I am so lost here, I have had cats all my life, but have never experienced anything like this.
I trapped a stray mama cat after her babies were taken away from her (not sure how old the kittens were but I am sure they were way too young). The mama cat is in my basement, doing quite well, however, I find her to be acting strange. When I bring her up to my living room. I am not sure if she is still calling out for her kittens, if she is calling my male, or if she is calling out because her teets are hurting (she is still full of milk and quite hard). She meows constantly.
She calls out in the basement but not near as much, not sure if that is a lonely cry or a hurting teets cry.
She loves her tummy rubbed and will flop down like she is nursing, she kneeds and purrs like crazy. She follows me around like a little puppy and will come to me when I call her. She will also take treats from my hands. The strangest thing I have experienced with her is a protectiveness and I am not sure if she is protecting me or if it is because she still has milk and thinks she is protecting babies. She gets very aggressive around my fixed male cat, more so when she is on my lap. She will charge at him, swipe at him and scream at him. Again..not sure if she is protecting me, kittens, or trying to get him interested in her as she walks around with her butt high up in the air as if she is in heat but doesn't howl like she is.
Am I doing more harm that good by keeping her to socialize her and get her used to people before I find her a forever home? Will she become so attached to me that she will not do good once moved into a permanent home? How long does the socialization process take?
Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks, Penny
I trapped a stray mama cat after her babies were taken away from her (not sure how old the kittens were but I am sure they were way too young). The mama cat is in my basement, doing quite well, however, I find her to be acting strange. When I bring her up to my living room. I am not sure if she is still calling out for her kittens, if she is calling my male, or if she is calling out because her teets are hurting (she is still full of milk and quite hard). She meows constantly.
She calls out in the basement but not near as much, not sure if that is a lonely cry or a hurting teets cry.
She loves her tummy rubbed and will flop down like she is nursing, she kneeds and purrs like crazy. She follows me around like a little puppy and will come to me when I call her. She will also take treats from my hands. The strangest thing I have experienced with her is a protectiveness and I am not sure if she is protecting me or if it is because she still has milk and thinks she is protecting babies. She gets very aggressive around my fixed male cat, more so when she is on my lap. She will charge at him, swipe at him and scream at him. Again..not sure if she is protecting me, kittens, or trying to get him interested in her as she walks around with her butt high up in the air as if she is in heat but doesn't howl like she is.
Am I doing more harm that good by keeping her to socialize her and get her used to people before I find her a forever home? Will she become so attached to me that she will not do good once moved into a permanent home? How long does the socialization process take?
Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks, Penny