least, I've seen mother cats with their kittens at my local Humane Society. As soon as the kittens are able to eat solid food and no longer dependent on mama for their sole nutrition, they can be adopted out. I wouldn't just take your friend's advice--I would call your local shelters. Also, not all shelters euthanize. Animals Friends does not, and some Humane Societies only euthanize if the cat is ill or very aggressive and unable to be socialized. This might actually be a good time to take the mama with her kittens to a shelter because people tend to adopt kittens around the holiday season. It would be great in the mean time if you could feed the mama cat so she and her kittens can survive and be healthy--people are less likely to adopt  sickly or starving cats.  Dry cat food isn't  expensive, and you can leave some out in a bowl each day.  Also provide a bowl of water if they're not near a water source.  

If you don't take mama and her kittens to a shelter, then I'd advise that as soon as they're weaned and can eat solid food (around 6 weeks old) you do advertise on social media, in your work place, on Craig's List, etc to adopt the kittens out. In an ideal situation, it's best to wait 10-12 weeks to separate a kitten from its mom, but this is not an ideal situation, and these kittens face all kinds of dangers being outside (other aggressive cats, wildlife, unkind neighbors who might want to "throw them out"). As long as they each find a good home it doesn't matter if they stay together. By the time they hit puberty (5-6 months) they won't be thinking of each other as siblings anyway.

Even though you don't like cats, thanks for caring for these little animals and for being willing to try to save their lives.  

MsAimee,

Thank you for your answer. I will follow your advice and I will do some research and call a shelter on Monday.
As you mentioned, this might be a good time as this is when people adopt pets.

In the mean time, I will go grab some dry food for her tomorrow. Just now, I was thinking of feeding her some ham or turkey so she won't have to go hungry the entire night but don't know if that will be bad for her.

Turkey, chicken, tuna fish all good. Ham is too salty and I don't think pork is good for cats- but its better than being hungry. Thanks for taking care of them.

Thanks for the advice. I ended up feeding her some turkey and she devoured it.

Yeah, you're welcome.

Thank you for caring. You may not like cats, but mama saw something in YOU. Hope you can safely find all safe homes before winter sets in! [emoji]128591[/emoji]

I want to add, if you use Craiglist the like, be a little careful.  "Kittens for free to good homes"  is highly dangerous.  There are predators out there,  seeking snake food, training for their fighter dogs, or selling for experiments or selling to China as food.  So you must do some screening.  At least an interview.  The problem is, croocks are used to be manipulative, to lie... Still, some talk and observation is standard.

The typical price for healthy experiments animals is 20 dollars, I did read somewhere.  So the minimum payment of minimum 20 dollars should screen off the worst scammers.

It faking money feels uncomfortable for you, you can agree with the adopter to donate anonymously, in the cats name 25 bucks  to some charity organisation you boths feel comfortable with.

Another varriation is if you do something costly, say  vet spays them, and you ask for refunding these money...

My brother who once befell both his young females got pregnant before he managed to spay them, had suddenly on his neck 16 kittens running around the house. The two young moms and all their kittens.  He managed to find homes for them all, by advertising - and I suppose by talking with people around.  The scenario he tried to set up was a family with kids.

The child held the money, with parents standing behind.  The child come forward,  gave the 10 dollars (ie a rather symbolic sum, but still real money), and instead got the kitten to held and keep.   This set up worked excellently.  He tried to keep in touch with these families, and years afterwards they were still all happy togheter.

The kittens, if they tried to eat on their own, they are prob around 4 weeks.   The momma, I strongly suspect she is not true semiferal.  My inpression from what you wrote, she is dumped or got astray.  Im pretty sure she was once a family girl.

Depending on what exact shelter there is, and how shy she seems to be, its good if you give them something warm to lay on.  A fleee blanket perhaps.

Peraps a cardboard box with a blanket or some towels inside.  Fleeces is good.

If you find a good and friendly shelter whom is willing to help them and you good, the problem is solved. If not, or you decide to find solutions on your own,  please workd with socialisation of the kittens,  and mom.  They will be easier to adopt out if they ARE used to humans to be handled.  You have perhaps some reliable pal whom too can go out and give them food and pet them some...  So they are used to more than one human.

Tx for caring!

@ds559

Thanks for the advice everyone!

StefanZ: Your comment really freaked me out. If I was to proceed with the option of trying to find a home for them via Craigslist, I would definitely have to be careful. Maybe asking for money would not be such a bad idea. I could always donate that money to an animal shelter in my town. 

