Feral mama - strange behavior right after birth.

I trapped a pregnant feral two weeks ago. At first I had trouble getting her to eat, but after day 3 she warmed up, started eating, and even enjoyed pets. She would purr heavily and nuzzle my hands and roll over for me to pet her belly and everything. Well I got home from work today and she was just finishing giving birth. She hissed at me, so I kept my distance and watched as she birthed the last one. However, she left the placenta attached to him. After several hours I gave her dinner, and while she was up eating it I snuck over and snipped the cord between placenta and the kitten and removed the placenta. While I was over there I noticed off to the side a kitten I hadn't seen previously, he had not survived and so I removed him as well.

After finishing her dinner mama has not been back to see her babies. Its been about 2 hours now. If I try to check on her she hisses at me. She seems...distressed. She's acting more wild and feral than she had been the last few weeks. I've been keeping my distance (i've been hanging out in the bedroom, mama & babies are in the bedroom closet) because I'm not sure if my presence is upsetting her, but should I start to worry if she doesn't return to the babies soon? She doesn't seem to care when they cry. I've had other mama's before, but always friendly cats and they were much more attentive to the babies. Is it just because she's feral? Is she distressed she lost one? Should I just bud out? I don't know how to handle a wild mama.
Advice?

First, I would not have touched the kitten & removed the placenta. It's done now though so that's ok.

She does not sound like a feral. A feral would not want belly rubs after 2 weeks with you, let alone ever. Just because she was outside does not make her feral. Maybe stray or abandoned.

Sounds like she is very inexperienced. How many kittens are there? Do you know anything about bottle-feeding?

I only removed the placenta because she left it on for more than three hours and he was struggling to pull himself around with it attached.

She does seem young, I believe her to be one of the kittens I failed to trap last spring. My neighborhood has a local "clowder" that she was a part of. When I brought her littermate in to be neutered he was completely feral. Of course, they're all brown tabbies so maybe she isn't the female I'd been keeping an eye on. Can be hard to tell them apart.

She has 5 living babies, and I do have experience bottle feeding. Just finished raising a litter in January, actually. Most of my experience with mama cats has been with friendly ones though. So I didn't know if maybe she just wanted space. Her behavior is not something I've ever seen in another mama before.

She is aware that you were in her nest. I think she is much more likely to feed her kittens if she feels safe. Your presence seems to be upsetting her. She's in full protective mode now that the babies are here. Perhaps leave her alone for a few hours and I'm betting that she nurses her kittens in the closet.

If she does not, you'll need to hand rear them with kitten formula. Let's hope that's not necessary. She should settle in if left to herself.

I understand she is in your bedroom closet. Use your bedroom only when necessary, but leave her be. Put her food, water, and litter inside the closet or right outside of it so she does not need to go far.

Thank you for offering her a safe place to have her kittens. I think if you let her take the lead she will feel safer and trust you more. She sounds feral or semi-feral to me. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

Goldsberry said:

She has 5 living babies, and I do have experience bottle feeding. Just finished raising a litter in January, actually. Most of my experience with mama cats has been with friendly ones though. So I didn't know if maybe she just wanted space. Her behavior is not something I've ever seen in another mama before.

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That's a lot of kittens. You've got some good advice in the post above mine. And there are many threads on this site for hand-raising kittens. Keep in touch & post some photos later.

She has moved over next to her babies finally. You can kind of see her peeking from under the shelf, haha. Relieved!

goldsberry

Thank goodness! Poor frightened mama kitty.
To the best of your knowledge, does it seem that she is nursing them? Quiet babies usually mean contented, full tummies.

P.S. No more pictures right now. This is the kind of thing that makes her wary, especially with a flash in her face.

Oh, I didn't have the flash on, just the closet light which has stayed on for the two weeks she's been here. She just peeks at me like that when I poke my head in the door. They have quieted down so I certainly hope they are full, but I haven't actually seen her nursing them. I try to avoid looking in since she seems so perturbed by it.

goldsberry

You should turn off the closet light as well. Moms actually prefer dark spaces for their nests, and kittens need low lights when their eyes begin to open. Cats actually see quite well in the dark, and she will probably feel even safer and better hidden in the dark. In three weeks' time the kittens will be ready to crawl out and explore.

