What would you do in a situation like this? Need urgent help please

Hello,

A short history...(ignore if you like but helps get a better insight in the problems Im facing)

In april 2015 a mother cat came to our place with 4 little kittens, about 1 month old each. We decided to feed them cause we thought they were going to starve. 2 of them disappeared with their mother and are completely feral, they pass by sometimes but the other 2 we kept feeding, taking inside during day, petting etc, so they are not 100% feral I guess.

In february of this year one of them disappeared, the other went into heat in front of our eyes. We caught her having intercourse but she didn't get pregnant. Because of other health issues, we realized she is naturally sterile. This is not her only issue (she is blind in one eye and hasnt grown enough) so we are going to take her to the vet this month and see what can be done. We cannot take her in anymore, she  goes into heat, fails to get pregnant and goes into heat again, been doing this since february so soon as we manage to catch her she's going to the vet. She only eats and runs away. Poor kitty.

The other who disappeared came back and only 1 week before birth we realized she was pregnant. She gave birth inside our house, and because other cats, especially males tried to take her babies twice (they came inside, one even grabbed a baby with his mouth but I managed to pick him up and take him out without the baby), we decided to keep her in. We bought her a litter box and other equipment. She is staying in the corridor at the moment with her kitties, cause we have no spare rooms and we do not feel confident to sleep with her having access to our beds, yet. Whenever she has to go and do her business she asks us to open the door, goes somewhere and comes back 10 to 15 minutes after. She only used the litterbox thrice. Her kittens are 11 days old, so only used it thrice in 11 days.

The problem today...(do you think she's in heat from the below symptoms? And can I get her spayed if she is nursing + in heat if she is?)

Today when I opened the door for her to go out I felt some strong cat smell. She came back a bit late, like 40 minutes after going out. Then 1 hour later she asked to go out again, went out and inspected the terrain. Then I lured her in with food and closed the door but she is not eating, not even tuna. Less than an hour ago she asked to go out again, this time rubbing against me, her eye pupils are inflated more than usually, and she sits like she usually doesnt and raises her back a bit when being pet, I think she is in heat again, but she is not calling for males like I've seen the other cat doing when she was in heat. She is still nursing the babies though. I did call a vet (first time ever, never thought the day would come) and he said he can't do anything until the kittens are weaned. And if she is in heat, I am going to have serious trouble with her. Should I lock her in the bathroom with her kittens and food when we go to work? Her litterbox is already there. There is a high chance she is going to escape when we open the door if we don't lock her somewhere. This is way too stressful. How long should I expect this potential heat to last (if she is in it)? And now that she has used the litter box thrice, can I expect her to keep using it? The main problem is when she can't go out she will hold it until she no longer can then use the litter box, I don't know why. The vet told me the litter I was purchasing was the best sand for a cat in training cause it has no scent, and it really does look like real dirt. It actually is almost dirt. She hasn't done her business for 8 hours now but because of the heat symptoms we are not letting her out. Maybe she isnt in heat, but idk how to check for sure. I don't want to find out like last time. I hope she will use the litter box soon.

The future...

Our initial plan was to adopt the 2 sisters (nursing cat and her sister), but now we have 3 new kittens in our hands. Found a home for 1 of the babies, and still got 2 that need a home. I've contacted 7 animal shelters, nobody could do anything - they have the same problems as we do. Should I spay the mother when the time comes and let her live outside like she used to until 11 days ago and only feed her when she comes, so in short let her live with her sister outside and adopt her 2 kittens? What would you do in this scenario?

I live in a small country in eastern Europe and pets are not loved here sadly. And it's not like we have a lot of money to spend for them, so my choices are limited. It is the main reason why these cats have never been to the vet, we have finally decided to pay for her spaying then we will see, but she is making it hard by going to heat this soon. I expected her not to at least until mid june...I hope she isn't in heat, I don't know what I would do with another 3-4 kittens.

Thanks in advance, sorry for the long post. The cute cats I used to feed are making my head hurt from excess stress now, and I believe it's not worth it. That's why I'm asking for advice. Thank you.

