Feral momma and four kittens! (pics!)

[fleabert]

none of them will ever make another unwanted cat again! Found these at dh's work, used the kittens to trap mom and now they are all at my house! Kittens are about 4.5 weeks, I've had them about a week. JUST found my camera and couldn't resist.



Momma wasn't too happy about the flash, but she's getting used to me. She's let me pet her twice for about two seconds total. Kittens come running to me (waddling really) if they are full. Too cute for words.


the black one is the first to come to me, although she doesn't look too happy here, it's just cause she's full of milk and wants to sleep! yes, I woke her up for the picture! I'm horrible! I may send it to mycathatesyou.com, what do you think?

two white ones, m & f
black one, might have curly hair! f
calico one, might be m


They are just a ball of nursers right now!

have had a worm and flea treatment, I wash their runny eyes twice or three times a day. scheduled for second worm treatment next weekend. All will get fixed as soon as they are ready. Black and calico have homes already, and the other two will get placed by a local rescue group.

:-) flea is fascinated by the kittens, btw. she sniffs them and then turns her back on them, only to come back five minutes later and do it again.

[demnan]

1. Too cute for words!

You're good people. I'm glad they were lucky enough to find you.

[fleabert]

2. thanks. they came to me in a weird way...

I had made a call that morning to the rescue group to see about becoming a foster mom, and at 1:00, dh's employees (doing cleaning) found the litter in a pile of leaves by a fence post, alone. I got to call the woman and tell her that a litter had found me! It was meant to be :-) I was also lucky that I had just called to volunteer, because I knew exactly who to ask for free spay and neuter, and shots! The lady even came to me to do the worm and flea treatment.

It's been awesome. I miss having a cat. I just wish the mom liked me better and would let me clean and pet her.

[Atlas Mugged]

8. Mom will like you fine if you give her time

My little Himalayan, Pandora, was abandoned in an attic in 90 degree weather. It took me a week to coax her out and she was utterly filthy, which I had to tolerate for the time being. I had her for 3 months and all she did was hide from me. She's use the box, eat and drink but would just dissapear the rest of the day. I even asked friends about taking her because she couldn't stand me and it would've been best for her to find someone she liked. After three months I figured it was time to have my vet take a look at her since we were sorta' stuck with each other. The trip to the vet was uneventful, but the arrival home was a total shock. She started clawing to get OUT of the kennel the moment we stepped into the house and then paraded around like she owned the place. And, shock of all shocks, she came over and started rubbing against my leg. It's been 8 years now and she's my shadow. I can't leave a room without her, in her stealth way, following me. I never have to look for her - she's always right here. But, for three whole months I swear that cat despised me. Something about that vet trip flipped a switch in her brain.

[fleabert]

17. that's a great story, lucky cat!

i wish I could keep her. My FIL is deathly allergic to cats, so we can't have one full time. He breaks out in hives and his face swells up, and that's after taking a benadryl before being around them! :-( I had a cat all thru hs, I miss them dearly.

[Atlas Mugged]

3. If we ever meet....

...dinner's on me.

I've done so many ferals and it's never easy. I have 5 that are house pets now and they're some of the best pets I've ever had. I still can't believe how difficult it was, sometimes.

The mother's beautiful. She has a home too, I hope.

I'm all too familiar with the "running waddle"! One of the most endearing things I've ever seen. The most amazing thing I've ever encountered, pet wise, was feeding a day old kitten and getting it's first belch. And then there's that first purr, which sounds like a broken geiger counter.

[fleabert]

7. thanks man, drinks or dessert (your choice) is on me.

oh the purr. I love the purr from the kittens too, but with this momma, it was great to hear her purr while nursing only inches from me. That was a big step for her to lay her head back and relax.

