I found stray kittens under my lawnmower what do I do?

Question

I don't have cats and I have no idea how old they are i think 3 weeks?

I saw their mom and she hissed at me.. And they come out to play with us im afraid they might venture out to far and then get eaten they look about 3 weeks old.

Answer 1

Offer them canned kitten food daily, when they start to eat regularly and avidly, you know that they are old enough to take to your local shelter for their own safety. You don't want kittens that young running around loose. They will end up as road kill.

Answer 2

If the kittens are wandering out to explore, they're probably at least 4 weeks old; but you may want to have a vet or experienced cat person check to be sure.

What to do with them depends on whether you want to keep the kittens and how much work you're willing to contribute to the cause. Therefore any advice will be kind of general...

Take them inside for now. If possible, get the mother cat too; if she's still nursing them this is vital, otherwise you'll be stuck bottle feeding the kittens for a few weeks. Also, you don't want her staying outside and making more little kittens.

You could call the local Humane Society or a private rescue organization to take them. However you'd be doing the kittens a favor to keep them in a home environment until they're a little older. Unweaned kittens can't be adopted out, and in the meantime they take up space and staff time from other cats, and are also much more likely to come down with an infection at a shelter.

With luck, momma will take care of the kittens for you until they're weaned. Then the kittens can go to a shelter where they should be able to find homes. The shelter may or may not take the momcat, especially if she's not friendly. Even if you end up releasing momcat back as a stray, make sure she gets spayed an vaccinated.

Answer 3

Stray kittens/cats, while very cute can be dangerous - They could have rabies passed on from their mother.

First their age, if they have their eyes and ears open they are older then 2 weeks. If they are still wobbly on their legs and tend to walk like drunks they are less then 4/5 weeks old. At 6 weeks they are pretty sure on their feet though can still do some wild moves if they get running and try to change directions.

If the kitten's mother is still around and carring for them, you can do a number of things. The first is leave them alone - mom is likely more then able to take care of them, if not, it's called natural selection for a reason.

Some things you can do if mom is still around - you can get her a box with newspaper or old rag/towel in it, something with shelter from wind/rain/etc would be nice. If it's quiet place she may move the kittens herself, placing a bit of food in the box may help. If at some point mom isn't around and you want to move the kittens into the box yourself (use leather gloves if you are concerned about being bitten/clawed). Take your mower away and she will likely continue as if nothing has changed. She may also move the kittens when you aren't looking again.

You can also place food and clean water out for mom, this will make her life and the kittens' easier.

Wild female cats that have not been fixed will continue to have litters - there are, at least in most larger cities, groups that will offer free spaying/neutering for feral cats - they will catch/release these animals. It would be a good idea to contact what groups you have in your area to find out what services they have.

If you don't want the cat/kittens holding up in your yard, those same agencies will often take the animals. If at all possible look for a no-kill center.

If the mother is gone for good (i.e. she is dead or has abandoned the litter) - collect the kittens and get them inside. While they can last a few days without mom about - they won't last too long. Depending on the age, a soft kitten food may work for feeding, make an appointment with the vet if you can afford it - if not, keep them warm, feed them often (every 2 to 4 hours - depending on the age, older kittens can go more time), give them a tray of litter.

If their eyes are open and they are walking, they will likely figure out the whole eating thing, using the litter and all - you may need to clean them off every so often. Kittens can be weened as early as 4 weeks if it's needed, not always the best but it can be done.

If you plan to keep them though, try and get them into the vet as soon as you can manage - get them shots, check-up, etc.

HTH

Answer 4

First check around with neighbors to see if someone has a cat that might have had kittens -- and if not, then see if any of the neighbors can help.

Is the mama-cat around anywhere? Keep an eye on that -- odds are if they're all together, mama-cat is nearby. Go back inside and peek out the window. If she is around, she's taking care of them. Just put out food and water for her so she doesn't have to go foraging. They need to eat every 2-4 hours, so she should return soon.

If there is no mama and you have to take care of them, there's a whole process -- although not knowing how old they are is difficult.

