Stray cat & 4 kittens - advice please :)

Flamingo_2

Hi
Hubby & i arrived home from holiday to find that a cat had given birth to 4 kittens in our garden. We estimate that the kittens are between 6 - 8 weeks old & we've have been feeding the mum & kittens since we found them. Over the past week the mum has become a lot friendlier & now lets us stroke/cuddle her, however the kittens still run away from us (although we've been able to stroke them whilst they eat!)
We've decided to keep mum & 2 kittens, & are hooping that a friends will have the other 2 (i've tried various animal charities but they are all full).
Anyway, we need to get the mum neutered asap to avoid any further litters & a tom cat is mooching around and spraying everywhere. Is it ok for us to take the mum to the vets & just keep on feeding the kittens as we've already been doing?
Has anyone been in a similar situation? If anyone could offer advice that would be great - the animal charities / vets that I've spoken to haven't been very helpful I guess it's just lucky that we're 'cat' people

4nnabella

As far as I know, you can't neuter a nursing queen, so if they are permanently outside at the moment then there is nothing to prevent her getting pregnant again. Of course if the kittens are weaned and you are feeding them meat etc then it may be different.

Are you going to try and move them into your house or keep them as outdoor cats? Are they feral?

JMW77

Hope someone can help , maybe if you explain situation to cats protection they may hhelp you or tell you cheapest way.

Really pleased your keeping them ,thats great .( well 2 of them )

spike7451

Pop over to Cat Chat & Purrs,the's bound to be folk there who can help.

http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php

http://www.catchat.org/

The was also a thread here a while ago from someone who had the same issue,

rising_from_the_ashes

I'd certainly advise against neutering a nursing mom - my girl cat was from a litter where the mum's owner decided to neuter her when they were 3 1/2 weeks old. Mum wanted nothing (not surprisingly!) to do with them when she got home so a teeeeeennnnnnnyyy (320 gram) kitten arrived far to young. Hand rearing them is HARD work (but rewarding).

Any idea how old the kittens are? Are they eating solids on their own? (If so, can't be far away from weaning).

However, if she's living outside (?) then there's a very good chance the tom will "catch her" - I'd advise speaking to your vet ASAP.

Good luck & sure you'll have no probs finding homes for the remaining 2.

tankgirl1

Once the kittens are weaned, you can spay mum - until then the lactation should stop her from getting pregnant again, and if anything happens, if you are quick off the ball then even if she is pregnant they will be tiny and can be removed by spaying.

Cats Protection often offer neutering vouchers, or you could try your local RSPCA branch.

See the phone number at the bottom of the page - remember to mention that you are keeping the kittens and they will need to be neutered asap also

tankgirl1

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

I'd certainly advise against neutering a nursing mom - my girl cat was from a litter where the mum's owner decided to neuter her when they were 3 1/2 weeks old.

All the vets I have known would never spay a lactating cat!

peachyprice

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

I'd certainly advise against neutering a nursing mom - my girl cat was from a litter where the mum's owner decided to neuter her when they were 3 1/2 weeks old. Mum wanted nothing (not surprisingly!) to do with them when she got home so a teeeeeennnnnnnyyy (320 gram) kitten arrived far to young. Hand rearing them is HARD work (but rewarding).

Any idea how old the kittens are? Are they eating solids on their own? (If so, can't be far away from weaning).

T'was in post #1

Flamingo wrote: »

Hi
Hubby & i arrived home from holiday to find that a cat had given birth to 4 kittens in our garden. We estimate that the kittens are between 6 - 8 weeks old & we've have been feeding the mum & kittens since we found them.

OP, if that is indeed the age they are it will be fine to get her spayed. If you wait until she stops feeding them completley she will be pregnant again before you know it.

peachyprice

tankgirl1 wrote: »

All the vets I have known would never spay a lactating cat!

It gets to a point where they have to, if the mother is still happy to feed they kittens will carry on for months and the mother will get pregnant again.

I think most vets will spay a lactating cat whose kittens are old enough to be fully weaned.

tankgirl1

Not at 3.5 weeks though! Did the vets ask the owner how old the kittens were? Did she tell the truth? I have never ever known a vet or VN who would advocate spaying a queen with such young kittens

Personally I would wait until at least 8 weeks - as I said - even if she is pregnant again, it should still be a straightforward op at that stage.

Fire_Fox

spike7451 wrote: »

Pop over to Cat Chat & Purrs,the's bound to be folk there who can help.

http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php

http://www.catchat.org/

The was also a thread here a while ago from someone who had the same issue,

This 100%. There are so many rescues represented, someone will know whether there is an independent that can help or which branch of RSPCA/ CP are better than another. Thank you for feeding this stray, and thinking of spaying and keeping mum, Flamingo.