Advice needed, cat gave birth under my bookcase 2 days ago. What should I do?

Question

Outline in point form of situation.
cat once belonged to another volunteer. this volunteer moved house, leaving cat behind. cat missed volunteer so followed me everywhere. pregnant. i'm not a cat person. other day, cat sneaked in my house and gave birth to 4 kittens. her first litter. (Mother cat approx 10-11 months old) I offer mother cat food and water. How long do I have before the kittens are old enough to get out of my house? Friends who hate cats told me to just chuck them out when the mother is out. I can't do that. Surely the human smell would make the mothjer reject her kittens? Funnily enough, she trusts me enough to leave her kittens alone with me when she goes out to do her business. What about a cat litter box when I go to work? Sand ok?My idea is to just give food and water until they get old enough to get out (How long? 2 weeks?) then gradually withdraw support. I have to be cruel to be kind as I return home in February.
Any other tips and advice would be appreciated.

I'm living in an African country where cats are viewed as vermin. so RSPCA has no office here. Vets... exhorbitantly expensive, I cannot afford vets. Hence my request for advice. Thanks for your advice.

Answer 1

Please do not throw them out - but since these are not ferrel kittens they will need you and your support the longer you have them

You state you are in Africa and cats are considered vermin, in certain parts of Australia Cats are considered vermin and treated as such, that doesn't mean there is no help available.

Have you contacted the vets or an animal rescue centre?

You do not need to be cruel - if you are cruel it is because you want to be. There is help available there, I suggest you look for it.

Answer 2

Sorry to hear you were dumped on by a volunteer!
Provide a large box for the mother and kittens with some cloth or torn newspapers in the bottom. Place her/kittens in a warm and protected area. The mother will take care of them and you only need a litter box for her, if she doesn't go outside to do so. Otherwise, if you are going to keep her in the house, yes, use some sand. [make sure you clean that area where she was! Also, make sure that she doesn't move them somewhere else in your home that you can't get at!]

The kittens will open their eyes in a week or two. They will begin crawling around at about 2 months. You don't have to worrry about feeding the kittens for about 3 months.
At that time, they will be fed still by mom and can begin eating cat food. Probably at that time, you may be able to find nice homes for them.
If you keep them ALL outside, be sure to keep them in a place that is 'safe' and maybe mom will bring them somewhere SHE finds that is safe... and your worries are over. Best of luck to you!

Answer 3

Intrepid! Just let mother cat do her things, she will know, but she does like company. I had a cat that came looking for me when she was going to have her kittens. She had 6, but she wanted me with her. About the litter box; I'd suggest using a litter mixture if you can buy it somewhere! Checkout a pet store somewhere! The sand may be OK though! Have a great day! Who knows you may like cats after this experience! Take care! Jimmy.

Answer 4

I know that you are anxious to move the kitties along but kittens need to be with their mothe for 6 to 8 weeks. I suggest that you post an ad on craigslist asking for someone to foster the mother and kittens till they are ready to be given away. Another option might be to contact any "no kill" cat shelters in your area and see about someone fostering the litter and their mum. In the mean time, if you decide to let them stay until they are ready to go, here are a couple of links to help you with some info.

Answer 5

The kittens will follow their mum gradually, but definitely after 6-8 weeks. Until then they can't survive and they can't even eat food. If the cat comes and goes, just give her food, and she will teach the kittens to eat food too when they are ready. then they will start coming out, you need to provide a litterbox, but they will start going out with their mum when they are ready. If you put them outside now, they will definitely die. Leave them there, and the mother will know what to do. If you can find homes for them it will be best. But not before after 6-8 weeks at least!

Answer 6

Line a box with an old towel, take mother and kittens outside, find a shelterd place to leave them and let them get on with it.

Answer 7

Could you let me know the area where you live eg london, manchester? I need a couple of cats for my girls. I could collect them. Otherwise if you are too far away from Bournemouth or London......phone the RSPCA, if u throw them out, foxes will find them sooner or later, email me your location if u like.

Answer 8

if you really dont want them aroung the kindest thing you can do is take them to a shelter or vets office. a humane society or aspca would take them. or if you call vet offices and tell them the situation, alot of times there will be someone there that is willing to foster them. then you dont have to even wait until the are old enoug to leave their mother, you can get rid of them now.

Answer 9

get the RSPCA they will come and get mum and kittens and find a home for them all.
Thank god she gave birth in your house and not your friends.

Answer 10

!!! Yeah mom !!! you're off to a superb commence ! shop up the best artwork and finally it is going to all artwork out ... tip: as you reported you're "in" the room, albeit at her point, and she or he continues to be stand-offish ... properly, ok ... don't be in a hurry (until eventually medically mandatory) ... circulate her 'pen' as close to to the door as obtainable, shop the door closed and repeat (your movements above) each and each time commencing the door little by utilising lttle (no longer multi functional day) ... use your reassuring voice together with her (she already trusts you if the kittens proceed to be interior the pen and she or he would be in a position to get out - attempt to no longer overlook that) ... leave treats (save offered, chix computers, small lunchmeat computers ... some thing the smells solid) below the door physique, kinda like a bread path premiere on your area of the door, and circulate away (do no longer stand by utilising quietly, they scent you, they pay attention you ... they do no longer seem to be fools) ... while she includes you, probable in a pair days, concentration your attentions on Her and she or he will have the potential to steer you to the youngsters. in the event that they do no longer seem to be distressed, permit nature prepared the ground. as quickly as you have broken the ice with mom, cope with the babes as generally as she is soft with it ... questions, e mail me. mouse *** if she is feeding them generally and looks to be convalescing properly, do no longer intervene, supply it a pair weeks and in the event that they seem malnourished, introduce some KMR 1st point in a shallow bowl (if mom looks distressed by utilising the beginning and their foodstuff call for, supply her some KMR, quickly) If fleas are a undertaking or to sidestep them becoming one, (season and all) supply mom a dose of Frontline (in common terms) ... the babes gets it interior the process the milk ... NO different spot-on is authorized for lactating mothers, yet ! Take a lot of photographs (~reason we wanna see~) reason they develop waaaay toooo quickly and you don't get a 2d possibility. Have a blast, they seem to be a ball, basically concentration on mom and allow nature do something.