What do I do about a stray cat that had kittens in my garage?

Question

This cat runs wild on my street. She seems skittish around people. Two days ago I heard a crying in my garage and what I found was a kitten. After getting a flash light I saw that it was the cat with a litter of kittens. Looks like she had four, but won't let me get close enough to see for sure. She pushed one kitten away and my husband managed to get it. It died a little while later. She then pushed another one away, but was already dead. So now it looks like she has two kittens left. I put water, food and a blanket down for her. She is eating the food, thankfully. What I'm concerned about is that she hisses at us everytime we put something down for. If we just look, she's okay, but we don't dare try to get close. How long do I let her stay back there and when will it be okay to get the kittens so we can find them a good home? I'm pretty sure it's 6 weeks. When will they start to walk around? I also heard that if they don't get human contact they will not be tame at al

Answer 1

We took in a pregnant stray cat and then found good homes for the kittens. (We have since spayed the mother). The mother cat lives with us now. You didn't mention whether you wanted to take in "your" cat permanently but judging from her behaviour, it might be difficult to do so. Since the kittens are still very young, there's more hope for them especially if they get lots of human contact now .... which is probably hard if the mom gets upset every time you come near!

I can't remember exactly when our cat's kittens started to walk around (maybe about 3 weeks?) BTW, if "mom" uses a litter box, they'll learn from her to do the same. (But they can probably be easily trained by you too). They should be at least 8 or 9 weeks old before they leave their mom. Asking a small fee also may be a good idea. Most people who are willing to pay have given some serious thought about the responsibility of caring for an animal.

Have you thought of phoning your local humane society and have them pick up the mother cat and the kittens, or is this a responsibility that you're willing to take on for yourself? What were you thinking of doing with the mother, if anything, once the kittens found other homes?

You and your husband are very kind for wanting to help this mother cat and her kittens. Best of luck to everyone!

Answer 2

Don't wait for the kittens to be weaned. Look in your phonebook for your local ASPCA or Humane Society. Now is the best time for them to capture the mother cat. They will take her and the kittens in. Give them a complete health exam, and begin socializing the kittens. The mother cat with then be spayed so there won't be any more kittens and she and the kittens will get new homes. If the mother cat is too ferral for a home, she will likely go to a sanctuary after her kittens are weaned. She may not actually be wild though. A lot of cats seem to be but once they're in a new setting, they settle down.

Answer 3

Wait until they are 8 weeks before taking them away. The best thing would be if you can use a towel to get mom, and then get the kittens and take them all to the humane society. The more you are around her, the closer she will let you get. Just be cautious, you never know if she might have something. Watch her and make sure she doesn't move the babies, lots of feral cats do this when they think someone is getting to close. GL! Hope you find homes for them all.

Answer 4

I imagine the best thing you could do would be to leave her to it - do keep checking she has enough food and is warm enough though, but she will probably be able to do the rest herself. If you do manage to get sight of the kittens then make sure that they look OK but don't remove the kittens from her unless it's done by a vet. Definitely a good idea to have a vet over on Saturday if they're offering I reckon!

Answer 5

yoou have two choices iva call the rspca or home them untill they are older!

why not get a cardboard box cu a hole in it put some blankets in it and some food and some milk and gradually let the mother no you are harmless! she is only like this because she is protcting her litter! and the way you sed the mother cat acted around people i would presume it has bean abbused buy past owers!after her kittens grow older she will not be so viscouse! just tame her! i would leave the kittns for another week or two! your not doing anything wrong bye looking after them and not calling the rspca! good luck! x xx

Answer 6

Don t call animal control, they will kill them. I have been taking care of cereals for about 3yrs. I did the TNR program. Have 6 in my bag know yard and 3 in my garage. The garage cats had a feral mother but I kept them in my garage and have raised them. They are friendly, not wild. Now I have one that showed up and had her kittens in my garage. I haven t seen them but will have the mother fixed (all of mine are fixed) and try and get the babies good homes. TNR is Trap, Neuter and Release. Good program.

Answer 7

They should be starting to become weaned. I would wait one more week, until they are about 7 weeks old (although 8-9 weeks is ideal) and get them to the vet asap.

If you can get to her, it would be a good idea to get the mom to a vet too, but you don't want to be bitten or scratched as she may be carrying something.

If, while getting the kittens you do get bit or scratched get a tetanus shot if you are not up to date.

Good luck

Answer 8

take them to the vet to get checked out. Then if they are ok continue to let her wean the kittens at your house. After 8 weeks is up you can try to find good homes but don't worry about that yet.

Answer 9

You should call Animal Control. They are probably still way too young to do anything with them. If you take them in, you'd need to bottle feed them and keep a close eye on them. Animal Control or the local pound will be able to help you. You don't want even more stray cats in your neighborhood.

Answer 10

eight weeks is better, but there is plenty of time to "socialize" the kittens after they are weaned...