Question about new litter...

aries · Mar 29, 2006

My neighbors cat had kittens on my front porch over the weekend. The neighbor has not been providing adequate care and is absent frequently for long periods of time. Anyway... I put her and the litter in a box with bedding and am keeping her in my bedroom away from my cats for the time being.

She is very thin and doesn't have much of a milk bag. I am giving her a whole can of moist food daily and keeping dry food out 24/7. With six kittens will she be able to provide adequate nutrition?

How old should the kittens be before spaying her? She isn't mine, but I am the one that is having to deal with the kittens and will probably have to find homes for them.

dragonlady · Mar 29, 2006

You can have her spayed right now. Keep feeding her, kitten food is best to help give her milk. Check her for fleas and treat with frontline or advantage if you see any fleas. She might have tape worms if he has fleas. Kittens will need to be wormed at 4-6 weeks as well as the mom kitty.

Best of luck!

Teresa

solaritybengals · Mar 29, 2006

I've heard the best time for spaying is after the kittens are weaned. Its good you took her in!

aries · Mar 29, 2006

They are really adorable and she is very loving. It isn't hard to fall in love with them.

She is a short-haired ginger tabby that bred to long-haired black manx (He is a stray that I caught and had s/n about a month ago. Too late to avoid this problem apparently.

).

The kittens are a wild mix. There is one ginger with a tail. There are two solid white kittens; one with a tail and one without. And then there are three mostly black torties; two with no tail and one with.

I am worried about those with no tail because I read in my cat book that they are prone to birth defects and sometimes die young. Anyone had experience with this sort of thing?

tnr1 · Mar 29, 2006

Aries...if you can keep her strictly indoors only...you can spay her when the kittens are weaned. Given her condition..it may be better to wait and get some good food in her before having her spayed. I would buy some KMR...with 6 kittens...she may need some assistance...and you can give her some KMR to provide some extra nutrition.

Thanks for helping this cat.

Katie

aries · Mar 29, 2006

Should I return the cat and kittens to their rightful owner or just take care of them myself?

I don't feel like she should have any of them because she wasn't taking care of the cat before. But to be fair the woman was taking care of a sick friend and then she discovered that she had cancer and has been staying with her friend while recovering.

And how do I find homes for 6 kittens? I saw on this site somewhere that you should ask for a small adoption fee and make them sign an adoption agreement to make sure the people will care for the animal.

I would love to keep all of them, but that just isn't feasible. I really have a full house and just started a TNR project in this neighborhood. Any advice?

tnr1 · Mar 29, 2006

Originally Posted by Aries

Should I return the cat and kittens to their rightful owner or just take care of them myself?

I don't feel like she should have any of them because she wasn't taking care of the cat before. But to be fair the woman was taking care of a sick friend and then she discovered that she had cancer and has been staying with her friend while recovering.

And how do I find homes for 6 kittens? I saw on this site somewhere that you should ask for a small adoption fee and make them sign an adoption agreement to make sure the people will care for the animal.

I would love to keep all of them, but that just isn't feasible. I really have a full house and just started a TNR project in this neighborhood. Any advice?

That is tough one....I wouldn't want to return her intact. I would simply have an honest discussion with her...tell her you are more than willing to place the kittens and get the mom cat fixed. You can give her the option of taking the cat back or allowing you to rehome her.

I would start talking to rescue groups and see if they would be willing to place the kittens...less work for you.

Katie

amber416 · Mar 29, 2006

I would definitely agree that you should ask a rescue to help you place them. Remember, the kittens need to be spayed/neutered before they go to their new homes..the adoption fee can help cover that. Thank you for taking this little family in!

celestialrags · Mar 29, 2006

Originally Posted by Aries

Should I return the cat and kittens to their rightful owner or just take care of them myself?

I don't feel like she should have any of them because she wasn't taking care of the cat before. But to be fair the woman was taking care of a sick friend and then she discovered that she had cancer and has been staying with her friend while recovering.

And how do I find homes for 6 kittens? I saw on this site somewhere that you should ask for a small adoption fee and make them sign an adoption agreement to make sure the people will care for the animal.

I would love to keep all of them, but that just isn't feasible. I really have a full house and just started a TNR project in this neighborhood. Any advice?

I would tell the neighbor that you have the cat and kittens, and have decided that it is best for her as well as her cat that they stay in your care while she is recovering with the friend and not home to look after them as often as she should. But let her know that she can be part of it and help, allow her to come see them and call rescues to help place the kittens and make sure all the kittens are spayed before going to new homes, then let her know that once the mother has been spayed and she is sure she can handle the care for the cat that she can bring her back home. This way she feels like she is helping and not just having her cat taken and you will know the cat is cared for properly since you are the one doing it. Hope you find the right solution and all goes well for all.

aries · Mar 30, 2006

for all the great advice. I just hate to think of these poor babies running around like their mother has been. I will try to contact her owner and see what we can work out.

I am afraid that the only "rescue" in this area (very rural) is the Humane Society. As I have mentioned in previous post, they are pre-occupied with TNR'ing farm cats. But I will give them a call, maybe they can offer some assistance.

The kittens really are adorable and precious, but their parents were too at one time and now no wants them. I am just trying to interupt a vicious cycle. Strays are just showing up faster than I can afford to have them s/n. I had three done last month and now there are six more! Aggghhhh!

momof3rugratz · Mar 31, 2006

I know the feeling. Since last week I found out there was like 2 litters of kittens and about 40 adult stray cats around my little town of less then 200 people. Last night at the town meeting we actually said there was 2x more animals then people.

They are making rules stricked saying if there is no shots or licenses in 30 days there will be fines to pay. I do agree with it. My animals are o but I know alot isnt. We do live in a little house on the prairie type setting so we are deserted.

I am going to try to get the neighbor cat who I think got skittles knocked up fixed. They seem to be friends also so I want to make sure it doesn't happen again. Now that Skittles is coming to me for onse in her whole 10 or 11 months of life I need to get her done. If it is possable I will do it 2 weeks after birth.

celestialrags · Mar 31, 2006

Originally Posted by momof3rugratz

I know the feeling. Since last week I found out there was like 2 litters of kittens and about 40 adult stray cats around my little town of less then 200 people. Last night at the town meeting we actually said there was 2x more animals then people.

They are making rules stricked saying if there is no shots or licenses in 30 days there will be fines to pay. I do agree with it. My animals are o but I know alot isnt. We do live in a little house on the prairie type setting so we are deserted.

I am going to try to get the neighbor cat who I think got skittles knocked up fixed. They seem to be friends also so I want to make sure it doesn't happen again. Now that Skittles is coming to me for onse in her whole 10 or 11 months of life I need to get her done. If it is possable I will do it 2 weeks after birth.

I don't think it is possible to do it that soon, and you shouldn't if you can. The kittens should be weaned first. Now, it varies from when people think yo should do it, but from 8or 10 weeks-12 weeks would be best. (I think closer to 12 weeks myself) you can have mom and kittens done at the same time then.

gayef · Mar 31, 2006

Originally Posted by momof3rugratz

Now that Skittles is coming to me for onse in her whole 10 or 11 months of life I need to get her done. If it is possable I will do it 2 weeks after birth.

You will ~need~ to wait until her kittens are about 10 to 12 weeks old to spay Skittles. Spaying her when the babies are only 2 weeks old will dry up her milk before they are fully weaned and that is not a good idea at all.

Wait until the babies are 10 to 12 weeks old and are consistantly eating on their own and using the litter box on their own.

~gf~

momof3rugratz · Apr 3, 2006

Well looks like that is the plan. We are going to wait 2 weeks to be on the safe side. I will do my darndest to make sure she is inside 100% she has made it 11 days inside but no clue if she got pregnant I know she was in heat that friday so that is why we think she is and the other cats that she was with. I can not see her nipples never have been able too. If in 2 weeks she does not go in to heat then I figured she would be pregnant If she does go in to heat we are going to try to make the Appt for spay. I do not live in a big place so it is hard to make appt that are within a few days because the doctors all travel.

bambam · Apr 3, 2006

i have week old kittens and one of the kittens is a runt, he aint eating very much, what can i feed him , please help!!!!!1

tnr1 · Apr 3, 2006

Originally Posted by bambam

i have week old kittens and one of the kittens is a runt, he aint eating very much, what can i feed him , please help!!!!!1

BamBam..welcome to TCS..you need to go out and get some Kitten Milk Replacement (KMR)...you can find it in petstores. It comes in either powdered form or in a can. You need to follow the instructions to warm it up and make sure you feed this little one in a "prone" position (sit him on your lap with all his 4 paws on your lap).

More information can be found here:

http://www.kitten-rescue.com/bottle_feeding_kitten.html

http://www.kitten-rescue.com/what_to_feed.html

Mom and kittens should remain indoors only with no access outdoors until the kittens are weaned and mom can safely be spayed.

Katie

ginava · Apr 3, 2006

what state are you in?

aries · Apr 3, 2006

Originally Posted by ginava

what state are you in?

Not sure if you were asking about the original post or some of the additional posts.

ginava · Apr 3, 2006

I am in Ohio. I have access to a no-killl shleter here,if you live close enough ( I could meet you) Maybe the shelter can take the kits when they are old enough? In the past we have even had people do different legs of the journey!

aries · Apr 4, 2006

'Fraid that is too far for me here in the mid south. I don't just want rid of the kittens; I want to find them good permanent homes with cat oriented/educated folks.

I had someone offer to take one of the kittens, but they weren't wanting to have it s/n or answer questions. I have pretty much marked them off the list of prospective adopters.

I have come to understand how little I know about cats here on this site. And now I am leary of adopting to well meaning people who don't have a clue. I may have to start a cat adoption education course!

Question about new litter...

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