Help. Stray cat with possible kittens

I had a stray cat show up yesterday. I saw her twice in the same spot after I set a live trap to catch her;however, She ended up coming to me when I called. She has a very nasty wound on her front leg and so skinny. I fed her and looked her over. She had signs that she had either been nursing or had just weaned kittens (nipples that stuck out and nice blue veins, but no milk). This poor girl slept most of the day and night. Made herself right at home. She never tried to get out. Well, this morning she is full of milk! I immediately took her outside and let her go. It has been two hours. She hasn't nursed them and I can't find them. I've left her alone and checked about every half hour. She just comes and sits with me. What should I do? She needs medical help. Has something happened to the kittens?

One trick is to play a video of kittens crying from your phone and see if she goes to her litter. If she doesn't go to them, I would take her to the vet. She needs medical help. Hopefully you can look for the kittens some more.

Thank you. I'll go try that now.

Lincy said:

I had a stray cat show up yesterday. I saw her twice in the same spot after I set a live trap to catch her;however, She ended up coming to me when I called. She has a very nasty wound on her front leg and so skinny. I fed her and looked her over. She had signs that she had either been nursing or had just weaned kittens (nipples that stuck out and nice blue veins, but no milk). This poor girl slept most of the day and night. Made herself right at home. She never tried to get out. Well, this morning she is full of milk! I immediately took her outside and let her go. It has been two hours. She hasn't nursed them and I can't find them. I've left her alone and checked about every half hour. She just comes and sits with me. What should I do? She needs medical help. Has something happened to the kittens?

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Its quite possible something bad happened, and she got wounded while trying to defend her kittens.   Alike attack by a pack of dogs, or a coyote if there are such where you live.

Continue to seek, but  its not sure there is anything to find.

Concentrate on helping the mom, as you can help her.   IF she was a semiferal, the Window of easy socialization will open wide now, when she is hurt, you are helping her, and she is accetping the help realizing you ARE helping her.

Tx for caring!

She has wondered off and is not coming when I call (a first). I hope she has found her babies and she will be back for food. We live on 20 acres. The closest neighbor is about 5 acres across open pasture. She could be anywhere. I've got food and water out. I am so worried for her. Her leg isn't broken, but she has about a quarter sized open wound top layer of fur and skin gone). She is so friendly that don't think she is even semiferal. She napped and slept next to my 5 year old and walked around the house with dogs. She even wanted to lay on the couch in the open. I'm afraid someone lost her, dumped her, or she belongs to my neighbors (who do not care for their animals). Good thoughts for the kitties.

Please take her in when you next see her. Poor thing.

I won't stop looking. She has a home here now. I want to get the babies too. I'll keep yall updated.

Update: Mom is still missing, but I found the babies. Two, less than a week old. The vet has rated them in poor condition, but not grave. They are fighters. Around the clock care for these two. Hopefully mom will return for food.

Will you be caring for them or did the vet take them? Where were they? So glad you found them!!

I'm caring for them. The nice vet wanted me to pay $550 for each kitten to stay the night. We left after $400 and $180 of that was for them to see us immediately ( not my normal vet and emergency vet as well). I've raised kittens this young before. I just hope these two are strong enough to make it. I found them in the field while I was looking for mom. One was screaming it's heart out and the other i though had passed. I picked them up to get them warm. They were covered in magots. Nothing had attacked them. They are now clean and warm. They have had fluids and had a little formula.

So sweet and so tiny!  I'm sure it will be many long nights, and really applaud your care.  I hope you can find mom too.

God bless you, and I'm praying these kittens make it. Thank you for rescuing them. Did the vet do anything or give you any medicine? Such high prices! It's a shame.

Do you have them on a heating pad or with a hot water bottle?

Yes, it will take intensive care for these 2 precious babies to make it. So glad you have experience. I still hope mama returns eventually so you can care for her too. Wish we knew what happened.

Please kerp us updated! [emoji]128591[/emoji][emoji]128149[/emoji]

They had a few sores so they have medicine for that. No antibiotic right now. No signs of infection and the magots actually helped keep it that way. They are on hot water now. Feeding and a fake mom bath for potty every four hours. Still no sign of mom tonight. I'll keep calling tomorrow.

Sounds good. I hope you have a good night with the babies!

You're feeding every four hours?  I would consider bumping it up to every two for the first few days and nights.  They are so fragile, and need all they can get right now.

Update on the babies: I uped the feeding to every 2 hours, but pink baby had to be eurhenized yesterday. There was nothing we could do. Purple baby, who is a boy, was checkout by my vet after we had to say goodbye to the other baby. He was given antibiotics and something to kill the maggots that I saw in a wound and in the rectum. We removed all we could. I haven't see. Another one in 24 hours and the wound is healing wonderfully. He is eating really well. 4ml every 2 hours. He is pooping and peeing.

The best news is, mom was coming back and eating, but I hadn't seen her. I saw her today and grabbed her up. She went right to her baby boy. He nursed and she cleaned him and off to the vet we went. She got antibiotics and b12. She only weighs 4lbs and was nursing other kittens! After a short search in the pasture, she lead me to her den and three more kittens. They are fat, healthy, and clean. Not a maggot in sight! I moved them all into a quiet room in the house. She is feeding and cleaning them. I'm so over the moon happy! I plan to supplement the baby boy still until he is as big as his siblings.

Oh, my goodness! I am so glad she is back and inside the house, and with all her babies! Hopefully, she's eating well for you! How is her wound? Good you got the antibiotics and B12. Bless her heart! She must have been trying to move her babies when something happened.

I'm so sorry about the one kitten. I'm glad it did not suffer.

Good idea to supplement the little guy until he's bigger, and excellent he's been treated for his maggots. All will need de-worming eventually

You are a saint! Thank you for your perseverance! [emoji]128522[/emoji][emoji]128149[/emoji][emoji]128062[/emoji][emoji]128077[/emoji]

Her wound is good. My vet thought it was a bite wound and thought the two hurt babies were attacked as well.

It is my vet that is a saint! She hasn't charged me a dime to help these babies. Everyone will get dewormed and shots when they are all a little older and fatter.

I am just so happy that it is looking like things will work out. I'm so glad mama found me.

I'll update again on how the little family is doing.

Wow! Your vet IS a saint with a very compassionate heart. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

This is an amazing outcome and story! Please keep us updated on your journey.