Feral cat sick?

Hi Everyone,

One of our ferals (Midnight, she has become the new matriarch since Abby never returned... ) has big, brown bags under her eyes. She also has bald spots on the top of her eyes. (Sorry, I am trying to describe it accurately) Has anyone ever seen this? She is eating fine, she just looks very tired. She is feeding three kittens right now, could that be running her down? I am so worried that it might be something bad....

We are really trying to catch her to get her checked up and spayed.
Can she return to her kittens after she has been spayed? Will she still be able to feed them? We don't want to take them away from her until they are least 8-10 weeks old. They have started eating food but are still eating from her as well. They all seem happy and healthy. Plus, it is very hard to get near them as she is very protective. And I am worried that if she is getting spayed no one will be out there to protect them.

To make matters worse, we still have the raccoon problem. I have tried several repellents, but none have worked, so to protect the kittens I have been leaving food out for them on the other side of the yard. I don't know if it is the right decision, but I don't want them going after the little ones.

I haven't written in a while due to illness. Here's an update from my last posting: Abby, our matriarch never came back. I guess I will never know what happened. I am just assuming that there is someone else feeding her.
The little black kitten is still with us. My sister has named him Speedle (CSI Miami...) and plays with him everyday. Eventually we hope to bring him in or get him adopted.


Well...sorry this is so long! Any advice from anybody who has been through this will be greatly appreciated! There is so much to taking care of a colony. I just want to make the right decisions and protect them.

Thanks,
JIL05

If there is possibility to someone taking in the small one it is better to do it now, as they have easier to get domesticized as small kitties.

But if you know they have to live as feral - yes, your decision is correct, as long as possible with mom.

I heard of pedigree cats neutered because of complications, they returned to their newborn and proceed... Of course, they didnt need to defence in fight.

But wait till someone more answers...

Good luck!

Can she return to her kittens after she has been spayed? Will she still be able to feed them?

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Actually, if you can trap the entire family that is ideal so that you can bottle feed the kittens while she is at the vet office...make sure that when you take her to be spayed, tell the vet that she is a nursing mom and will need to be returned to her kittens ASAP so he should use dissolving stitches.

Katie

Thank you Katie!

That's what I wanted to know! ) We had no luck last night, but we will keep trying and I will let you know how it goes.
We are going to try to buy a cage today to keep the kittens in as that's the only way we can let them in the house. We have indoor cats and no much room to socialize them.

Thank you,
JIL05

Originally Posted by JIL05

Thank you Katie!

That's what I wanted to know! ) We had no luck last night, but we will keep trying and I will let you know how it goes.
We are going to try to buy a cage today to keep the kittens in as that's the only way we can let them in the house. We have indoor cats and no much room to socialize them.

Thank you,
JIL05

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Good Luck and thanks for caring for this family.

Katie

Please send all you prayers our way!

I have been searching for hours and the little gray kitten is no where to be found....The mother cat is ferocious in her protection of the other two. I very much fear that one of the raccoon has got to it. I am tears as I write this... Sometimes all of this seems too much and I feel like giving up!

Maybe I was wrong to feed the raccoons, but I just wanted to give them something to go for so the cats could get away if they saw them. I am so upset. I know that this is the way outside life is, but I don't care about that argument. I just want the kitten to be found alive and well.

JIL05

Originally Posted by JIL05

Please send all you prayers our way!

I have been searching for hours and the little gray kitten is no where to be found....The mother cat is ferocious in her protection of the other two. I very much fear that one of the raccoon has got to it. I am tears as I write this... Sometimes all of this seems too much and I feel like giving up!

Maybe I was wrong to feed the raccoons, but I just wanted to give them something to go for so the cats could get away if they saw them. I am so upset. I know that this is the way outside life is, but I don't care about that argument. I just want the kitten to be found alive and well.

JIL05

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Hang-in there...taking care of these guys is no easy task. I compare it to being on an emotional rollercoaster...you have your very high-ups and very low-downs. Don't give-up!! Even 1 rescue is better than none!

Is it one kitten that is missing? Please let us know how it's going. Sending vibes of strength to you...your dedication & care for this colony is appreciated

Hi leesali,

Yes, it's just the one. I was just outside sitting still in the dark to see if he was around. Still no sighting but it is dark.... I will check further in the morning and give an update..
Thank you so much for the encouragement and vibes of strength! Please Keep 'em coming!

JIL05

One of our ferals (Midnight, she has become the new matriarch since Abby never returned... ) has big, brown bags under her eyes. She also has bald spots on the top of her eyes. (Sorry, I am trying to describe it accurately) Has anyone ever seen this? She is eating fine, she just looks very tired. She is feeding three kittens right now, could that be running her down? I am so worried that it might be something bad....

We are really trying to catch her to get her checked up and spayed.
Can she return to her kittens after she has been spayed? Will she still be able to feed them? We don't want to take them away from her until they are least 8-10 weeks old. They have started eating food but are still eating from her as well. They all seem happy and healthy. Plus, it is very hard to get near them as she is very protective. And I am worried that if she is getting spayed no one will be out there to protect them.

Some of the females in my colony looked like what you have described in Midnight. I started feeding the adults kitten food and occassionaly some chop-meat just for a boost. It took a few weeks but those dark areas around the eyes disappeared and as the kittens started eating solids, the mother seemed to get back to a healthy weight. No bald spots...which could be signs of ringworm.

The mother can be returned to her kittens as stated in a previous post and yes, a lactating mother can still nurse after being spayed. I would supplement with bottle-feeding the babies since mother cat needs to recover from her surgery.

My first successful TNR was with "Oreo"...the alpha female of my colony who had a litter of 3 which I believed to have "crossed the rainbow bridge". Well...while momma Oreo was recovering from surgery...I found little Elsie one night crying her head-off. She was the only survivor of the litter and at only 4 wks. old when I trapped her mother. Ohhhh....the guilt. So...little Elsie makes lucky #7 in our family.

I fostered a litter this spring, and although they were inside and safe from outside dangers, three of the five died. I think the Momma (Sugartoes) was just too overbred to support the kittens. They were her third litter in 6 months.

I hope you find your gray baby. Please don't give up on helping them. I know it is heartbreaking to lose a baby. I don't know how breeders can keep it up. At least I have the comfort of knowing I didn't plan for the births, when I lose a foster kitten!

Best of luck on getting Momma-cat spayed! And all three babies tamed and adopted out!

We found the little gray kitten's body today. He didn't have a mark on him. I posted about him on the Rainbow bridge.

The good news is that the other two kittens are fine. Actually had a hand on one, but it got away. Midnight, the mama walked into the trap and ate the fish- The darn thing didn't go off! I mean...what are the odds? Her eyes are still the same although everything else seems alright. I have changed the dry food so if it is an allergy hopefully it will help- Thanks for the tip!
So everything is still the same so far. Please send trapping thoughts so we can get this cat spayed and medically treated.


And thanks for making me feel better about everything. It's true, although not easy to understand, that sometimes they just die and you never know why.

I will keep you updated on everything.

Thanks,
JIL05

The good news is we caught one of our ferals, the bad news it is not Midnight.

First we caught a feral we had already fixed, then Midnight walked in, helped herself to the tuna and off she went! I can't believe this cat! Is she magic or something? That's twice she's walked into the trap and it has not snapped! Anyway, after she walked out, we added more tuna and caught one of the males that has to be fixed. We will pick him up this afternoon.

At least that's another one done! I sure would have liked to catch Midnight though....

Congratulations on catching the male

Big hug sent your way for caring & taking the time to do the right thing for your colony!!