This is the female that is trap-smart. She has now given me three sets of litters. That's a total of 11 new kittens!!! Fortunately the kittens that I have been able to trap were two of the three known females - all the others in the first two litters were male. (Yes, the males will get trapped too.)
I have a cat door in my side garage door, and that is where they have been going for shelter and safety.
When "Pepper" had her third litter and trapping her didn't look promising, I decided that I'd close up the door and keep her and the new kittens inside, hoping to trap her in there, and meanwhile not give her the opportunity to become pregnant again. BTW, these new kittens all -very likely- may be female.
These are my questions:
1. Her belly: still looks pregnant - could it be that the bulge is that she's just gaining weight because of inactivity, or because she is nursing?? She appears very healthy and I doubt that she is carrying another kitten?? or a still born?.
2. I feel strongly that the kittens were born the last week of October, which makes them about 6 weeks old.
When should I expect her to come into heat now?
This picture shows her planning her escape. I've had to be vigilant keeping the door blocked. I'm trying not to underestimate her determination and am sure that she will surprise me in her effort to get outside. (She's been moving the board away from the door, and I keep re-placing the blockage.
Here is a picture of Pepper's latest (and I pray, last) production - they have med-long fur and I know they need forever homes as we're in the hot desert, but I am shy about asking around because I know that everyone is just overwhelmed with cats and kittens needing homes.
Because they are trapped in the garage, they aren't as feral-like because I am around them as I'm caring for them. They are litter trained, and enjoying healthy food - such as Wellness canned, and raw chicken, plus some other less expensive canned food, and some Taste of the Wild dry (very little). Before they were born, their mommy also was given a good diet, so I suspect they are quite healthy.
I have a cat door in my side garage door, and that is where they have been going for shelter and safety.
When "Pepper" had her third litter and trapping her didn't look promising, I decided that I'd close up the door and keep her and the new kittens inside, hoping to trap her in there, and meanwhile not give her the opportunity to become pregnant again. BTW, these new kittens all -very likely- may be female.
These are my questions:
1. Her belly: still looks pregnant - could it be that the bulge is that she's just gaining weight because of inactivity, or because she is nursing?? She appears very healthy and I doubt that she is carrying another kitten?? or a still born?.
2. I feel strongly that the kittens were born the last week of October, which makes them about 6 weeks old.
When should I expect her to come into heat now?
This picture shows her planning her escape. I've had to be vigilant keeping the door blocked. I'm trying not to underestimate her determination and am sure that she will surprise me in her effort to get outside. (She's been moving the board away from the door, and I keep re-placing the blockage.
Here is a picture of Pepper's latest (and I pray, last) production - they have med-long fur and I know they need forever homes as we're in the hot desert, but I am shy about asking around because I know that everyone is just overwhelmed with cats and kittens needing homes.
Because they are trapped in the garage, they aren't as feral-like because I am around them as I'm caring for them. They are litter trained, and enjoying healthy food - such as Wellness canned, and raw chicken, plus some other less expensive canned food, and some Taste of the Wild dry (very little). Before they were born, their mommy also was given a good diet, so I suspect they are quite healthy.
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