I hope to place the mom, but she may be too feral. She is needed at dh's work, they need mousers badly. I am planning on trapping the whole colony (no idea the size) in Sep. or Oct. and getting them all fixed, male and female alike. If she socializes after getting fixed, I will find her a real home, but she will have a safe place at his work if not.

i wish I could keep one forever, but we have many family and friends that are allergic, so fostering when they are not here will have to do. I'll have to switch to keeping the next litter in the basement so as not to cover the guest room in kitty fur and dander!

[Pab Sungenis]

4. I doubt the calico is male.

There are three colors in that mix. Tricolors are almost always females. Genetics and all that.

We're in the process of rescuing the feral tribe on our property. We can't take them in because our house is too small, and our indoor cat is too territorial, but we're getting the females fixed one by one and taking on the responsibility of feeding them all.

[fleabert]

9. I swear I see little undescended balls there!

I will take a better pic tomorrow or Sat and you can tell me what you think! You may be judging on the mom, since the top pic really doesn't show any of the calico kitten. I know absolutely nothing about cat genetics, so you are the expert, let me know!

Feral colonies can be dealt with only one way, I am convinced, and that is trap, neuter, release. Euthanasia just makes room for new one to step into the group.

[Pab Sungenis]

47. Ohhhhhh.

I thought the mother was the black one staring at the camera.

But still do post that picture of the calico. Can't have too many cute kitty photos. :)

[fleabert]

64. check out the new thread...

and I checked the privates again, starting to look very female...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x3345644

momma is the one under the dresser...black kitten is the ball of fur in the foreground, white dot is the nose.

[Patiod]

23. A friend of ours brought us a little calico/tabby, and thought she

was a he - had even named her "Bernie" because she was the Flyers colors - black white and orange.

But the girl at the vet took one look and said "aw, she's pretty", and explained the tri-color thing.

[BlondieK143]

5. Awwww!!!!

I want the black one! How cute!! Kudos to you for being so caring to them!

[fleabert]

11. The black one is my fave too, so cute!

and the smartest of the bunch, if you ask me! I can't help but nurture them, I should have a human baby by now, these are my surrogates!

[sniffa]

14. you can't get a cat when you move

:(

[laheina]

25. :) It looks like a black cotton ball with a face. nt

[fleabert]

67. feels softer than cotton!

here's another of the black one, she's checking out the camera:

[In_The_Wind]

6. cute kitties

I've rescued more than one feral cat, spayed, altered and loved them all.

I truly miss having a cat in my life ~ but ~ now I rescue parrots.

:toast: fleabert

[fleabert]

12. how cool!

I saw a really cool website a few years ago about parrot rescue...I can't remember the details now, but I will try. Had something to do with Troncones MX I think....

:toast: to you too!

[In_The_Wind]

15. I needed that!

~ we just added a 5 year old Cherry-headed Conure to our home flock. His name is Paulie and he is a non-stop talker.

[fleabert]

16. how fun. but do you ever just want to put in front of the TV

(on the Daily Show of course) and let him chat with it for a bit? I bet they are like toddlers! Cute, you love them, but sometimes really really annoying!

I had a neighbor that had a parrot, he built a perch in his passenger seat of his jeep for it! That bird made the best fart noise, it was hilarious!

[In_The_Wind]

18. Paulie loves watching TV.

His constant companion just entered a nursing home.:cry:!!! She talked to that parrot from dawn to dusk, when he starts to say "time to go nite-nite", so he's going to need lots of attention to acclimate him to a quieter environment before he teaches the other birds to make more noise.

Also ~ we almost never curse in front of the parrots because when they do repeat what you've said ~ it often sounds exactly like the person who said that:scared:

[Ladyhawk]

60. Hehe...my bird "burps." :D

He learned it when I was in college. My roommates and I drank a lot of coke. He does it on cue, now. :) Here's an MP3 of it:

MP3 of Gabby Burping

More MP3 files:

MP3 of Gabby Saying Hello

MP3 of Gabby Saying My Name

[FreedomAngel82]

73. Haha that's so neat!

My aunt and uncle used to have a parrot and it would say "shit". LOL!

