Feral mother with kittens on back porch

I was talking to one of the neighbors and she mentioned that a feral black female cat that's been in the neihborhood headed to our backyard carrying kittens.  So I went and looked and found where she had hid them on our back porch.  I've handled them when she's gone but so far she hasn't moved them.  I'm wondering if I just keep handling them a bit while she's gone so I could start getting them tame.  That way when they're old enough I can try to find a no kill shelter that will take them.  I also talked with the family and we're going to try to trap her to get her TNR'd as soon as the kittens are old enough to be sent to new homes. 

I was wondering if there might be any advice as to what to do.  Is it okay for me to handle the kittens daily while she's gone? 

She's also the one I'm suspecting might be Gizmo's mother though I doubt if I'll ever know with any certainty.

Are you sure she's totally feral? The best thing to do would be to bring mom and babies inside and to let them stay in a spare room. How old do you think they are?

TNR would be amazing for this poor mama.

Graywing said:

 
I was talking to one of the neighbors and she mentioned that a feral black female cat that's been in the neihborhood headed to our backyard carrying kittens.  So I went and looked and found where she had hid them on our back porch.  I've handled them when she's gone but so far she hasn't moved them.  I'm wondering if I just keep handling them a bit while she's gone so I could start getting them tame.  That way when they're old enough I can try to find a no kill shelter that will take them.  I also talked with the family and we're going to try to trap her to get her TNR'd as soon as the kittens are old enough to be sent to new homes. 

I was wondering if there might be any advice as to what to do.  Is it okay for me to handle the kittens daily while she's gone? 

She's also the one I'm suspecting might be Gizmo's mother though I doubt if I'll ever know with any certainty.

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As said, the optimal is if you can take them all in. 

Re your question: momma wont abandon them because you handle them some. Especielly not if she knows she gets food from you.

But it may happen she moves them again after several days.

So that is another reason why its good to take them in.  

We will discuss later how to to it, but mommas usually do cooperate once when settled in, even shy semiferale moms.  When they recognize being in your home is the best practical chance for her children, she will cooperate.

Are you feeding the mom? I'm sure she's starving. Feeding mom will make it all go more smoothly.

If you can't bring them in, handling and socializing the kittens is the way to go.

One more thing. Socializing is done in the period of 3-7 weeks, earlier than so its not so efficient.

But when they get older, they will be more movable, and thus, no sneaky handling...

So its theoretically possible to socilize kittens outside, but the only sure and easy way is to have them inside...

She seems to be totally feral.  However, there's at least one house in the neighborhood that's been feeding her along with some other ferals.  I think I'd be vetoed about trying to catch her and bring her in.  We went through a few months of ringworm and there's a shyness about bringing ferals in again.  I have thought about the possibility of trying to close up all the holes on the back porch and lean something heavy against the doors.  The doors are old and need fixing.  They don't properly latch anymore.  I think I would have to try to block all the escapes about simultaneously for her not to flee and escape.

If you could block it off with her in there it would be great! You can try working up to her trusting you  by feeding her some yummy wet food. Have you tried feeding her while sitting near her?

When I fed feral strays, I would set their food out and sit 10-15ft away and read a while, I'd get closer every few minutes, or take my time and do it every day, and eventually they all let me sit right next to them, some even let me pet them. I'm sure mama would be okay with being locked in once she realizes that she and her babies are safe. Make sure you feed her and give her a litterbox if you lock her on the porch

Thanks so much.  I've actually never been able to come close to her.  I think she tends to keep her distance from everyone.  I was talking to a neighbor about her yesterday and she said that she thinks her mother was a calico that belonged to some people in one of the houses behind us but they seemed to have done anything for her.  I don't know what became of the calico, who the people are, or if they still have any cats.

Currently, the black female is out somewhere.  I went out and clogged up all the holes best I could and put a really heavy pot full of rocks in front of each door.  I hope everything will be strong enough.  I used cardboard and duck tape to patch the holes in the screen.  I also moved something that was propped up before the hole in the screen she's using to enter and leave so when she goes back out I can hopefully cover it quickly enough.  I feel really nervous about this.  I fear that if she can break through she's going to run off with the kittens somewhere else.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do though when I enter the back porch myself to keep her from being able to flee out a door though.  I have it being stuck shut with the pot of rocks on the outside as it swings out and not in.

