Kittens, Can they be moved? Please help!

Well a stray cat that I had been feeding had kittens last Tuesday in our home. Sometimes we would let her in when it was cold because we felt sorry for her. Well last Tuesday she ran in and i could not find her. Then I heard a kitten crying I went in there and she went in labor. (Didn"t know she was pregnant becuase she has real long hair) I called the vet they said not to move her for 48 hours to be sure she was done. Well since I have 3 male kitties I am worried about there safety in the home. None are fixed because all inside cats (I plan to for health reason though) So now they have been in a enclosed dog carrier since. I let the mom out several times a day. She never wants to go outside and I use to not be able to get her in. So I understand she feels safe now in here. But I went away and mom watched them over the weekend. I came back and one was dying. He had blood running from his nose and out his butt. Momma kitty would not go back in the cage for my mother so she shut the room up and the mother had moved all but that one. I am worried not that she may have layed on him and killed him because there is no room.I tryied everything. The vet i called said there was really nothing to do for him so I pulled the mother to the side and held the baby up to her and she loved him to he passed. So Sad! I really can't let them run in the house and can not block a room off because then I would be at constant worry someone would step on them, or leave the door open and the male cats get in. Plus when she was locked in a room she pulled the carper up at the door. i was planning on putting her in old building behind the house that covered and holes for her to go in and out and leave the carrier with her but the door open. I can tell she don't want them locked in there. Do you think it would be safe? I don't feel they deserve to grow up in such a small place. i would go back and feed her daily and keep check. What do you think? Ps. the kitties have there eyes open and walk to me when i open the carrier

if you honestly feel like you cant keep them safely it might be best to contact a no kill shelter and ask them to foster.

or else you could get a large dog crate and crate them for the time being. the best solution would be to block of a room but if you are sure you cant do that.

i think it would be preferable for her to be kept indoors so she cannot mate with any other cats (they can get pregnant again just days after birth) and so you can keep and eye on her and get her spayed.

This is not an ideal situation for you as she wasnt your cat to begin with and you have un-neutered males who will try their upmost to mate with her when her next season begins (and start fighting amongst themselves maybe trying).

what i would do is get the males fixed asap (for their sake as well as yours. it will solve a lot of un-neccesary problems later), block of a large room or closet using a baby gate the babies cant get through as well as a door for extra enforcement and put a sign on the door saying 'kittens in here' so they wont accidently be stepped on or let out, or get a birthing/dog crate.

Thank you for your reply. I really would love to keep them inside because I worry about them outside. I am a realy animal lover. But we only have a small house, 3 bedroom and there are 3 of living here. The mother don't seem to be litter boxed train because she is using it on the floor and on top of my bed (suide) . We also don't have big closets that have any room. The building I was speaking about is where she was born by her mother kitty. I contacted a no kill and they said right now they are not accepting any new animals because of funds. I am going to try and keep them in until i try and find another route. They have there eyes open and they just walk up to me when I open the crate and they are only 8 days old or so. Do you think she smushed the one I was talking about in my first thread? I know some are born with problems but never heard of the bleeding for diseases or anything. I appreciate your response so much. We are going away at the end of the month for a week again on vacation and I wanted to figure out something before then. The Spca when I emailed them mentioned that they have alot of cats there already and if the mother or kittens are not friendly they may be put down upon arrial. The thing is the stray mom will not work with anyone but me. She run and hides when she sees someone. I am just so confused and worried at the same time.

The mom is not litter pan trained because she is a stray. She will pee wherever she wants, plus she is stressed not only by the confinement, but the new family and the demands on her time as well as the death of her kitten.

If I were you, I would call the SPCA back and ask them if they will take this family if you donate an acceptable sum of money for them to do so? Because you are leaving, because this is not your owned cat, and you have unneutered males you have a recipe for disaster. It is quite possible for a tomcat to kill a kitten, so even though these males have been housebound, it could still be within them to do this (though that is hard to say). It is also hard to say why the baby died, but leaving them in the care of other occupants on the home will just add to the stress of the mother.

