Stray Cat

JCS1

gettingready wrote: »

Just looked and see you are in Peak District - and there was me ready with cat napppppppppping kit

It's getting quite frustrating; I just want to make sure they are ok - and then sit gazing at them (and of course take lots of pictures)

I did wonder about the vet and a tranquilizer dart, but, after a lot of thought, decided it was too extreme :rotfl:

JCS1

OH went and checked whilst she was feeding, so first confirmed sighting! 2 gingers, 1 possible tortie. May be others, OH will take torch next time as dark (and a camera!). Just relieved ok :j

JCS1

In slight shock, I knew she was big when pregnant so suspected more than 3, but there is 6 :eek::rotfl::j

3 x ginger, 1 x black and white, 2 x tabby/tortieshells.

So, trip to Pets at Home for me tomorrow night. They will be 3 weeks old tomorrow, and given how many there are (and how the mother must feel like a milking machine!) need to start weaning process.

Will have to get them from the loft this weekend, so lots of pictures to follow

Edited to add - having checked, a few places recommend keeping feral kittens with the mother until at least 4 weeks old. So probably wait until next weekend.

Froglet

Would it work if you put the kittens into a safe place that means Mum will find them and carry on feeding BUT has a door on that you can shut when they are at the point of being weaned.Then maybe you can trap the cat and get her spayed and treated so she can carry on being semi feral and you can tame the kittens from inside the house.

Any experienced cat owners think this a good idea?

skintchick

Why do youfeel you need to wean them? They are best off on their mum's milk. It's a supply and demand thing so she'll make enough, especially as she is being well fed by you.

JCS1

Need to do something to start handling and socializing them, where she has them in the hay loft is very hard to reach (and slightly dangerous as the floor not completely safe).

The mother cat is fearful of humans, so it's knowing what to do at the right time so I don't end up with 6 wild cats.

skintchick

JCS1 wrote: »

Need to do something to start handling and socializing them, where she has them in the hay loft is very hard to reach (and slightly dangerous as the floor not completely safe).

The mother cat is fearful of humans, so it's knowing what to do at the right time so I don't end up with 6 wild cats.

So you plan to take them away from their mum completely? Is it really such a bad thing if they are feral/wild? Do you need them to be house cats? could they not just be ratters? (and you could still neuter them and the mum, you will just have to trap them later when they are old enough).

I don't really understand why you want to distress both mum and the babies by forcibly separating them, and taking the optimal nutrition away from the kittens, just so you can handle them.

Is it worth getting some help and advice from somewhere like Cats' Protection?

timbo58

Good luck to you, she was very lucky to find such a caring 'home'.
I am forever grateful to the farm who telephoned me when they found my aged cat distressed and wandering ill, it gave me time to collect him and take him to the vets to say goodbye properly and have his pain ended.

Many cats when getting ill walk away from the family, I suppose it's 'hard-wired' into their brains, but it broke my heart so much when he went missing it was a relief to be able to say goodbye.

JCS1

I was hoping to find homes for them, which I can't do if they are wild (the farms might be sold in next few months, which then creates other issues).

I would prefer the mother to follow the kittens into the house, but I suspect that would be a step too far for her.

skintchick

JCS1 wrote: »

I was hoping to find homes for them, which I can't do if they are wild (the farms might be sold in next few months, which then creates other issues).

I would prefer the mother to follow the kittens into the house, but I suspect that would be a step too far for her.

Please leave it till they are a bit older they will soon learn to be handled but really need their mum right now.