It's not the first time that I've been given a stray or feral cat with 4 or 5 kittens to care for until the kittens are at least 12 weeks old and can be rehomed. So I have learnt that when the mother develops diarrhea and vomits it is not usually an indication of worms, food allergies or other illnesses but a stress reaction caused by being kept indoors with demanding offspring. As soon as these poor prisoners are rehomed (even if it's simply a case of them joining me and my other cats living in the rest of the house) all symptoms disappear within a week.
My present stray is not a climbing cat so cannot take advantage of shelves and higher cupboards around the room where she could get away from her kiddies. She has been crying, particularly in the evening but I can only let her out into a small enclosed area outside the window, where I grow cat-grass, cat mint and various herbs. As soon as she found out that there was no way out of this garden, she lost interest. (My own cats caught the calici virus from a sick stray so I cannot let her into the rest of the house.)
Her babies were born on 1st May and the family was brought to me 2 weeks ago. The kittens are all healthy, eating well but still attack the mother en masse when they notice her eating. They literally knock her over.
She is perhaps one year old and the people who found her are willing to take her back once she has been sterilized. They are not able to accept any kittens.
So, I have made an appointment at the vet - she will be checked and when everything is OK will be sterilized tomorrow. I will then take her to her new home where I am sure she will soon settle down to a quiet life and the diarrhea and vomiting will stop immediately.
I have a guilty feeling about the kittens. I know that ideally they would stay with their mother for 12 weeks. Years ago kittens were given away at 6 weeks old - these 5 siblings will at least be allowed to stay together till they are 13 weeks old. Four have already found new homes and will leave in pairs when the time comes. I now have to photograph number 5 - so that he can be advertised in the local press.
I know it's too late to help this mother cat and her family but unfortunately she will not be the last stray to be imprisoned with her offspring against her will. So any ideas will help me to help cats in similar situations in the future.
Thank you!
My present stray is not a climbing cat so cannot take advantage of shelves and higher cupboards around the room where she could get away from her kiddies. She has been crying, particularly in the evening but I can only let her out into a small enclosed area outside the window, where I grow cat-grass, cat mint and various herbs. As soon as she found out that there was no way out of this garden, she lost interest. (My own cats caught the calici virus from a sick stray so I cannot let her into the rest of the house.)
Her babies were born on 1st May and the family was brought to me 2 weeks ago. The kittens are all healthy, eating well but still attack the mother en masse when they notice her eating. They literally knock her over.
She is perhaps one year old and the people who found her are willing to take her back once she has been sterilized. They are not able to accept any kittens.
So, I have made an appointment at the vet - she will be checked and when everything is OK will be sterilized tomorrow. I will then take her to her new home where I am sure she will soon settle down to a quiet life and the diarrhea and vomiting will stop immediately.
I have a guilty feeling about the kittens. I know that ideally they would stay with their mother for 12 weeks. Years ago kittens were given away at 6 weeks old - these 5 siblings will at least be allowed to stay together till they are 13 weeks old. Four have already found new homes and will leave in pairs when the time comes. I now have to photograph number 5 - so that he can be advertised in the local press.
I know it's too late to help this mother cat and her family but unfortunately she will not be the last stray to be imprisoned with her offspring against her will. So any ideas will help me to help cats in similar situations in the future.
Thank you!