Of course its hard to say what happened to the lil one that passed... I can say from watching my mama kitty, that when she adjusts herself, sometimes there is a kitty under her and she kinda lays down but not fully... I think cats have too much instinct to squish them to the point of really hurting them.... (my opinion from observation)
Dont beat yourself up over it... You are only doing the best you can and believe me, its more than others in the world might do!

Good job and kudos to you for trying...

My vet told me that my mama kitty will not go into heat as long as she is breast feeding... I also got a 2nd opinion on this and it was in agreeance... I have heard different things here, but I cant say for sure... Better safe than sorry, is my motto! ha...

I had to clean out my closet thoroughly for the kitties... I just put EVERYTHING in a corner of my room (and my room is small)... then I put up a blockade so the kitties couldnt get out, but mama could still jump out and take a break if needed... (usually she stayed in the bedroom but outside the closet while they were sleeping)...

Good luck and again, GOOD JOB! No guilt over the lil kitty... you can only do your best!

if the buildings the best you can offer them (no way meant negativly, i think its great you want to help them) you have to make sure its heated well and the mothers confined so she cant escape and get pregnant again.

at the end of the day inside is best but an out building is better than throwing her out on the streets. just remember you efforts will be wasted if she gets pregnant again or if you dont socialise the kittens. you will just be ensuring another generation of kitten survive into adulthood and into the endless breeding cycle of feral cats.

if you post for help on cat sos i'm sure someone can help you find a shelter to take them. if you cant keep her and them inside this is what you need to do.

if the mother did kill the baby it would have been most likely deliberate because the baby was ill or too weak to live. its cruel but its nature and its the way she will ensure her efforts only go on kittens that will survive.

offer the mother cat potting soil (not garden dirt as it has bugs) because its unlikely she would have used litter before and wont know what its for. that or sand.

you can slowly mix in litter, one cup a day until she knows what its for.

I dont mean to be rude but how soon are you going to get your males neutered? your house will now smell of female cat and when she goes back into heat your males are going to go crazy looking for her. if they find her there is a chance they will kill the babies (to encourage her to mate again) or seriously injure themselves fighting her or each other.

Originally Posted by Spirit

My vet told me that my mama kitty will not go into heat as long as she is breast feeding... I also got a 2nd opinion on this and it was in agreeance... I have heard different things here, but I cant say for sure... Better safe than sorry, is my motto! ha...

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Well, I have Sugartoes, who got pregnant when her last kitten was 3 weeks old. So I KNOW they can get pregnant while nursing! LOL! And she has shown a few signs already with the current litter just over a week old-trying to sneak out of her bedroom, etc. I would be very concerned trying to keep females and males in the same home!

Thank you for trying to save this girl. Let the shelter know you will take her back as an outside feral after she raises the kits and is spayed. There is no need for her to be euthanized just because she isn't tame, if she has someone like you who will care for her!

haha, yes, thats what I hear... Contrary to a vet's opinion, there are those people whose cats have indeed gotten pregnant... apparently it isnt as likely, but as you well know, its absolutely POSSIBLE... lol!!! Hence why my kitty stays indoors... always better safe than sorry...

Our mama kitty is getting fixed the 1st of July...

Do cats still feed their kitties after they've been fixed? or does their milk dry up??? curious...

ok, bye!

Originally Posted by acarper21

Thank you for your reply. I really would love to keep them inside because I worry about them outside. I am a realy animal lover. But we only have a small house, 3 bedroom and there are 3 of living here. The mother don't seem to be litter boxed train because she is using it on the floor and on top of my bed (suide)

. We also don't have big closets that have any room. The building I was speaking about is where she was born by her mother kitty. I contacted a no kill and they said right now they are not accepting any new animals because of funds. I am going to try and keep them in until i try and find another route. They have there eyes open and they just walk up to me when I open the crate and they are only 8 days old or so. Do you think she smushed the one I was talking about in my first thread? I know some are born with problems but never heard of the bleeding for diseases or anything. I appreciate your response so much. We are going away at the end of the month for a week again on vacation and I wanted to figure out something before then. The Spca when I emailed them mentioned that they have alot of cats there already and if the mother or kittens are not friendly they may be put down upon arrial. The thing is the stray mom will not work with anyone but me. She run and hides when she sees someone. I am just so confused and worried at the same time.

