Author Topic: Stray Cat had Kittens ! (Read 9638 times)

mishca09 · « **on:** May 06, 2012, 12:06:42 PM »

I heard some howling last night and I thought it was some cats going at it ! and then today my granny tells me there are kittens downstairs. The neighbor next to us is doing some construction and its pretty junky like its awful, anyways the stray cat has made a home in the mess and it has the cutest kittens. I went out today and brought some cat food, just like two cans, I figure she must be hungry after poppin out some kittens. So far I've only seen two kittens and one of them looked like it had one eye shut

and the mom looked a little cross eyed. and she looks really young.

I forgot my phone in the house so I wasn't able to take pictures. I called the information line to see if humane society would come pick up the kittens but I wanted to make sure they wouldn't kill them, but they couldn't tell me what they would do the kittens after they pick them up and they said if the mothers around they won't come and get them. I feed her one can of cat food and one of her little kittens came out to investigate but she soooo wasn't sharing and I was such a watering pot. It was really sweet and sad.

if anyone has any experience with stray cats, was it okay to find her? should I just leave her alone? will she eventually abandon the kittens?

goldshirt*9 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 07, 2012, 08:25:40 AM »

never had cats, but if you feed her / them they will befriend you i would guess and you will have a house full of cats

mishca09 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 08, 2012, 06:24:46 PM »

she took her kittens and left. oh wellz.

smokester · « **Reply #3 on:** May 09, 2012, 08:00:37 AM »

Where I grew up there was piece of waste ground that was home to many feral cats. Luckily there was a Romanian woman called Lia that took it upon herself to be a guardian to them all. Every day she'd go to this area (and others) and leave out some boiled Coley as it was dirt cheap back then.

My mother was friends with here and allowed her to take both my sister and me with her some evenings. It was amazing seeing all the hungry faces suddenly appear out of the bushes when she arrived.

mishca09 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 09, 2012, 09:39:12 PM »

thats nice. I don;t think I could do that. There used to be a cat lady around here to but she died...

mishca09 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 14, 2012, 09:17:01 PM »

Shes back with her five kittens. I'm not sure if she left or was just hiding for a bit. I noticed that one of kittens has both of its eyes shut. Its also the runt of the litter. and its always out last out to eat . I've called the humane society to find out about taking the kitten in or having them pick it up. I've googled it and it says that the kitten might have FIV ( cat disease) I was really tempted to take it in the house with me but I have a dog and plus I dont have a crate or anything to keep it in safely and I have early class tomorrow and I wouldn't even be able to take it to the care center. I'm just glad the mother is still feeding it. Such a downer !

mishca09 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 14, 2012, 09:17:34 PM »

ALso ! so the mama cat catch a bird the other day. IT WAS AMAZING !

smokester · « **Reply #7 on:** May 15, 2012, 04:35:45 AM »

This plot is getting quite thick now and I for one am interested in any updates.

townie2 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 15, 2012, 05:41:25 AM »

i think kittens are supposed to be a certain age before being taken from their mother, i want to say 6 weeks, but i'm not sure.

mishca09 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 15, 2012, 07:18:17 AM »

they may be about 4weeks old but my concern is that the little one can not see and he isn't as strong or as big as its sibling. and I read online if the eye thing isnt treated it could start to become infected.

heres a picture only 3 of them are nursing,the 4th one is running around and the little one is no where to be seen. I'll try to take better pictures next time.

townie2 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 15, 2012, 07:25:29 AM »

cute (and heartbreaking). animal lover myself.

mishca09 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 15, 2012, 08:13:16 PM »

more pictures.

that's the runt of the litter, he was really skittish today.

goldshirt*9 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 16, 2012, 12:48:37 AM »

always a runt in the litter.

mishca09 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 18, 2012, 07:24:39 PM »

yeah….

So the landlord came today blocked the hole to garage where the mama and kittens come in and out of. I moved it when I got in. I figure they are probably hiding in there. So, they should have a chance to get out and move.

mishca09 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 25, 2012, 06:23:03 PM »

they moved to his backyard but there are only three kittens now. I have no idea what happened to the other two but the runt is still around !! and looking a little healthier.

townie2 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 25, 2012, 07:10:29 PM »

thanks for the updates Mishca. good that the runt is still around, but hope the other 2 didn't get run over, caught by a fox, coyote, etc.

mishca09 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 25, 2012, 08:01:05 PM »

i figured I'd share here no one in my life cares that I'm feeding strays

. I live in the city so the worse thing that could happen would be a dog or a car hitting them. but the mom only leaves and enters by the landlord's backyard and the kittens are really shy. I hope the landlord didn't do anything to the other two kittens, he is not very nice.