Goldsberry said:

Oh, I didn't have the flash on, just the closet light which has stayed on for the two weeks she's been here. She just peeks at me like that when I poke my head in the door. They have quieted down so I certainly hope they are full, but I haven't actually seen her nursing them. I try to avoid looking in since she seems so perturbed by it.

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How is it going?

Mommas usually DO accept help from friendly humans, whom they do recognize as friendly - but there are exceptions.  Here seems to be one of them...

She lost another baby. Not sure of the reason. I'd love to get it out of the nest with her and the live ones but she won't let me near.

She still has five live babies in the nest. She must have had another one between last night and today that did not survive. I knew sometimes it could be days or hours between kittens, but all the others came so fast...I didn't even know she was still in labor.

Goldsberry said:

She still has five live babies in the nest. She must have had another one between last night and today that did not survive.

I knew sometimes it could be days or hours between kittens, but all the others came so fast...I didn't even know she was still in labor.

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Yeah, it isnt pleasant when you cant help them effectively, which you would be able to,  if she let you.  Still, she is way better at your place than outside, tx to your good instincts and your good will.  Let it be your consolation.

Talk much in a friendly soft voice, make friendly noises.  Classical harp music is said to be good for shy ferales.  There is surely some music slings on youtube.  Some of them may be called for Music for cats.

It sounds like it came during the night. Poor mom - that's a lot of kittens. It may even have been stillborn. I know it's frustrating not to be able to help. Still, following her lead is best for now.

Should I be worried she needs any vet care? Her behavior has gotten worse. If I try to go in to give her a can of wet food she advances, hissing. Her food area isn't super near her nest, and she was letting me feed her all yesterday. When I first saw she was birthing she let me get close enough to pet her and even nuzzled me, but right after giving birth to the one that she left the cord attached to she started hissing when I came near, and then she got more hostile when she left the nest for a few hours (which was when I originally posted) I'm worried maybe she could be in pain? Should I keep an eye out for anything?

Maybe I'm over thinking it and she's just distressed that she's lost a couple.

Goldsberry said:

Should I be worried she needs any vet care? Her behavior has gotten worse. If I try to go in to give her a can of wet food she advances, hissing. Her food area isn't super near her nest, and she was letting me feed her all yesterday. When I first saw she was birthing she let me get close enough to pet her and even nuzzled me, but right after giving birth to the one that she left the cord attached to she started hissing when I came near, and then she got more hostile when she left the nest for a few hours (which was when I originally posted) I'm worried maybe she could be in pain? Should I keep an eye out for anything?

Maybe I'm over thinking it and she's just distressed that she's lost a couple.

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She may be in pain.  Cats in pain have less patience than usual.  Although its prob the hormones are playing havoc.

Vet help?  If you are convinced its necessary, do your best.  Otherwise it will just stress her out.

She sounds like a new mom who is just protecting her kittens and wants privacy, and who is still very hormonal.

She should not need a vet until time for her spay unless she is bleeding bright red blood that doesn't stop. Cats spot for a week or so after delivery as the uterus shrinks. They can also experience after pains for a couple of days.

Most cats will calm down within about 48 hours after birthing. Let's hope she relaxes more soon.

Did you turn off the closet light?

She is most likely feeling a little stronger after the birth, so is protecting her kittens from any kind of danger, even you. She is probably getting more nervous as she is out of any kind of familiar environment. Just leave her alone as much as possible right now, just pop in for feedings and litter cleaning. You might want to offer her treats. You could sit quietly and talk to her in a low, soothing voice, but I wouldn't try to touch the kittens at all right now until she accepts you. Move very slowly, and never stare into her eyes so she thinks you are a threat. She'll calm down in a week or so when everything settles down and she gets more used to being a mother. I wouldn't have any strangers close to her room either, she's just too unstable right now. Bless you for helping her, she is just so scared witless I warn you that she may attack if she feels threatened enough. Be alert, remember a mother protecting her little ones is a VERY strong instinct, and she has been through a lot of change in the last few weeks.   I'll pray for all of you,please keep us posted!

Closet light is off, yes. Should I just...leave the deceased baby for now? I hate that it's practically in the nest with the live ones.

Goldsberry said:

Closet light is off, yes. Should I just...leave the deceased baby for now? I hate that it's practically in the nest with the live ones.

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She can herself carry it away.  They usually do, and hide the deceased or eats it up.   If she let it lie there, she is probably not fully aware its dead.  let it lay where it is.