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Welcome....not sure where you are in Virginia..but I would recommend you contact a local Trap, Neuter, Return organization. If mom is not in a place where she is in danger..it may be best to allow her to continue to live outdoors (after she has been spayed) and be fed by you. Here is a page of all the TNR groups in Virginia...typically they can refer you to an organization that may be able to take the kittens.

http://www.natewood.net/FeralCats.html

Katie

Wow guys you really came through and helped me. I am new this I see there is alot of people just like me. Some people call me crazy. I think I am going to keep her in for a few more weeks and in the mean time get on the horn and find other solutions. The mother is so good when she wants to go in the carrier she comes to me and cried and I follow her and she take me to the cage and goes in. My husband can't even get her to come to him. So you see why I kind of scared to put her some where I can not see her. Her momma kitty was a stray and she brought them to my front door and pretty much left. I was able to give me family all of them but his one. She never got tamed enough. The mother was a solid black persian but she is tortise shell with long hair. We also had a big black and white persian that was following her around so i am not for sure if its that daddy. One of the kittens has a flat face. Whats really neat is we have a male cat that follow momma cats around and when she leaves them to hunt or do whatever he sits and watches them and fight other cats away. It weird because he is a male. I have never seen him harm anything. They were even male kitties in the litter . I am planning on after vacation getting the cats fixed. Don't want to before so I can watch them. I have two lovely siamese. Can anyone tell me up to what age are they in danger of male kitties? I figure if I can leave them in 3 more weeks then they would be between 4-5 weeks old. I want to interact so they don't become wild. Thanks everyone for the opinion I just don't want to make the wrong decision

Originally Posted by acarper21

Wow guys you really came through and helped me. I am new this I see there is alot of people just like me. Some people call me crazy. I think I am going to keep her in for a few more weeks and in the mean time get on the horn and find other solutions. The mother is so good when she wants to go in the carrier she comes to me and cried and I follow her and she take me to the cage and goes in. My husband can't even get her to come to him. So you see why I kind of scared to put her some where I can not see her. Her momma kitty was a stray and she brought them to my front door and pretty much left. I was able to give me family all of them but his one. She never got tamed enough. The mother was a solid black persian but she is tortise shell with long hair. We also had a big black and white persian that was following her around so i am not for sure if its that daddy. One of the kittens has a flat face. Whats really neat is we have a male cat that follow momma cats around and when she leaves them to hunt or do whatever he sits and watches them and fight other cats away. It weird because he is a male. I have never seen him harm anything. They were even male kitties in the litter

. I am planning on after vacation getting the cats fixed. Don't want to before so I can watch them. I have two lovely siamese. Can anyone tell me up to what age are they in danger of male kitties? I figure if I can leave them in 3 more weeks then they would be between 4-5 weeks old. I want to interact so they don't become wild. Thanks everyone for the opinion I just don't want to make the wrong decision

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I would get her fixed as soon as possible. The male is probably interested in getting her pregnant and she can get pregnant again very soon after having her litter. Here is a list of low cost spay/neuter options:

VIRGINIA
Angels of Assisi - Roanoke area
Roanoke VA
1-888-661-1113
Traveling clinic for low cost s/n for pets of people with financial need -- and also for folks who rescue strays and folks who are feral cat caretakers. The service travels within about an hour radius of Roanoke.
Holly Help Memorial Spay Fund
Bristol VA / Bristol TN
276-466-5375
Everyone is eligible for low cost spay neuter assistance, which is funded by the public through recycled aluminum cans.

