Help: Kittens!

Hi Stelly, put loads of food and fluids out for mumma. Be prepared that maybe one or two of them would have died, it's pretty common, if any didn't make it it would be helpful if you could remove them.

Just leave her to it and I'm sure she'll be fine, you say she's a stray does she let you pet her etc?

Obviously
 
As with all mammals, mother will feed her offspring.

They will start to ween off her at about 6-8 weeks, though you might find that they continue occasional suckling for a while after this. Until then you should only feed the mother (high protein diet is good, but any suitable food will do). Once they start to ween, kitten food will be a solid bet. Dry or wet, whichever you want to feed them. Kittens are adaptable creatures.

If it were your pet cat, and she felt that your scent was familiar then you'd be fine to handle the kittens. As it is, probably best not to touch them for a few weeks. If and when the mother is comfortable with you stroking her, you're probably fine to interact with the little ones.

You're right that the cat feels comfortable and safe in your garage. Of all the places she had been she chose to have her kittens in there. Shelter, food, and a creature (you) that she doesn't fear. For now, best that you leave nature to take its course. Once the kittens are about 10 weeks old you can look to rehome them (unless you want to keep some of course!). I hope you will think about keeping the mother cat though... she can always be an 'outdoor cat', but it's clear that she trusts you. Cats adopt their owners as much as the other way around!
 
... one more thing. Some warm bedding wouldn't go amiss. Just an old blanket or two down, or even a couple of towels. Better if they're not just freshly washed (cats don't appreciate the smell of washing powder and fabric softer as we do!). Put them close to the kittens and the mother cat will make use of them as she sees fit. Very young kittens can get cold very quickly when mother leaves them alone.
 
Please please please contact your local cat rescue place (sod the RSPCA they're useless it seems unless its severe cruelty these days)

They will come out with a humane cat trap so the Mum can be caught, and then they will come and take her and the babies away so they can all be looked after safely and together

:)
 
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Make sure mum has food, water and even some milk close by. She'll be feeding the kittens for a while. She feels safe where she is so leave be for the time being. I would make a nest out of a blanket close to where they are now. Don't move the kittens as she will do that herself.
 
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Cosimo said:
Make sure mum has food, water and even some milk close by. She'll be feeding the kittens for a while. She feels safe where she is so leave be for the time being. I would make a nest out of a blanket close to where they are now. Don't move the kittens as she will do that herself.
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No milk, it will likely give her the runs and make her dehydrated. Water is perfectly fine for an adult cat.

Kittens can be proper terrors but when the start moving you might want to pen in part of the garage so that they don't get out. Ideally you want to keep them with mum until 12 weeks so that they become well mannered cats and if you can spend time with them before that's even better. It really depends how much she trusts you, I wouldn't try touching them yet in case she rejects.

I'm guessing you want to care for this cat as you'd been feeding her previously? She is going to need spayed before she next comes into call or this will just happen again. Back to back litters are so detrimental to their health so best to try and prevent it.

Her and the kittens should also be vaccinated, I can't imagine she has been so the kittens are at higher risk right now as they don't have immunity from mum. They all could be carrying fleas too.

Microchipping is a good idea too, or even to check if she has one. She might not be a stray, she could just have a irresponsible owner!
 
Hey guys,

Went in this morning to see how things were I fed her again and she was in there with the kittens just looking at me. She ate all the tuna and dry food and was looking good. It is the first time she has sat in the garage and not been a little nervous when I'm in there.

I'm relieved that she is looking after the kittens as it is the first time that I have seen her with them but she looks fit and healthy. I'm going in there just twice a day to feed her and make sure she has water, I don't want to go in too much and really upset her and the kittens.

The above is also the reason that I didn't take pics as I didn't want to alarm her with a flash or anything and her to take off and leave the kittens... I don't think I would ever forgive myself for that selfishness.

The female is a litter of cats from an irresponsible owner at the bottom of our road. They used to have a dog which got taken off them, they then got 2 cats which they didn't get spayed and they produced this female... and now she has kittens. I'm really annoyed with the owner at the bottom of the street, their kids are always filthy and the eldest about 3/4 I think is always outside in the garden in nothing but a nappy..

The youngest I saw nearly fall out of the upstairs window for which I told them about and the tool of a father told me to mind my own business but with more extreme words... but that is another story.

I'm going to get more tins of tuna in water (brine I thought might make the cat more thirsty due to all the salt.) I will go in there tonight and if the mother is out (she seems to be going out just at night at the moment for a bit around 5 - 6) I will try and get some more pictures and check to see if they are all okay.

Do you still recommend removing any kitten that has passed on? I put a thermometer in there last night and it was around 12 - 15 in the garage do you think that this is ok? I had already put a basket in the garage with old bedding in which was well covered but she doesn't use it.... I have no idea why, I guess where she has had them is surrounded on all sides and also what you see in the picture (what the kittens are on) is an old thermal duvet that I was going to throw out

I have the local CPL number, called them and they are only open 9 - 5 Monday to Friday so I'm going to ring them tomorrow. The misses mother might take one if we can get them domesticated, the misses is also thinking about keeping one too... The mother we will definitely look at getting done as soon as the kittens are well enough to fight for themselves and I will always feed her as its not her fault that her original (sort of) owners are so irresponsible!

Is there anything else I should be doing?

Stelly
 
Well done for stepping up and looking after them, have you thought of maybe coming up with a better bed? Like a cardboard box with towels laid in it if she's willing to move? Also maybe feeding the mother decent cat food if you aren't already as she has a few mouths to feed :)
 
i see you are in liverpool, i'm in st helens. i'm very happy to adopt one of the kitten but they are way too young thou

where in liverpool?
 
Good on ya Stelly.

While we've always had cats and have two here with us I can't really help with the kittens much, but Dogmas' advice looks solid to me. Water and tuna in water (drain the water out) sounds good and will give mum a good boost at this time. You're likely doing this already too, but clean both bowls prior to each meal as you don't want any bacteria carried across to the kittens at all. The thermal blanket they're on sounds great as you don't want the cold coming through the floor and the garage temp sounds spot on to me also.

The missus is watching this now too :)

Best of luck.
 
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Don't keep feeding tuna. Tuna in water is better but to feed every day is a bad idea due to mercury build up. Poached chicken breast will go down well, as will raw chicken wings.

Cats have a tendency not to use what humans place for them to be comfortable. She won't be using what you've left for her as she doesn't think its suitable. I wouldn't take anything out you've left for her she might decide to use it in the end.

If you can remove any dead but if it would disturb the nest too much I would just because it might frighten her off.

Your doing a really good thing here, especially when she has idiot owners!
 
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