Stray MommaKitty I've been feeding brought me her kittens last night...

[Flaxbee]

OH MY GAWD they're cute! MommaKitty showed up about 5 weeks ago, nipples full of milk and kittens nowhere to be found. I've been feeding her since, day and night, and letting her in every once in a while to sit on my lap & get some special attention (my three other cats don't like it, but heck, a nursing momma kitty needs special care). And last night, about midnight, she was outside our porch door - she usually trots right home (wherever that was) once I put her out at night (I never wanted to keep her in b/c I didn't know where her babies were - we're in a very rural area, there are a zillion places her kitties could have been) but last night she was very insistent, kept yowling at me so I looked down the porch stairs peering into the dark and there was a wee fuzzy orange tabby kitten! I brought him/her in (don't know sex yet) and left MommaKitty out to go get her other babies, and then in about 10 minutes, a litte gray tabby was at the door. ACK! SO CUTE!

She didn't bring any others last night but we set her up on our covered porch, propped the door open in case she needed to bring other babies in, and went to bed. This morning, still two kittens and a happy MommaKitty. Kittens look to be about 6 weeks, maybe? Blue eyes, but ears fully unfolded and perked up, lots of fuzzy fur, and the little gray tabby is able to run faster than you can imagine and climb very high up the screening on the porch. They look a little older than the feral's kittens in Fleabert's post ... but only by a few weeks or so.

So, now what? I've never been a cat midwife before, all my cats have been adopted as adult strays or as adults from shelters.

Anyone in the Southeast (NC, SC, GA, TN, or AL) willing to adopt a darling kitten? Of course you don't have to live in one of those states if you want a kitten, but it would be easy to deliver to those states (I'm in western NC). Once the kitties are old enough and placed, I'll find a good home for MommaKitty... if anyone is interested in a very, very, very affectionate adult tortie, let me know that as well.

I know there are so many kitties who need homes, the purpose of my post is to ask for some guidance in caring for these sweet things, and to see if anyone has a soft spot for torties or tabby kittens... I already have three of my own, I won't abandon this momma or her babies, but would love to place them in a good home(s).

I'll post photos as soon as I can find the freakin' memory stick for my camera...

[MADem]

1. You might want to put up a card at the supermarket or the laundromat

...if they do that around your way, and when they get a little older. Nothing like a kitten to brighten your day!

[Flaxbee]

2. can't do that... I need to know the person the cat/kitten is

going to. I trust DUers, and a few friends around here, but I can't give kittens away to strangers (I'm too wary of lurking Frists, if you know what I mean).

[calico1]

7. If I lived near you I'd take at least one.

But I am in CT. :(

I so agree with you about wanting to know where the kitties go. I also would not just give them to anyone. Lots of kooks out there.

[MADem]

11. Well, when they call, you can interview them

...and run a little check on them. Ask for references, then get a couple of references from the references...

[HeeBGBz]

15. I know what you mean

The guy that gave me white Tommy and Nilly was insistant on finding reliable homes, because he heard there were people who would take free kittens to feed to their snakes. That was the first I'd heard of that, but it made a lasting impression.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

3. How wonderful!

I'm all choked up here. Thank you for taking care of the animal we owe the most to (along with earthworms) and that the ignorant heve abused all throughout history. I hope the kitties get great homes as soon as they are ready. And for you, from PA's #1 cat lover, this: :hug:

[MissMillie]

4. You are good to take them in

They are lucky to have found you!

[davsand]

5. Sounds like Momcat is ready for them to eat real food.

Congratulations! Sounds like Momcat sees you are the primary meal ticket for her merry band! That is a mark of trust! You "DONE GOOD!!!!"

My advice is to put out a small amount of soft food for the kittens--canned kitten food works fine OR you can buy dry kitten food and soften it down a bit with some chicken broth or beef broth (the salt in it is is not a huge problem in the short term as long as you make sure they have access to water AND Momcat...) They really DO need kitten food that first year because it is a higher protein and calcium level and helps build up strong cats. (Plus, I swear it just makes for generally BIGGER cats all the way around even if my vet doesn't...)

I do NOT advise ever giving kittens milk unless you want to buy the special milk for cats. Additionally, I'd make sure Momcat is getting kitten food as well for a bit since she is still nursing those kittens and needs to re-build her own reserves. DO make sure she's fixed pretty quick or you will have another pregnant cat to deal with. This time of year she could go into heat straight away and still produce another litter in warm weather.

Good job, and enjoy--kittens are a LOT of fun!



