Help Help Help! She's having her kittens in the litterbox!

penthilisea · Jun 4, 2006

This is Miss Suellen the Sullen feral cat. So far there is one good sized looking kitten nursing and one being born now looking strong too. They are in the litterbox. I cleaned it last night but it is clumping litter- Should I even TRY to shoo her out of it till I can put newspaper over the litter or give her time?

ADVISE ASAP!

tnr1 · Jun 4, 2006

Originally Posted by penthilisea

This is Miss Suellen the Sullen feral cat. So far there is one good sized looking kitten nursing and one being born now looking strong too. They are in the litterbox. I cleaned it last night but it is clumping litter- Should I even TRY to shoo her out of it till I can put newspaper over the litter or give her time?

ADVISE ASAP!

Given her feral status...I would be concerned about trying to move her. However, if there is a way that you can cover the litter with a towel and give her another litterbox with either clay or biodegradable litter..that would be best.

Katie

penthilisea · Jun 4, 2006

I am sure if I time it right she will hop oput- but thwen I will have to pick up the kittens to put down a towel or something- I am freaking out a bit. Is this the worst thing ever if I leave her in there at least till she finishes delivering them?

I guess hanging out in there with her might not be a great idea either. I will try very hard to give her a few hours.

gayef · Jun 4, 2006

I worry about the clumping litter ... but as Katie said, given her feral nature, this is going to be an individual call on your part, I think. Do you feel safe handling the babies with her nearby? Is there any way you can put a towel over the litter while she is still in the box at all?

penthilisea · Jun 4, 2006

I can... try. I am going to redo the planned birthing box and put it right next to her and see what can be done.

I'll update when I get back from the outbuilding! TY!

gayef · Jun 4, 2006

Be careful ... and let her behavior be your guide.

penthilisea · Jun 4, 2006

She hissed when I tried to tuck anything around her then jumped out. We picked up THREE healthy kittens and put newspaper over the litter, put them back and left. I will check in 30 minutes to make sure she has gone back to them.

Two still have the placentas attatched- COVERED in litter. Ew. But as far as I know that won't hurt them. She's still pretty big so we shall see. Thanks for staying with me so far!

tnr1 · Jun 4, 2006

Originally Posted by penthilisea

She hissed when I tried to tuck anything around her then jumped out. We picked up THREE healthy kittens and put newspaper over the litter, put them back and left. I will check in 30 minutes to make sure she has gone back to them.

Two still have the placentas attatched- COVERED in litter. Ew. But as far as I know that won't hurt them. She's still pretty big so we shall see. Thanks for staying with me so far!

I would provide LOTS of options for her...she may decide to move her kittens and you want to make sure she has as many choices that are safe as possible. For now....switch her litter to either clay or a biodegradable brand.

Katie

penthilisea · Jun 4, 2006

Good news- I think. She moved them out of the redocrated litter box to the floor- which is newspaper covered, under a desk. She ran when she heard us coming so I will leave her alone till the am. I am just happy she decided to come back for them and take care of them. The newspaper covered floor is clean and safe for now.

beckiboo · Jun 4, 2006

Oh, my goodness. I had heard that sometimes they will have them in the litterbox, but never thought of it actually happening! I have always given my foster cats clumping litter until the kittens were a little older...from now on it is going to be clay all the way!

Good job in getting the babies out of the litterbox! I'm glad they are big and healthy.

momof3rugratz · Jun 4, 2006

How is she... Was 3 her total.

penthilisea · Jun 5, 2006

Well, leaving her alone was abad idea, as was maybe trying to help at all. One kitten is gone, but two are here in the house with me now. I went in this AM and found one back in the litter box (alone), one in her wet food dish, alone and a one dead in the middle of the floor. She is under the desk again, and does not appear to be much smaller.

I am very disapointed, but she is a feral first time mother (and LAST TIME!)

Kittens 2 and three are tabby cats with white socks and noses. One is VERY polydactly (like my daisy-cat!) They each had a small amount of KMR and are napping in a towel on a container of warm water.

Open to suggestions- my vet said put them back in there and let nature take it's course. I feel bad enough for #3, who WAS alive last night.

tnr1 · Jun 5, 2006

Originally Posted by penthilisea

Well, leaving her alone was abad idea, as was maybe trying to help at all. One kitten is gone, but two are here in the house with me now. I went in this AM and found one back in the litter box (alone), one in her wet food dish, alone and a one dead in the middle of the floor. She is under the desk again, and does not appear to be much smaller.

I am very disapointed, but she is a feral first time mother (and LAST TIME!)

Kittens 2 and three are tabby cats with white socks and noses. One is VERY polydactly (like my daisy-cat!) They each had a small amount of KMR and are napping in a towel on a container of warm water.

Open to suggestions- my vet said put them back in there and let nature take it's course. I feel bad enough for #3, who WAS alive last night.

If you can hand raise them....then I would go about doing it. Sounds like mom is VERY distrusting of humans so unless you were able to confine her with her kittens, there is a good chance she would have continued to abandon them. This also ramps up your timeline for getting mom spayed and allowing her to go back to her colony.

Katie

BTW...don't beat yourself up about the one that died...kittens die for no other reason than it was their time. There could have been something wrong with it.

penthilisea · Jun 5, 2006

TNR- I have them confined now in close quarters. If she rejects them again I will have her to the vet this week and get her spayed and released. The local humane society tried to tell me she abdoned all of them because they were sick, but considering she was nursing before I moved them I think she is just freaked out.

Crossing my fingers. Husband has some pics so I may post later of the kittens and mom- who is still got a huge belly. Could there be more kittens in there?

tnr1 · Jun 5, 2006

Originally Posted by penthilisea

TNR- I have them confined now in close quarters. If she rejects them again I will have her to the vet this week and get her spayed and released. The local humane society tried to tell me she abdoned all of them because they were sick, but considering she was nursing before I moved them I think she is just freaked out.

Crossing my fingers. Husband has some pics so I may post later of the kittens and mom- who is still got a huge belly. Could there be more kittens in there?

Given her feral status...she could simply have a really bad case of worms...I'd keep an eye on her to see if she seems to be in distress.

Katie

pombina · Jun 5, 2006

I hope Mummy and the 2 kittens are ok. I'm so sorry you lost one. You are doing a great job though, good luck whatever you decide to do.

sirha · Jun 5, 2006

Originally Posted by Pombina

I hope Mummy and the 2 kittens are ok. I'm so sorry you lost one. You are doing a great job though, good luck whatever you decide to do.

^^^What she said! Good luck, and sounds like you are doing good by the mom!

Help Help Help! She's having her kittens in the litterbox!

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