Animal Defense League
Abingdon VA
TOLL FREE 1-877-301-2290

People United for Animals PUFA
PO Box 1082
Bristol TN 37621
423-274-2407
Lost cost s-n assistance in Bristol VA/TN

Planned Pethood Clinic
Boones Mill VA
540-334-1268
Low cost s/n for cats and dogs.


Virginia Partnership for Animal Welfare and Support (VA PAWS)
Christiansburg VA
540-3VA-PAWS
Low cost s/n once a week in Christiansburg in conjunction with the mobile clinic provided by Angels of Assisi.


Cat's Cradle Virginia
Harrisonburg VA
540-438-5222
Web: www.catscradlevirginia.com Participating veterinarians in Harrisonburg, Dayton, and Stephens City.


Kindred Spirits
Staunton VA
540-213-3792

Valley Cats
Harrisonburg VA
540-437-0854


Spay/Neuter Inc.
540-480-7582

King George Animal Rescue League
PO Box 1143
King George VA 22485
540-644-0110
www.kgarl.org
Call them for information about s/n at very good prices.

Virginia Kincheloe Spay/Neuter Clinic
452 TV Drive
Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania VA 22408
540-834-0080


Spay/Neuter Inc.
Stuarts Draft VA
540-949-8003
For pets of people with low income.

Go back to Love That Cat Store home page.

Spay and Neuter All Pets (SNAP)
PO Box 1277
Louisa, VA 23093
540-967-3573 (Central Virginia)


Prevent A Litter Coalition
PO Box 1442
Centreville, VA 20122
888-SPAY-4-VA
703-818-8009
Low cost s/n for pets of people with low income.

Alexandria Animal Shelter
Alexandria, VA
703-838-4775
Offers discounts on spay/neuter at many veterinary clinics in the area. No restrictions on income.

Animal Welfare League of Arlington
Arlington, VA
703-931-9241

Feral Cat Program Spay/Neuter Clinic
Clinic location Northwest DC
Managed by Metro Ferals
PO Box 7138
Arlington, VA 22207
703-528-7782
or call Alley Cat Allies 202-667-3630 ext 112
Low cost spay/neuter, testing, and vaccinations for feral or stray cats.

Spay Inc.
PO Box 3240
Arlington, VA 22203
703-522-7920
703-521-2677
www.spay.org web site
Help for residents of Maryland, DC, and Virginia.

Meower Power
Feral Cat Coalition Inc.
PO Box 9696
Chesapeake, VA 23321
757-399-0001
[email protected] Email
Has monthly spay/neuter for ferals at low cost.

Virginia Beach SPCA
Virginia Beach VA
757-427-0070

Tidewater Humane
Tidewater area VA
757-497-7729


Partners Among Cats and Canines (PACC)
Franklin VA
757-516-5055


Norfolk SPCA (Tidewater region) Norfolk VA
757-622-3319


PETA
Norfolk area
757-622-7382


Richmond Spay & Neuter Foundation
Richmond VA


For the Love of Animals in Goochland (FLAG)
PO Box 115
Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103
804-342-6975

Prevent A Litter Clinic (PAL)
Carytown
Richmond VA
804-359-6369


Petersburg/Colonial Heights SPCA
804-526-7722


Operation Catnip of Richmond
Richmond VA
804-674-0066
Web: www.operationcatnip.net
Spay/neuter for feral and stray cats.

PetFix Coalition
804-739-7868
760- Charlottesville SPCA
PO Box 7047
Charlottesville, VA 22906
804-973-5959
Discounts on spay/neuter according to income of pet owner.

Wow thanks so much. I am near to one you gave me so I will be in contact with them. Cats and Cradle is a no kill shelter. Wish I could have taken her there. They just don't have the funds for more cats then they already have.

Does anyone know when the kitties are normally out of harm from sickness they may have been born with or from male kitties?