Laura

On edit: I live in Illinois or else I'd be clamoring for the MomCat. I have a soft spot for Torties. :)

[movie_girl99]

6. contact a local no kill shelter

or a rescue operation?? In the meantime they should be able to eat soft food and drink water so maybe offer that until you can find a place.

[kedrys]

8. That is so cool!

Congratulations on joining the ranks of Trusted Humans! :applause:

Momcats, when they are so inclined, bring the new arrivals around after about 6 weeks, when they're ready to start eating solid food. They can actually be weaned earlier than that, but it depends on the momcat's disposition.

6 of our 7 cats are rescues. Thanks for helping with the good work. :)

[LynneSin]

9. Check online for local Feral Cat Programs

First and foremost, let's make this momma cat's last batch. She was lucky to have found you to help her get through nursing those babies. Once she is done nursing - have her neutered

Second, and I've recommended this to many others - locate your local cat rescue group. I'm not talking ASCPA, but no-kill cat groups that will help get your momma cat neutered and provide excellent homes for her kittens (of course I'm thinking she wants you to adopt them!).

I'm not sure what's in North Carolina, but in Delaware we have many no-kill TNR groups (TNR - Trap Neuter Release) including the Animal Humane Sanctuary (My Evita came from there - she was a former momma cat), Dumpster Cats and Forgotten Cats.

BTW, all of these groups help adopt their cats through the local PetSmart where the fee to adopt a cat is $75 and that includes neutering, vaccinations and tests. (BTW, for mature cats, age 7+ it's only $40)

[Flaxbee]

10. thanks, everyone...

for the support and kudos. It felt like Christmas last night, these little bundles on my doorstep and I really was so touched that MommaKitty trusted me enough to bring me her babies. I'll make sure the little ones get fed, or at least introduced to new food. I also need to hold them a lot (something I of course love to do!) b/c right now they're a little freaked out by humans, they need some socializing before I let them go to good homes in a month or 6 weeks (whenever they're ready).

I've already got an appt. for MommaKitty to be spayed & get her shots in two weeks (the vet thinks that will be good timing, weaning-wise and to prevent another preganancy and/or nip it in the bud if she's already preggers again), and at the same time her kitties are going in for deworming & sex determination if I haven't been able to figure it out before then... :shrug:

Our local friends of animals group will help me defray some of the costs... and I'm going to follow up with whomever adopts the two babies to make sure they get spayed/neutered, too. Ain't nobody gonna get these kitties unless they're dedicated animal lovers and extremely responsible!

[prole_for_peace]

12. I am reading a book by cat behaviorist

Pam Johnson-Bennett. she says that kittens should not be taken from their mother and siblings until they are about 12 weeks old. she says that if they are removed earlier they don't learn crucial social skills.

i'm just saying...

[RebelOne]

13. Go to YahooGroups.com and sign up.

Then search for animal rescue groups in your area and register with them. You can post on their message boards to find homes for the kittens. I found homes for three kittens that were dumped in my front yard through a few animal rescue groups here in Georgia. Check out gulfcoast_rescue_n_transport. This group is just one of many in the Southeast.

[madinmaryland]

14. Wow, more kittens!

Unfortunately we are out of space and Sonia has her paws full with Ben! :hi:

Please post pictures!!!!

[Flaxbee]

16. I know! Unfortunately, someone hadn't spayed sweet

MommaKitty in advance as they so conveniently had done for Sonia...

They are soooo sweet! I'll post photos soon... we just had to fish them out from under a huge armoire in my husband's office - they'd crawled under it and I was so worried about tiny kitty toes. They're outside on the porch most of the time, but I worry about when they really start to frolic... I guess I'll need to make sure the porch is completely kitty-proof with no secret ins and outs by then.. so I guess I know what I'm doing this weekend!

Lovely pic of Sonia! Once these kitties aren't perpetually terrified, I'll post photos!


:hi:

[Arugula Latte]

17. Is that the Sonia that another DUer was trying to find a home for?

I remember seeing a thread about a beautiful black longhaired kitty named Sonia. I worried about that kitty a lot.

[madinmaryland]

18. Yes, we are the ones who adopted Sonia.

The picture in my sig line is of our former cat "Truffle"

[Arugula Latte]

19. Oh, hooray for you!

I love happy endings! *sniff* :applause:

[skygazer]

20. How beautiful

You earned her trust and she felt safe in bringing her kittens to you. That's very special. Even many loved house cats are nervous about trusting their family with their babies - I had a cat I'd raised from a kitten herself but she would not allow us near her kittens until they got so old, she couldn't keep them corraled anymore!

I'm in California, so I'm no candidate for adopting one but I doubt you'll have much difficulty in finding good homes for them all. Bless you! :hug: