How to tell if a mother cat has lost her kittens.

surya · Jul 8, 2016

I feed stray cats. One I feed is tame and gave birth this week. I don't know where the kittens are. How can you tell if the litter survived? She has been on my porch for a couple hours today. I am wondering how much time away from the kittens is an indication that they did not make it. I would like to follow her, but I have to get lucky and see her walking away.

Sarthur2 · Jul 8, 2016

surya

She is probably taking a break from her kittens while they sleep, which is okay. It's great you are feeding her, because nursing moms need all the nutrition they can get. I hope you give her ample wet food, and leave dry kitten chow out for her along with fresh water.

Are you prepared to take mom and babies into your home? That would be best for all of them. The sooner the better.

If so, play "newborn kitten sounds" from youtube on your smartphone, and she should jump up and lead you to her kittens, because moms respond hormonally to kitten cries.

When you find them, you'll need a basket or box, and mom should follow you back.

Whatever you do, do not separate mom from her newborn kittens. They need her to survive!

Post your questions here. Good luck, and keep us posted. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

surya · Jul 8, 2016

sarthur2 said:
@surya

She is probably taking a break from her kittens while they sleep, which is okay. It's great you are feeding her, because nursing moms need all the nutrition they can get. I hope you give her ample wet food, and leave dry kitten chow out for her along with fresh water.

Are you prepared to take mom and babies into your home? That would be best for all of them. The sooner the better.

If so, play "newborn kitten sounds" from youtube on your smartphone, and she should jump up and lead you to her kittens, because moms respond hormonally to kitten cries.

When you find them, you'll need a basket or box, and mom should follow you back.

Whatever you do, do not separate mom from her newborn kittens. They need her to survive!

Post your questions here. Good luck, and keep us posted. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

StefanZ · Jul 9, 2016

surya said:

This with KNOWING is often difficult. It reoccurs now and then here on our Forums. And its necessary to work on double traces.

1. Assuming they are still there somewhere.

2. Accepting they are no longer with us, just the momma.

So you DO have a foster home lined up, IF and when you find the kittens? Observe, when you do find it, it may be hurry - not to risk momma moves the whole batch.

When you notice she is going, you can try and follow but make sure you are talking friendly and crooning... Otherwise, she will just lead you astray. But if you are talking etc, perhaps she will lead you to her own place.

Begin with lotsa of friendly sound already when she is with you at your place. As friendly, courting toms do, for example... taking a parallell.

surya · Jul 9, 2016

I don't have a foster lined up, but met a nice lady who is helping me TNR cats, she has connections and I believe she will be able to help, if I can find the kittens. The mommy is spending a lot of time around my porch last night and today. I hope they are still alive. this is a rough place for kittens. Thanks for your help and support.

Sarthur2 · Jul 9, 2016

Continue feeding mom and keep us posted!

surya · Jul 9, 2016

I forgot to mention that she is very young and this is her first litter. She spent a lot of time around my porch again tonight. My gut is telling me there probably are no kittens, but you never know I guess.

StefanZ · Jul 10, 2016

surya said:
I forgot to mention that she is very young and this is her first litter. She spent a lot of time around my porch again tonight. My gut is telling me there probably are no kittens, but you never know I guess.

You could of course try and go around where you think they maybe can be, peeking in even where its dark and tight - especially there!

- Alternatively, you can hire some kids to help you out with this.

IF there are kittens, and they are hungry, you will probably hear them!   - they may be practically impossible to discover if they are quite, but when hungry and waiting for momma, they aret that quiet.

Also, the mom will probably rush after you to lead you astray and or protect her kittens.

If momma doesnt bother, and you dont hear anything although you search - yo can presume they are gone.   If so, you may plan on next steps with the momma. If you wish to adopt her , or TNR her, of foster her some and leave her at a shelter...    Spaying rather sooner than later is a must in the two first variations.

Observe, if there are more homeless moms in your area, you may instead discover someone elses litter...

StefanZ · Jul 10, 2016

surya said:
I forgot to mention that she is very young and this is her first litter. She spent a lot of time around my porch again tonight. My gut is telling me there probably are no kittens, but you never know I guess.

Another poster in the Ferale forums, Bar Bar Jinks, tells among others:

"about six weeks ago a new female showed up and quickly started spending almost all her time here. So I was really surprised when about three weeks ago, she suddenly brought two kittens with her! I never saw her pregnant and didn't imagine she was a nursing mother, since she was on my porch most of the day. I estimate that the kittens must have been about two months old when they first showed up; they were eating solid food and their eyes were yellow."

So it MAY be something similiar with you...

Sarthur2 · Jul 10, 2016

I agree with

StefanZ . Just because the mom hangs out on your porch, in no way means she does not have kittens.

Moms take breaks, especially for food and to develop a trusting place where they can bring their kittens when they begin to wean.

If she was pregnant before, and is not now, she likely has a litter somewhere.

surya · Jul 10, 2016

That is good. I really hope I can find them. The lady who is helping me TNR the cats found a foster for a mother with babies. If the maintenance people find them first, they will put them in the dumpster to die.

StefanZ · Jul 10, 2016

surya said:
That is good. I really hope I can find them. The lady who is helping me TNR the cats found a foster for a mother with babies. If the maintenance people find them first, they will put them in the dumpster to die.

Could you talk friendly with them, and beg them if they at any time find a litter of abadoned kittens, they first talk with you? Tell even you will appreciate this, and their afteroon cake is promised that day.

surya · Jul 10, 2016

StefanZ said:
Could you talk friendly with them, and beg them if they at any time find a litter of abadoned kittens, they first talk with you? Tell even you will appreciate this, and their afteroon cake is promised that day.

I can try, most of them speak very little English. I think a 6 pack would work better than cake.

Sarthur2 · Jul 10, 2016

Whatever works! [emoji]128077[/emoji]

How to tell if a mother cat has lost her kittens.

surya

TCS Member

Thread starter

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire

surya

TCS Member

Thread starter

StefanZ

Advisor

surya

TCS Member

Thread starter

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire

surya

TCS Member

Thread starter

StefanZ

Advisor

StefanZ

Advisor

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire

surya

TCS Member

Thread starter

StefanZ

Advisor

surya

TCS Member

Thread starter

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire

Latest Posts

Connect with us