Need help...I know nothing about kittens/cats

A cat came in to my father's warehouse and gave birth to five kittens...which he found when he went back to work after the July 4th holiday. Ever since then we have been feeding this mother cat and her kittens milk and chow but neither me or my father know anything about caring for kittens. The mother cat was still with them until yesterday when we went to the warehouse to feed them and she was gone and the kittens were there by themselves. They seemed to be very hungry. The kittens will not let us near them because when we move or get to close to them they take off and hide under pallets. I feel so sorry for them. What else should we be doing for these kittens? Thanks for any advice!

Is the Mom still in the building somewhere? Is she tame? Maybe she just snuck outside, and if she is let back in she will take over the care.

Otherwise, at 3 weeks, you will have to catch the kittens or they will surely starve. Either several people can get around the pallets, and try to scoop up the kittens, or someone can wait and watch for them to come out. At that age (hopefully) they don't move real fast yet.

You will want to pick up some kitten formula at Walmart or another store. Also a kitten bottle or some syringes to bottle feed them.

Where are you? Maybe we have a member nearby who can help.

If momma hasn't returned yet, you'll have to catch them. It might be that you guys just found the kittens while she was out hunting... there are some people on here who can refer you on how to deal with/catch feral kittens. Hopefully they'll see this soon!

Where do you live?

If they are handlable you will need to catch them and bring them inside. The mother can get pregnant again and most likely already is which can be harmful to her health. So she needs to get inside.

Are you willing to take care of them? They will need good quality food, vaccinations, and spayed or neutered when older.

Also, the mother may seem agressive outside when it may appear that you're putting her babies in danger. She doesn't know you and will be protective. You can borrow a trap from a vet or buy on at a feed store and get them inside to a quiet room. Put food., litter and water inside the room and keep the lights dim and let them be for the day. Peek in after awhile. If they are really agressive, just begin to refill the mothers food and water everyday until she stops seeming agressive.

If you do not want to have a cat or cannot have one, then let us know where you live, maybe one of us lives nearby. Otherwise you can call your local shelter or humane society and ask if there is anything they can do. I expect they will be too ful but you never know. Since the babies are so young they might take them in. They could also euthanize them if they are too agressive so ask questions first.

Don't call animal control as they will most likely euthanize the cats. My local animal control guy in Kent will take them out to the APL usually. But most animal control officers don't do that.

Thanks all! I went by to feed them earlier and the mother is back. She is still too protective of them for me to get near them but she will allow me to pet her. The kittens seem happy and, as far as I can tell, healthy. They were playing with each other. I could not bear to take them to the Humane Society. I am going to try to keep working on getting them to trust me.

I forgot...I am in Lexington, Kentucky

Originally Posted by Jennifer1977

I forgot...I am in Lexington, Kentucky

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Can you move mom and kittens into a room where mom cannot go outside again?? The reason is that mom can become pregnant as early as a couple of days after giving birth.

It sounds like mom may need to be trapped, spayed and then allowed back outside. I would contact some groups that have familiarity with TNR that are in KY:

http://www.alleycat.org/orgs.html#ky

Also, to read about TNR you can go here:

http://www.alleycat.org/visitor.html

Katie

Originally Posted by Jennifer1977

Thanks all!

I went by to feed them earlier and the mother is back. She is still too protective of them for me to get near them but she will allow me to pet her. The kittens seem happy and, as far as I can tell, healthy. They were playing with each other. I could not bear to take them to the Humane Society. I am going to try to keep working on getting them to trust me.

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I'm so glad she is back! If you can get them enclosed where she can't get out it will be better. Just having the kittens watch you pet their Mom is a good thing. Hopefully when they are a little older she will let you pet them, too.

It is very important to get them inside. If you cannot get them inside now and keep them in then it would be best for them to go to the humane society where they will be kept inside, cared for and vaccinated spayed and adopted out.