Update: Ok, so earlier today, I looked out into my balcony because I was going to check on their water bowl. However, as I opened up my blinds, I saw mama climbing up onto the roof and she was carrying one of her kittens. This is about 30 minutes ago and she hasn't come back. I don't know if she's planning on coming back for her other two kittens and I'm now wondering where she's taking them. Since yesterday, I honestly thought I was gaining her trust. The first day, whenever she saw me through the window, she would hiss at me. If I even tried to open the door, she would defensively stand right outside the door. Last night, the hissing stopped when she saw that I didn't want to hurt her or her babies. I would show her some turkey and she would back away allowing me to open the door to set it on a small plate for her. I guess now I'm just wondering if she found a safe home for them but I'm also a little scared for the kittens. I don't even think pets are allowed in this apartment complex so I'm afraid they might be seen by the wrong person. I guess I'm also a little scared that she won't come back. I don't know anything about cats but I doubt the other two kittens will be able to survive without their mama. 

ds559 said:

 
Thanks for the advice everyone!

StefanZ: Your comment really freaked me out. If I was to proceed with the option of trying to find a home for them via Craigslist, I would definitely have to be careful. Maybe asking for money would not be such a bad idea. I could always donate that money to an animal shelter in my town. 

Update: Ok, so earlier today, I looked out into my balcony because I was going to check on their water bowl. However, as I opened up my blinds, I saw mama climbing up onto the roof and she was carrying one of her kittens. This is about 30 minutes ago and she hasn't come back. I don't know if she's planning on coming back for her other two kittens and I'm now wondering where she's taking them. Since yesterday, I honestly thought I was gaining her trust. The first day, whenever she saw me through the window, she would hiss at me. If I even tried to open the door, she would defensively stand right outside the door. Last night, the hissing stopped when she saw that I didn't want to hurt her or her babies. I would show her some turkey and she would back away allowing me to open the door to set it on a small plate for her. I guess now I'm just wondering if she found a safe home for them but I'm also a little scared for the kittens. I don't even think pets are allowed in this apartment complex so I'm afraid they might be seen by the wrong person. I guess I'm also a little scared that she won't come back. I don't know anything about cats but I doubt the other two kittens will be able to survive without their mama. 

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Ouch,, so you have two alone kittens there...  You have two possibilities.  Leave them there, and hope for the best.  The chances are very good momma will come back and fetch them.

You can leave out some easy to eat food.  If they had already began to eat on their own, they will hopefully catch on.

You should probably leave out something warm for them, at least a blanket to lay on.  Without mom there will be more cold.  I presume the winter is nearing at your place too, no?

The other option is, if mom isnt coming very soon, you take them in, and adopt / or proceed to try and get help from shelters around.

They have already began to eat on their own, so the most difficult period of caretaking of orphans is already over.  Also, the fostering of them at this age is easy - they are essentially just kittens.

If you see the mom coming to fetch them, you can choose - keep them, or try and leave them out.  Chances are good she will take them even if they do smell you.   Cant moms do not abandon their children without really good cause. Smell of humans isnt such a good cause.

And yeah, she is protective.   As every good mom should be.   I have know even family girls whom did scratched up family members, Not becuase they are mean or anything,  but because they are good, protective moms.

So this is no proof she is a real semiferal.  But she doesnt trusts people much, this being a part of her survival strategy.

Good luck!

What a conundrum. I personally think you should take the 2 kittens inside if you can, temporarily, if they're able to eat on their own, so they're safe. They will likely not survive on their own at this point. Or you could take them in and return them if mama returns, however, she might leave with them and not return because she'll feel that the balcony is no longer safe.. Which would be a relief for you, but the prognosis for the kittens wouldn't be good. They will grow up feral and mate and make more kittens, which will then show up on your or someone else's balcony.  If you take them in tonite, hopefully a shelter will be willing to take them in the next few days--many shelters have foster programs where volunteers will take the kittens and foster them until they're old enough to be adopted out. They will need food like Purina kitten chow to eat in the mean time.

I have a slightly different viewpoint than Stefan and others about the dangers of advertising on Craig's List or other circulars. Realistically speaking, unless you live nearby a factory that experiments on animals, it's extremely unlikely that someone who responds to an ad for a free or low cost cat is going to sell them to a factory or feed them to a snake. If you can find homes for them, go for it--it's far more likely that they will die from malnutrition, getting hit by a car, or attacked by a predator if left outside than getting eaten by a snake if adopted out on Craig's List. I'd advise asking friend's, neighbors, co-workers as well--sometimes co-workers have friends or family members who would like a kitten, especially since it's Christmas time.