townie2 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 25, 2012, 08:16:36 PM »

well, to hell with them, you know yourself, and its a good thing you're doing

. i live in a city too (though a small one), but we are getting a lot of urban foxes, quite common to see them in the evening, the coyotes are driving them out of their habitats, and now the occasional coyotes are spotted in the city (one in my neighborhood a few weeks ago). i doubt the mother would leave kits behind if they were still alive $:-\$ .

mishca09 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 25, 2012, 08:52:40 PM »

foxes are beautiful. There's only been one instances that I remember maybe about a year or two ago that coyote was running loose. and he managed to give the cops the slip and he was never seen again. I'm not sure what the police do here when they catch wild animals that don't typical live here. I probably don't even want to know. I guess I was living in the lala land in thinking that perhaps the other two kittens decided to move on. Which is just silly. The mom cat did hiss at me today when I went to remove the food bowl. I told her, she needed to behave herself because I'm the one that feeds her. She has been showing extra attention to the "blind" one. I'm reluctant to call the humane society. I know they can't live in the landlords backyard forever.

smokester · « **Reply #19 on:** May 27, 2012, 04:02:56 AM »

It can be tragic for feral animals living inner city but in my experience, nature adapts. Where I live we have thousands of foxes that live on many 'Commons' nearby. Every night you can see then rummaging through all the bins in the street and domestic cats really have to run the gauntlet with them. That said, for some reason the foxes generally leave the cats be and the worst the moggies have to contend with is each other.

Sooner or later you should get the professionals to deal with this though as they will do everything to ensure the animals' well being.

mishca09 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 27, 2012, 02:11:13 PM »

Cats can be pretty bad ass. This orange tabby came visit he was absoultey huge. I scared him away though. Ive already decided that I am going to call local animal care center and have them pick up the cat and kittens or I will take the kittens in next week when im finished with my othr animal duties. there are only two kittens left, I have no.idea where other one disappeared to.

mishca09 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 28, 2012, 02:29:22 PM »

I went to feed the them this morning and now there is only one kitten left. Which is the runt of the litter. Its really strange. There was a large black cat hangingaround and I think it was male because went out , it smelled like fresh cat piss. I read some where male cats will kill kittens but I cant imagine a cat pick a kitten off one by one.

townie2 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 28, 2012, 07:22:03 PM »

i wonder what is happening to them? the mother usually watches over them pretty closely.

mishca09 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 28, 2012, 07:57:36 PM »

Cute but a little to close for comfort the mom cat and the runt where waiting in my yard when I got home. The second kitty showed up out of the blue, thank goodness, I still wonder what happened to the other three. So I fed them a second time today. The runt was close enough for me to take pictures so I did I'll post them. I plan on calling animal care Wednesday, so they come pick her up on thursday. Who knew it would be so emotional to take care of strays, I just so badly wanted to take the runt home with me. But I know its not possible. I think the mom cat is warming up to me or she knows I'm a sucker. I feel like now that I've started feeding them I can't stop, cuz I'll feel bad if I do.

mishca09 · « **Reply #24 on:** May 30, 2012, 03:14:06 PM »

Okay, I made the appt. they will be here tomorrow in the morning to take the kitten. they asked if I could contain her. So I will attempt to catch her and put her in a box. Hopefully we will be the first call of the day.

townie2 · « **Reply #25 on:** May 31, 2012, 06:13:59 AM »

poor little thing, cute

smokester · « **Reply #26 on:** May 31, 2012, 11:36:00 AM »

When I was a kid my mum used to take in cats that other people didn't want as she couldn't bear the thought of them being out down (the cats that is, the owners would have been less traumatic). We ended up with quite a few and eventually has to take them to the RSPCA ourselves, although we did hang on to four of them.

This story makes me want to follow in my mum's footsteps.

mishca09 · « **Reply #27 on:** May 31, 2012, 03:46:21 PM »

I was able to catch her, she was so scared and I felt awful ( still do). The lady told me that they will attempt to save it but if they can't find a foster home and it is not improving that they would put it down. I wish I could have fostered the kitten and I hope they can find her home. The mom cat and the healthy kitten disappeared for a bit but they popped back up just now. I said I would stop feeding them but I don't think I will. I just won't feed them as often, the kitten does have to learn how to fend for its self eventually.

smokester · « **Reply #28 on:** June 01, 2012, 03:26:30 AM »

I'm sure the kitten will be ok now as with the right medical care, it should recover and be a valid option for someone to take on. You could always ask after it and see how the little fella is doing. Perhaps then you could adopt it when it is strong enough.

