Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Purrs

1. 

   Penny, I'm starting a new thread for you, hope that's okay.

   My nieghbor has about 50 cats. Some are outdoor cats and my husband and I noticed a nursing mom who looked like a skeleton. We started feeding her...lots! All of the babies died and almost immediately she was pregnant again. She has her 3 kittens in a giant cactus. She let my husband and me pet her a little when we were feeding her during her pregnancy. What should we do for the babies...put out towels or a box? I put out some wet food and kitten baby milk and she ate and drank both. I don't want these kitties to die too. As soon as she has nursed I plan to try to capture the mom and pay to have her spayed. Tell me quick what I can do for these little peeps.

   Penny's second post reads:

   They are way in a deadly cactus cluster. Twelve Foot high and thick. I'm not sure I can worm my way in there. Also, I have 2 tamed feral cats as pets and I don't want to get them sick. I also was afraid to handle the babies. They look 2 days old or so. Mom hissed halfheartedly at me when I brought the food but then she got up and ate. I have a screened in porch that I could dedicate to them. They are so adorable. Two black and white and one orange:-) If I got the babies would the mom come too on her own or would I have to grab her? I don't want to man handle her. Thank you so much for helping me.

   Penny, I'm not sure what to advise you. I think at the moment I would let mum take care of her babies and just keep feeding her and checking on them. Baby kittens are always more likely to survive if their mum is feeding them. I hope other TDKers will jump in with more good advice. If any of the kittens look like they're losing ground or not being fed, I would try to scoop it up to feed it myself but mum usually does the best job. Putting a soft towel in there for the babies is a good idea. Good luck and keep checking back.

   Posted 2 years ago by jcat #

2. 

   I actually agree with this. Keep feeding mom (which will help gain her trust). Those kittens are likely to start moving away on their own at about two weeks. It scares me to hear that they are in a cactus! Can you dethorn it with clippers around the area where the cat is, so that neither she nor the kittens will get speared? You wouldn't want to do too much because nasty thorns are a real good protection from dogs or predators. How far away from your porch is she? Is there a safe half-way point where she and her kittens could shelter? If you put the food a foot or so further away each day, you might be able to lure her to the new safe place. Or, you might see if you could lure her to your porch where you would have a nice nest with towels that you could close off some way to keep the kittens from wandering too far while they are still tiny. If you can leave it open enough for her to get in, she might move the kittens there herself, if it is quiet and looks safe.

   If you do end up grabbing the kittens (when they are a little older), let her see you put them in the porch and leave the door open for her. (You need to disappear!) She will go after them. You need to have someone out of sight who can shut the door behind her. She might not like it but if there is food, water, and a nice comfy place for her and her kittens, she will settle in.

   Posted 2 years ago by Lily #

3. 

   Penny -

   You may want to try to trap Mom outside the cactus clump, and then be ready to go in after the kits if you get her... You could keep the whole family in a dog crate and let her raise them safely under your watchful eye. This is what happened with my Hester, except I caught her about 3 days before she gave birth.

   Posted 2 years ago by nawlins catmom #

4. 

   Thanks for all of the great advice. I have made a box with the side cut down and towels inside. It is night now and I wouldn't be able to see easily. I think flashlights might scare them all. I'll check tomorrow morning when I take out the food. I worry too about rain (I live in Florida...rains every day). The box might get soggy! Maybe I'll cut down a plastic box. I think I could get mom outside the cactus but the blooming thing is so big and deadly that I'm not sure I could get the kits. When I've brushed up against the cactus doing gardening, I get big red welts that last for weeks and the spines are invisible! I think, if things seem to be going well, I'll leave them where they are and be ready if things take a turn for the worse. I will take some towels out to the cactus. By the way, the cactus belongs to my neighbor. I don't think he even knows that she has given birth. He's a bit odd. It's his cat but he was letting her starve during her first nursing period. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of the tips. I'm going to do my best to keep this little family safe and as soon as possible take her to be spayed (I already got permission from her owner for that).

   Posted 2 years ago by Penny #

5. 

   I'd start feeding the mama a few feet away from the cactus clump, then move the food dish (about a foot daily) closer to the screened-in porch. When you're able to have her eating reliably on the porch, introduce a humane trap that's jammed open (no chance of closing) somewhere on the porch. Then, again, each day move the food dish closer to the trap, then into the entrance of the trap. Then, finally, into the back of the trap.

   The idea is that the mama feral cat will nurse her kittens until they're ready to wean. When they're ready to become mobile & explore, the mama cat will show them where to come for food. When you're able, you can get the mama and her kittens trapped on the screened-in porch. Then, you'll be able to more easily trap the mama in the humane trap for spaying & shots, and get the kittens to trust you more readily (and trap them for alteration & shots as well).

   Posted 2 years ago by anncetera2 #

6. 

   Thanks ANNCETERA2,
   This sounds doable. Thanks for the step by step suggestions. This is certainly a nice site with helpful members. I feel a lot better with several different possible avenues.

   Posted 2 years ago by Penny #

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