My alpha cat, Suzie gave birth to her third litter at 1:00 this morning in my backyard. (I promise I am going to get her spayed this time, Will bring that subject up a little later.) She is approximately 2 years old, I have been caring for her since January of last year, when she got pregnant the first time. I have no idea where she birthed her first litter, she brought them home to me when they were about 4 weeks old, I came home from work, opened up by back yard patio door and there they were, mom and 4 healthy kittens nursing. Talk about SURPRISE!! Needles to say, I got the kittens great homes after they were old enough to be weaned. Story repeated again last spring and the latest is now. My present situation is, I was outside on my patio in my lawn chair, Suzie on my lap, last evening. The two of us relaxing when she started contracting, To make a long story short, she jumped off my lap and walked into the yard and was having a lot of contractions. I ran inside, got a child size pool out, padded it up, added a large bath towel on top. I placed this "nest" I made under a shelter in the back yard Suzie jumped right in, the contractions got stronger, she gave birth to 4 beautiful kittens!!!. This was the first time in my 62 years I now can say I have had the privilege to witness a beautiful animal (not human) birth!! Suzie again is remarkable, now to my problem. Suzie and the babies are inside. Even though I have a tall wood fenced in back yard, and the kittens would be safe out there, the temperatures gets up to 100 degrees farenheit each day now, for the past 3 weeks. I have brought momma, kittens and the nest into the house. I set up a litter box with potting soil (learned from a fellow cat site member this this is the best way to get a feral to use a litter box), but this technique did not work a year ago, and is not now. When Suzie needs to relieve herself, she sits in front of the door, I let her out, she goes into the back yard, comes back in when finished. The problem is, I took today off of work, but tomorrow, I will not be here to let her out to go potty. How do I teach an adult feral cat to use a litter box in less than 24 hours??
By the way, I happen to have several litter boxes and do have regular cat litter, not just potting soil. Please someone, advise how do I teach this very bright Siamese momma beauty in a crash course how to use the box? I never made a big deal about this before because Suazie in the past would come inside in the evening, cuddle with me, and then want to go back outside. In good conscious, those kittens are remaining inside all of the time and when the time comes, be adopted out as "indoor cats". Suzie for some reason, (and I am eternally greatfull) decided to have this litter (her final) with me included. Please advise, and I thank you all.
By the way, I happen to have several litter boxes and do have regular cat litter, not just potting soil. Please someone, advise how do I teach this very bright Siamese momma beauty in a crash course how to use the box? I never made a big deal about this before because Suazie in the past would come inside in the evening, cuddle with me, and then want to go back outside. In good conscious, those kittens are remaining inside all of the time and when the time comes, be adopted out as "indoor cats". Suzie for some reason, (and I am eternally greatfull) decided to have this litter (her final) with me included. Please advise, and I thank you all.