If they look like "little bears" - they're REALLY young. Are their eyes open yet? Likely they're not on solid food yet.Go to the pet store and get kitten formula and canned kitten food, and the tiny baby bottles for newborn kittens. Start with lukewarm formula in the bottles ever 2-3 hours. Once you can convince them to try eating out of a dish, you can mix the formula in with canned kitten food where it's soupy, and they tend to like that.
Re: bottle feeding, you have to be careful with tiny kittens because you don't want to force too much formula -- they can literally drown in it. Watch for it bubbling back up around their mouths -- that means they're getting too much. When you're feeding, when you think they might have had enough, watch their little ears. When they start bobbing, they're just almost finished (and it's too cute for words).
Cow's milk is NOT good for them. Their little systems are not equipped for it and might upset their bellies and cause diarrhea. It also doesn't have proper nutritional value, and they will starve to death if that's all they're getting. The formula and tiny bottles are not very expensive at all, so please get them ASAP if there's no mama cat around and thank you for taking care of the poor helpless babies! You should get kitten food regardless, if you're willing to feed the mama-cat. She needs kitten food until she weans them, so it helps her out as well as the babies -- she gets better nutritional food, and so do the babies via nursing.

Answer 5

oh, poor little babies. their mama was probably trying to hide them, poor little mama. they will still need to nurse. you will have to try and trap mama or go out and buy kitten formula and kitten baby bottles and nipples fast. they will want to nurse about every 4 hours or so. you will need to use cotton balls soaked in warm water and apply it to their little rear ends to stimulate pee and poop.(they maybe doing this already by themselves.) place them in a carrier or basket or some type of bed with a warm hot water bottle. kittens usually need to nurse until about 8 weeks and some wean their kittens at 6 weeks. if left alone a mama cat willnurse up to 12 weeks. 8 weeks is okay though and then you need to start feeding them on hot water softened purina kitten chow with a little wet canned food mixed in make it mushy as their little teeth are not strong enough to eat the dry food yet. if you feel you cannot handle this you can try calling the local animal shelter and asking them if there are and cat rescues in your area. call them and tell them you have found babies and cannot keep them. they may be full, but might offer other suggestions. dont give them to the shelter. until you cn find another place you will definately need to nurse them with the formula and bottles. usually the nipples come unpierced so what i do is take a sewing needle and heat it in a flame until orange and then quickly pierce the nipple don't make hole to big or the kittens could asperate the formula in to their lungs. a slow drip from the nipple should be fine. you don't want them to have to suck too hard either. after feeding and cotten balling try putting them in a small pan filled with litter and showing them how to scrap their little feet around until the pee or poop. it can be alot of work, but it is so rewarding. if one or more doesn't pee or poop for more than 2 days take to vet. kittens this age are still pretty fragile health wise and physically. if you have any worries or
questions email me as i have successfully raised many orphaned
and feral newborn kittens.
[e-mail]
ps. if you catch mama get her spayed after she weans the babies and then re-release her because if you give her to the
shelter they WILL euthanize a feral cat so will the aspca!!no joke!

Answer 6

You need to take them to a vet ASAP to determine their age and if they need to be bottle fed! It is very important to make sure they are taken care of immediately. If the vet's office has a heart, they may take the kittens since you don't have any experience taking care of such tiny kittens. They CANNOT live on their own at this time, so someone will need to look after them. Try looking for any resuce organizations in your area that would be willing to take them in.

Answer 7

Leave them alone with their mom. She will take care of them until they are older. You could canvas the neighborhood to find out if mom belongs to one of your neighbors. If no one claims her or wants her or the kittens, then take all of them to a no-kill shelter. If you choose to keep one of the kittens be sure to go to the vet for a checkup and vaccinations. Spay/neuter as soon as the kitty is old enough.

Answer 8

ok! i deal with this myself. all you can do with them is either rescure mother and cat have her spayed after the kittens are weened and find them homes or also you can just make sure the kittens are safe from other animals and weather and let them do there own thing. if you want to really help out if your sure there strats after you KNOW there weened. capture the mother *keenle and an open can of wet cat food and have her spayed. but this is IF you know the kittens are weened and they are strays.

Answer 9

Bring them to the local Humane Society.

Answer 10

If you have time nurse them back to health. I love kitties too. I am a registered nurse from Australia so even if I had time I can't help because I just live too far away...All the best for the babies =^..^=