 I did call a vet (first time ever, never thought the day would come) and he said he can't do anything until the kittens are weaned. And if she is in heat, I am going to have serious trouble with her. Should I lock her in the bathroom with her kittens and food when we go to work? Her litterbox is already there. There is a high chance she is going to escape when we open the door if we don't lock her somewhere. This is way too stressful. How long should I expect this potential heat to last (if she is in it)? And now that she has used the litter box thrice, can I expect her to keep using it?
The future...

Our initial plan was to adopt the 2 sisters (nursing cat and her sister), but now we have 3 new kittens in our hands. Found a home for 1 of the babies, and still got 2 that need a home. I've contacted 7 animal shelters, nobody could do anything - they have the same problems as we do. Should I spay the mother when the time comes and let her live outside like she used to until 11 days ago and only feed her when she comes, so in short let her live with her sister outside and adopt her 2 kittens? What would you do in this scenario?

I live in a small country in eastern Europe and pets are not loved here sadly. And it's not like we have a lot of money to spend for them, so my choices are limited. It is the main reason why these cats have never been to the vet, we have finally decided to pay for her spaying then we will see, but she is making it hard by going to heat this soon. I expected her not to at least until mid june...I hope she isn't in heat, I don't know what I would do with another 3-4 kittens.

Thanks in advance, sorry for the long post. The cute cats I used to feed are making my head hurt from excess stress now, and I believe it's not worth it. That's why I'm asking for advice. Thank you.

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She may or may not be going into heat.  It could be that she is thinking of moving the kittens outside now that they are a little older.  She was not a house cat to begin with, and while she was glad for your help during her confinement, and she is glad to accept the food you give her, she may move her kittens outside into a nest of her choosing if you allow her to, so if I were you, I would keep her inside until she is spayed.  Cats can definitely go back  into heat while still nursing, and they can get pregnant with just one hook up with a male, and they can have another litter of kittens while still nursing the first litter of the season.  We have seen it happen many times.  People turn them in to animal control like that, a mama with little nursing babies and a couple of big "teenagers" who also want to nurse.

You can decide who to keep down the road.  Obviously the thing to do is get the sisters spayed and see if you can get good homes for the kittens, possibly through the vet.  You could keep the sisters as outside cats if they prefer it, and NEVER let the kittens out so they will grow up beig nothing but inside cats.  That will keep them safe and also make them much better pets for you.

Since mama cat has already used the litter box, she will continue to use it if you keep her in.  If you let her out, there is always a chance she could be hurt or injured or even eaten by another animal and then you would have to bottle raise those babies or else watch them starve to death, so just tell mama cat that she has to stay in while the babies grow up, and then she will see the doctor, and then she can go out again.

Thank you.

Well I don't think she is in heat, comparing to what her sister did to us when she was in heat... but she is worrying me a bit, lets hope for the best. Earlier she started meowing loudly, but then after playing with her she stopped. When we had to go out, she didn't try to leave so maybe she just worried us, I'm going to try to keep her more entertained.

I will try to keep her inside, just hope she won't get any urinary tract infection or something, I feel pain when I see her holding it like that. Soon as she begs to go out I know she has to do the business, and when 3 hours after I see the litter box not used and her still wanting to go out it hurts lol. The litter box is in the bathroom, behind the door, a very private space to be honest, and since she used it I don't understand what could be wrong.  Then again she is an adult and should be able to take care of herself I guess. At the moment she is hunting mosquitoes lol so everything is calm.

I'll ask the vet next time I see him about finding homes for the kittens, hope he can help. My idea is this: if I can find homes for the 3 kittens I'll adopt the 2 adults, if not then I'll let the adults live free (after spaying of course) and adopt the 2 male kittens and neuter them, already found a home for the female kitten so her new owner can get her fixed .

I don't mind who stays in and who out really, they're all cute in their own ways

I just think in case any of them has to live outside, then it should be the mother and her sister, after all they've grown outside and are more experienced than the 11 days old angels.

Thanks again