My view is that it didn't have long if left in the wild, so whatever you did, it definitely improved its chances of survival.

townie2 · « **Reply #29 on:** June 01, 2012, 06:16:51 AM »

+1 kittens will always get adopted, its the older cats they have trouble finding homes for.

mishca09 · « **Reply #30 on:** June 01, 2012, 05:20:38 PM »

Thanks guys! I feel a little better. I have two dogs and my gran doesn't like cats. Mom cat and kitten run away when I come out now and wait until I'm gone before they come out to eat.

smokester · « **Reply #31 on:** June 02, 2012, 05:26:35 AM »

Over time you'll probably find they start waiting for you and your generous hand outs, and even start demanding to be fed.

As cats do.

mishca09 · « **Reply #32 on:** June 02, 2012, 07:39:07 PM »

They were waiting for me in our garden today ! so I guess its starting.

smokester · « **Reply #33 on:** June 03, 2012, 03:34:03 AM »

And so it begins.

Let's just hope she doesn't have another litter or 3, or else you'll need to take out a bank loan to feed them.

mishca09 · « **Reply #34 on:** June 08, 2012, 07:40:39 PM »

Okay. Mom cat has disappeared, I think she may have died or she's abandoned the kitten. It had rained like almost all week last week, and she didn't have a proper shelter. and I noticed she looked wet and miserable. Then one morning I noticed she wasn't out and about but I feed them as usually and she didn't come out ! so I think I will try to make the kitten a backyard cat. granny rolled her eyes at me. Our neighbor will make a temporary shelter for the kitten and I will try to get it used to me.

I've named the kitten… thinker as it reminds me of the Auguste Rodin statue.

townie2 · « **Reply #35 on:** June 08, 2012, 08:12:02 PM »

that sucks. so it's the runt that's left? a lot of times the runts are tougher than you think, they have to be to survive. your doing the right thing Mish

mishca09 · « **Reply #36 on:** June 08, 2012, 08:33:21 PM »

Nope the runt was picked up by the animal care center. Thinker is the last of the litter. Thinker allowed me pet her while she was eating. So I think slowly and surely she'll want me to pet her more frequently and she wont scared of me .

smokester · « **Reply #37 on:** June 09, 2012, 04:13:24 AM »

It is a noble a caring thing you're doing Mish'; I hope one day you're rewarded for your efforts.

In my experience though, you have to accept that a good deed is its own reward.

mishca09 · « **Reply #38 on:** June 09, 2012, 11:09:52 AM »

its rewarding already and I'm learning to be little more patient

townie2 · « **Reply #39 on:** June 17, 2012, 07:01:35 PM »

so whats the latest with Thinker Mish?

goldshirt*9 · « **Reply #40 on:** June 18, 2012, 10:16:05 AM »

funny reading this thread.
we may be inheriting a neighbours cat

townie2 · « **Reply #41 on:** June 18, 2012, 07:54:38 PM »

i inherited my sisters cat when she moved to a pet free apartment, she just turned 18, doesn't do much, hates being patted or picked up, pain in the ass

who wants to get a 16 year old cat (how old she was when i got her), if i wanted a cat i'd raise it from a kitten.

goldshirt*9 · « **Reply #42 on:** June 19, 2012, 09:59:20 AM »

next door neighbour kicked his x girlfriends cat out. lovely grey thing.
but my dog doesnt like cats

mishca09 · « **Reply #43 on:** June 19, 2012, 10:11:52 PM »

Quote from: townie2 on June 17, 2012, 07:01:35 PM

so whats the latest with Thinker Mish?

She and her friend has disappeared after the land lord stopped by to check on his property. Ive been checking every day but they haven't popped back up yet.

I think she was still to young to move on but maybe she has. I can't imagine her leaving her only food source.

Quote from: townie2 on June 18, 2012, 07:54:38 PM

i inherited my sisters cat when she moved to a pet free apartment, she just turned 18, doesn't do much, hates being patted or picked up, pain in the ass
who wants to get a 16 year old cat (how old she was when i got her), if i wanted a cat i'd raise it from a kitten.

My cousin cat is the same way. She'll even hiss when you go to feed her but she does seem to prefer male company.

Quote from: goldshirt*9 on June 19, 2012, 09:59:20 AM

next door neighbour kicked his x girlfriends cat out. lovely grey thing.
but my dog doesnt like cats

That's awful. He could have easily called animal control or something. So sad for the cat.

goldshirt*9 · « **Reply #44 on:** June 20, 2012, 08:09:02 AM »

I agree but my wife has started to feed it.

smokester · « **Reply #45 on:** June 20, 2012, 02:34:03 PM »

Now I want to feed a stray. No fair leaving me out.

goldshirt*9 · « **Reply #46 on:** June 21, 2012, 08:44:35 AM »

i'll send you mine in a box

townie2 · « **Reply #47 on:** June 21, 2012, 06:50:40 PM »

pine box?