[fleabert]

86. that's awesome!

I love talking birds, I'd love to have one, but we tend to move a lot and I have heard they need stability. Maybe when we settle down for good...

[Patiod]

24. How'd you get a conure to talk?

I had one for years (Rhea, named after a beak-nosed music director we knew) and it never did anything but yell to have the blanket taken off the cage in the morning.

[In_The_Wind]

29. try giving a treat reward as part of the training process

How old is Rhea now?

Paulie has learned several very cute sentences. He will say "Hurry back." when he sees anyone put their coat on.

also "I'm a good boy. Are you a good girl."

:hi:

[Patiod]

32. Sadly, Rhea succumbed to a lung problem some yrs back

They're so fragile that way. A friend of mine had abused her early on, and turned her against humans, I think. His girlfriend insisted I take her out of their house because he used to reach in the cage in the morning and yell "shut up!" and shake her, and the girlfriend was a vet's daughter who couldn't stand to see animals treated like that. Rhea had about 7 good years at my house - an open cage and run of the house, but mostly she just liked to sit on top of the cage and take it all in. And nobody yelled at her.

My aunt's parrot, on the other hand, is over 60 years old and still going strong. He sings the "Hava Nagila", says "what are you, a wise guy?" and "Esther! Esther!" both in a heavy New York accent, and whenever he hears laughter, he cackles wildy in my aunt's voice.

My evil cousin taught him to yell "Help!! Help!" at top volume every time there's someone at the door - I've seen a few delivery guys surprised by that one!

[In_The_Wind]

48. You were Rhea's Angel

:hug:

60 years with companion bird can be a wonderful thing if the bird has the correct training from the beginning :toast: to your aunt and the parrot who owns her.

[FreedomAngel82]

77. Aww

The poor bird. :( I'm glad the bird had a nice home with you though. LOL on the aunt parrot.

[Ladyhawk]

58. VERY CUTE! If I pick up my keys, Gabby says, "Bye" in a dejected voice.nt

[BikeWriter]

28. Cherry-heads are usually great birds! :-)

[In_The_Wind]

30. Thanks, we knew he would be part of our family someday.

When I start building windmills (in the near future) instead of tilting at them, I'm also building an aviary for small birds in our living room.

[BikeWriter]

31. We always enjoyed hookbills, even when we had 300+ in the house...

and yard.

[In_The_Wind]

34. O M G !

O8)

[BikeWriter]

35. Yes'm, including 8-10 Amazons, Macaws, and or Grays in the living room...

[In_The_Wind]

45. Amazons cop attitudes. 28 variety of Macaws, which ones? Grays ~ awesome!

The birds I live with are:
Kiera ~ the Gray ~ :think: is 11. He has a huge vocabulary.

Pookie ~ Lesser Sulfur Created Cockatoo ~:grr: is 8. She hates to step off.
Frodo ~ Blue & Gold Macaw ~ :loveya: is 4. She has been the sunshine in my life since she was 13 weeks old.
Paulie ~ :silly: the 5 year old is the newest addition to our flock ~ He's doing well considering that he's only been here 6 days.
Our Golden Retriever is happy to have one more parrot throw food at her:rofl:

[BikeWriter]

70. A number of birds were going in and out. I can recall about a dozen B&Gs..

and a stunning Catalina Macaw. We had probably two dozen Amazons at various times, mostly Double Yellow Heads. Houston's foremost Avian specialist, Doctor Harwell, took a glance at one of my birds and confirmed he was only the third genuine Tres Maria Amazon he'd ever seen in "person."
We hand raised dozens of Macaw babies and Congo Grays and hundreds of Sun conures, Jendays, Bluecrown, Senegals and others.
It sounds as if you've got some beautiful birds. :)

[In_The_Wind]

83. sounds like y'all needed a whole lot of poop off

so were you living in an exotic bird hatchery or what :shrug: certainly that was a business not just a labor of love ~ right ?

17 macaw varieties are on the endangered list ~ did you live with the various birds before 1975 ~ The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species was established that year.

I've thought of becoming a breeder of exotic birds because they are so sweet when they're babies but I know from past experience that I would have a difficult time turning such delicate creatures over to strangers.

yes our are beautiful ~ thank you. I treasure each individual one one of them :loveya: The next bird that I plan to add to our flock is 1 Canary ~ there's far too much talking and not enough singing going on around here!

[BikeWriter]

85. We got into the exotic bird industry accidentally. I bought three...

Cockatiels at a bird show and the exe's Sister insisted on buying two of them. I bought a parakeet to keep the Teel company, and one day a friend told us about a local aviary with hundreds of birds selling out.
I talked to the man and made a cash offer for the entire lot.
I stopped at a liquor store on the way home and a Friend looked at the birds. I sold him a Nanday, and I was hooked on the bird business.
We soon learned to handfeed babies and things really got hectic around here. There were birds all over this two story house, on the built in back porch, and in buildings I built outside. We sure enjoyed playing with them. :)

[FreedomAngel82]

78. LOL

That's so funny about the bird throwing food at the dog. Poor dog.

[In_The_Wind]

84. the dog begs them to do it

she's no *dumb dog* she makes her rounds between birds ~ Kiera (who speaks 519 words) teases the dog and then feeds her. Kiera has a well developed sense of humor! He even laughs at jokes before some humans get it.

[Ladyhawk]

62. Macaws = LOUD

I used to work at a pet store. We had several large macaws in the bird room. Sometimes it got so loud, I had to step out for a few minutes. :)

[BikeWriter]

72. You get those big guys competing and they can raise the hounds of...

hell! I love parrots! :-)

[Ladyhawk]

61. Yeah, I'm fascinated by all hookbills.

There's a flock of wild cherry-heads in the Bay Area...a couple of blue crowns, too, I think

[Ladyhawk]

59. Cherry-heads aren't known for their talking ability. Congrats on

having a loquatious bird. Blue crowns are considered pretty good talkers. I had a couple of pairs at one time, but had no luck breeding them. Meanwhile, my African greys and Senegals were popping out eggs and chicks like crazy. I was happy to learn that Senegals can be decent talkers.

[fleabert]

82. know anyone in Sacramento area that rescues birds?

this one needs some love...poor baby. doesn't even get to have a name.

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/for/75708187.html

[jukes]

10. lovely family

you've done a marvelous thing, fleab! they'll have longer, healthier, happier lives due to your humanity!

TX++ for saving them!

[fleabert]

13. thank you. It does make me feel good knowing that.

also knowing that momma doesn't have to struggle so hard every day to care for these babies. She's finally starting to relax.

[GOPisEvil]

19. Awwwwwwww!

How cute!

Good for you taking them in.

[fleabert]

20. trade you one for some pie and tea...

[GOPisEvil]

21. I'll meet you in Vegas for the swap.

:D

[fleabert]

36. Jackpot!

ding ding ding ding ding!

[Zuni]

22. wonderful what you have done

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Two thumbs up from fellow cat lover Zuni

[fleabert]

42. thanks, I can't imagine doing anything else with them...

I am glad I have the time, room, and money to help them.

[flvegan]

26. That's a lovely (and lucky!) little tribe you have there.

'Tis a wonderful and noble thing you've done (though it seems like you feel like YOU'RE the lucky one).

[fleabert]

37. thanks, I feel the same way! nt

[bertha katzenengel]

27. You are such a bleeding-heart liberal.

:yourock:

:hug: :loveya: fleabert

[fleabert]

38. so true, so true!

:hug: you too! :hug:
:yourock:

[Patiod]

33. You should send that to mycathatesyou.com

My Little is there!

http://www.mycathatesyou.com/cats/alpha/l/1412

[fleabert]

39. I plan on it!

what a cutie!

[Chicago Democrat]

40. meow!

too cute

[fleabert]

41. I will try and get a good pic of all four babies today...

cute factored by 4!

[WilliamPitt]

43. This picture destroys me

You should send that to MyCatHatesYou.com

[FizzFuzz]

50. ahhh!!! Tooo cute

And props to you for catching them and spaying.

Cool!

[fleabert]

52. they are too cute...look for a new post with more pics of babies.

thanks!

[fleabert]

81. I plan on it! Here's another for ya.

she's saying, "I hate freepers!"

[CatWoman]

44. I love you, Fleabert!!!!

Thank you so much for rescuing those sweet kitties.

The Mommy cat, too :loveya:

[fleabert]

53. I was estatic when we caught the momma. It made for the best possible

outcome for all of them... I practially screamed when I went to check the trap for the second time (formula in hand just in case) and saw the door closed. It had been several hours since the babies had nursed, mom stayed out hunting a very long time, it was nerve racking to think about having to feed them every four hours for two weeks!

[Mrs_Beastman]

46. adorable

You are so sweet

[fleabert]

54. thanks, I feel like a hero every time I go look at them, and they come

out to see me. :hug:

[legally blonde]

49. You rock, fleabert!

Your kitties are so cute! :toast:

[fleabert]

55. thanks!

I am so glad I volunteered with a catch, neuter, release program in KY, I knew just how to catch mom after the kittens were discovered. It was awesome.

[yellowdogintexas]

51. defintely send to mycathatesyou.com! Also your calico is most

likely a female; if truly male is probably sterile

[fleabert]

56. I checked the privates again today, what used to look like boy stuff

is now looking like girl stuff, I am sure you are correct. look for a new thread with pics!

[elshiva]

57. They are so cute when they are that age with the blue film

over their eyes. SO helpless, but the mom looks capable. Thanks!

[fleabert]

66. i wish they would stay blue...they are looking darker every day, the

flash really brings it out. Momma is really attentive and eats like a horse!

[elshiva]

74. momma needs all the fuel she can get with those brood!

[Ladyhawk]

63. Wow, it almost makes me want a kitten. :)

I figure as long as you start a puppy or kitten young, they can learn to get along with birds. I'm thinking it would liven up my Amazon's life a little bit, too. But I have to be healthier, first.

[fleabert]

65. they won't be ready for several weeks. keep it in mind. the white ones

don't have homes yet, the black one does, and the calico might...let's call it a 'wait and see' decision, mkay? might be just the thing you need in about a month! :-)

[xmas74]

68. I love that black kitten!

I tend to be partial to black or grey cats. They are my favorite. Right now my daughter and I are staying w/ my parents, trying to save money to buy a place. Otherwise, I would have already been planning a trip down there!

[fleabert]

71. :-) you'd have to fight for her! I got a home for her five minutes after

i took them in, is that a surprise? :-) The black one is the smartest, by far I think. She's a watcher, while the others are all over the place.

[xmas74]

75. I just like black cats.

I am hoping to get a place out in the country. Once I finally do I plan on rescuing ferral cats and trying to rehab them for residential life or neuter/spay/vaccinate and release into a wild area if they are not suitable for adoption.

[fleabert]

79. sounds like a good plan, I'd love to own a huge plot of land in a

temperate area and take in all kinds of unwanteds. with unlimited funds to care for them. sigh. I'd take in foster kids and they could help me and learn veterinary skills if they wanted...

[xmas74]

80. I would love do be apart of a foster children's program.

Right now I work too many hours at both jobs to be effective at it. My best friend teaches at a youth ranch. She said that they are always looking for parents. Another friend does take in foster kids. She gets paid enough by the state (she works emergency standby for 72 hour placements) that she can afford to stay at home doing a job that she loves.

[FreedomAngel82]

69. They are so sweet!

Aww! So sweet! Thank you for sharing the photo's!

[Vektor]

76. Good work, Fleabert!

Great job saving those kitties. You are a hero!