Let us know how it goes. I know you don't like cats, but if you can save these two kittens, you'll be doing a great deed, and also possibility be a blessing to whoever adopts them.    

@ds559   Any updates? Did the mom cat return for the remaing 2 kittens? If not, I believe some goat milk or some pate food would be an easy and good enough solution for the kittens to be fed on. I'd try to put something warm for them, like @StefanZ  suggested. But at the same time I would try to keep them at plain site, so that they can call out for their mom.. If it's getting too cold, you should probably bring them insinde..

I must say, that for a person who doesn't like cats, your caring and worrying about them, is very touching 

 

Sorry that I hadn't gotten back to you guys. So yesterday, about an hour and a half after she left with one od her kittens, she came back and she proceeded to do the same thing with another kitten. Unfortunately, as of last night, she hadn't come back. I felt horrible for the kitten that she left behind. After looking at pics online, I'm estimating the kitten is around three weeks old so I would assume it cannot eat on its on. The poor thing is obviously not used to any human contact because it will not let me get near it.. I got a cardboard box and put a warm blanket and put it inside the small room/closet where the heater is. It's actually pretty warm in there because of the heater. I also closed the door almost all the way, leaving it open just a bit in case the mom came back in the middle of the night.

This morning, I had planned to check on him/her hoping the mother came back but I was running late. Mondays are busy for me since I work and go to school so I unfortunately have not had a chance to check on the kitten today. My evening class ends at 9pm tonight so I will check on him as soon as I get home. I'm really hoping the mother came back today. As soon as I get home, I'll let you all know if the kitten is still there. If it is still there, tomorrow I will go buy food for it. I read it has to be fed with a bottle, where would I get this? I can't bring him inside my apt because cats are not allowed but as I mentioned earlier, the tiny room out in the balcony where the heater is kept is pretty warm. Also, in case it is still there, is there a chance that it might be carrying any diseases? I know it sounds like a dumb question but I know nothing about cats.

*sorry for the bad grammar, I'm writing this from my phone.

You can get kitten formula from any pet store. Many members suggest full fat goat's milk as well. I've never tried it, but it does make sense why it's been suggested so much.

Usually with the kitten formula, there is a baby bottle included, or if it's not, you can buy it separately. But in order to bottle feed the kitten, you really need to find a way to make contact with it first.

You said that the baby is not used to human contact. So, you will have to be extra careful. You really have to calm her/him down and make her/him trust you, in order to feed it. Or he/she will keep avoiding the bottle and you might not manage to feed it..! 

Also, when a baby like that is left alone and has no sibblings to snuggle with, or no mom to feed it, I think it would help if you brought her/him inside.. Carefully, so no one notices.. That will be a good way to built her/his trust towards you and let you feed her/him.

I must say that at 3 weeks old kittens can eat some kitten pate type wet food.. Try to find anything that is Grain Free.. There is a vast variety of canned foods for kittens. Try to "mush" it a bit and let her/him try it.. Don't put too much. But as a 3 week old kitten, it needs to be fed frequently during the day..

I'm a bit concerned about what was the last time the little baby was fed, since his mother moved out with the other 2 sibblings.. He/She needs to be fed as soon as possible, if he/she is still there..

Please come back with any questions you might have. And thumbs up to you for caring so much!   

Good news! Mama came back for him/her. I don't know exactly when but the kitten is gone. I was so relieved when I got home and saw the kitten was gone. I was also worried about the fact that it had not been fed since yesterday so I'm happy that it is back with his/her mom and siblings and that it is now being fed. I know she came back because there is no way the kitten could have climbed out of the balcony on its own. Glad he/she is back with mama and siblings. 

Thank you to all of you for your support and advice.

Phew! That's a relief! 

Imagine how much you would be glad if you actually liked cats, @ds559  .. 

 

Haha, that's true. Even though I am honestly happy for the kitten, I guess I'm also happy that I no longer have to worry about him/her. My weekdays are usually as busy as today so I wouldn't want it to go hungry all day and wait until I get home to try to feed it. At this point, I'm just going to trust mama cat's instinct and hope that she found a better place for them and that is why she decided to move.

It's all for the best I guess.. I am just grateful this happened in your balcony and not in someone else's, who wouldn't like cats, but would also try to get rid of them.. 

At least you went into the trouble of signing up here and ask for advice. That's impressive! 

 

Thanks. 

For someone who does not like cats, you went to a remarkable amount of trouble trying to help four of them that were in need.  I wish that more people were as caring and compassionate as you.  ~curtsies, catches toe in hem of jeans, and falls flat on face~  oh, well...the thought is there.  I admire you.