Assuming I can get her caught, I'll run out quickly to get a litterbox, food, and water.  As far as dry food goes, I use some purina indoor for Tux.  I've actually been trying to cut it down on him and only giving him some at night as he's started learning to eat wet food with Gizmo during the day.  Would the dry food be okay for her? 

graywing

I suggest you not immediately shut her in. She may well claw her way out and move the kittens from fear. I've seen this happen. She's very feral, and I think she'll freak out.

She nested on your porch because it felt safe.

I would begin feeding her, and put out a litter box. If she has food yet can come and go she may relax and stick around more.

If you close her in she may harm herself or her kittens trying to get out.

I would take this v-e-r-y slowly!

Yes! I meant to take the time to do it, make sure she trusts you first. If she is scared she will try and get out. Work your way up to it

I feel really nervous.  I also need to declutter the back porch to make it safer for the kittens.  I'm just so scared that if I've disturbed too much she's going to run with them.  I'm second guessing me moving that board that was leaning over where that one hole was.  But I was thinking at the time that I'd never make it to that hole in time to block it off otherwise.  But I definitely need to start moving some tools and plants out of there. 

She seems to be an incredibly shy cat.  It makes me think back to this situation that happened a couple years ago.  We had found kittens on the back porch crying.  And we tried to make the situation safer for kittens.  The mother was off somewhere.  And the next day the kittens were gone.  I keep thinking back to that wondering about what we did wrong that they got moved right after.

Did you see our above posts about not closing her in right now, and going very slowly?

Too much change too fast may cause her to bolt too. Kittens are safer on your porch right now, even with mom coming ang going. Put food and water and litter out for her. That's a start.

Yeah, I saw.  Just sorta worried about whether I already disturbed too much.  And it sounds like they were hiding themselves there for a few days.  I'll get some food and water out and in a little bit I can go get a litter box.  I'll try to do everything while she's still gone.  How long do they stay away from the nest? 

Okay, got food and water out there at least for the time being.  However, I was surprised by the little blue one crying and crawling towards me out of the nest area.  I tried putting it back with it's siblings.  Maybe with me not being out there it'll settle down?  I didn't think they could crawl around that fast yet.

He's probably hungry. If you can't get the litter box out today, do it tomorrow.

You might want to pick up a can of powdered KMR and a tiny needleless syringe. If mom doesn't come back soon you may need to hand feed them.

Any idea their age? Are their eyes open and ears up? Can you post a picture of them?

My husband has taken pictures of a couple of them before.  I'll see if I can get him to send me the pictures so I can post them.  The eyes are open.  Even though I was just handling the blue one earlier I'm having trouble remembering the position of the ears.  I think sorta down?  The claws can't be retracted yet.

Where can KMR be picked up at?  Is it something I'll have to go to a vet's office for?  I already thought I had quite the kitten crash course with Gizmo when we found him at a month's age.  I remember vaguely hand feeding kittens when I was little with my mother showing me how.  But it's been so long.

Also, I'd like to relieve fears of other family members concerning ringworm.  I'm thinking it's really not that likely to pick it up again?  It was really rainy when we found Gizmo.  It's been pretty dry lately here and they've been on the back porch well away from where they could get wet.  My other fear (and I'm starting to think I'm growing really paranoid regarding an invisible enemy) is what if we still have some spores around in the house despite all the cleaning and we've just grown resistant but could pass it to them?  Poor Gizmo and Tux had to be quarantined for a while during which time they were being given medicine.

KMR can be purchased at a pet store. Vets carry it too. PetAg, GNC, and Royal Canin are best. Kitten bottle can't hurt to have on hand in addition to the syringe, but kittens with moms rarely take the bottle.

I think it's unlikely they'll pick up ringworm again.

Would it be more affordable to get the same items from a pet shop?  We do have a vet's office that's really close but I need to try to save money where I can.   I'll try to leave in a bit.  I hope the kittens will be okay while I'm gone.  I don't know how long she's been gone.  I think she's still gone.  It's hard to see the actual nest from inside the house.  But if she comes in and sees me feeding them what should I do?

Yes, probably cheaper at a pet store.

If she sees you feeding just stay calm, finish, and gently put the baby back in the nest.

Here's the photos of a couple of the babies.