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claraserena

barn cat just had kittens--questions!!!

claraserena
14 years ago

A week ago a neighbor's barn cat came to live with us. SHe had been hanging around--is very gentle with us and our chickens and has been socialized by their children. The neighbor said we are welcome to have her. We have 20 acres but no barn so I set up a large plastic crate filled with pine shavings and towels and blankets over that and she has been sleeping there

I just got home from work to find her with 4 kittens (a 5th died). They are in her "bed" She has food and water nearby. Is there anything I can or should do? Should I try to change the towels? that would mean taking them all out and putting them back. Will they be warm enough with her in the garage (low in 40's tonight but nights in the 30's coming).

I could put them in a back entry room that sould be warmer.

I have no idea what to do--any advice appreciated!

Comments (12)

  • posy_pet
    14 years ago

    She will keep the kittens warm.Food and fresh water,she will need.My cats always were ravenous when they had kittens.I fed dry food and some of the cheap canned food.Some cats do not want you messing with the kittens and will move them and hide them.Sounds like the bedding you gave her is fine(nothing that the kittens can get tangled up in.An old wool sweated that has been shrunk works good.)I would leave her be and just provide food.One of my cats had her kittens in a bag of trash trying to hide!Posy Pet

  • claraserena
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    Thank you Posy and Gardengal. I did bring their bed into the back entry way. She got up to eat and I took out the wet/bloody towel and replaced it. I give her dry food and canned. I have touched the kittens just to help her rearrange them--she does not mind at all.
    She obviously isn't litter box trained and now that she's in a confined space that might be a problem. I bought the "attract" cat litter and it's in the room with her but she hasn't used it. Don't know what my odds are. When the time comes, I'd like to litter train the kittens as that might make them easier to place. Any websites on all of this?
    My name here, Claraserena, is the name of my Siamese who died 2 1/2 years ago at age 20. She was a dear and I didn't think I would ever want another cat. I think this cat is changing my mind!

  • henhilton
    14 years ago

    Congratulations on being adopted by Mistress Cat, claraserena! It sounds as if she has completely accepted you as her new servant. lol (Dogs have masters; cats have staff.)

    The only thing I've ever found necessary to litter train kittens is to provide them with a litter box. I wouldn't be surprised if momma is just as easy.

  • annpat
    14 years ago

    They won't need the box for a while. Mama takes care of that.
    See if your vet will give you a discount for neutering 5 cats. They often will. I think your neighbor would feel obliged to contribute.

  • soteriagal
    14 years ago

    Our cat had five kittens about four weeks ago. I have had cats my whole life and we currently have 15 of them on our farm. I have found that handling the kittens as soon as possible helps them get used to be handled and they won't be so fearful of you. I started petting and holding them as soon as mom dried them off after being born. You don't have to handle them THAT soon but start slow and help them to know you're a friend and not a foe!

  • batgirl25
    14 years ago

    My Sweet and Beautiful Kitty just had her kittens. She is an outside barn cat. I am worried about her and the babies because there are so many male cats around (strays by the way). Is there anything I can do to find the babies? I have been looking for about and hour now with no luck I have even tried following her but that is not working either. I know she that is feeding them because her nipples are distended and she is starving plus eating like crazy.
    Any advise would be appreciated right now.

  • msmitoagain
    14 years ago

    Hey batgirl25 - you are probably not going to be able to find them. She'll bring them out when she's ready for you to meet them. It does happen that some males will kill the babies. We've had momma's show up with babies in tow and we have stray males too. Hopefully she has them well hidden and she'll be able to raise them. Finding them would be great, because the sooner handled the better.

    We spay all females as soon as we can capture them. I would rather pay to spay (they will spay them pregnant too), than have a lot more cats to be responsible for or try to give away.

    Here is a link that might be useful: MY BLOG

  • batgirl25
    14 years ago

    Like I said I was just worried because she was pregnant this past winter, but we never saw any babies, but it was very cold and I also assumed they either did not survive or the stray males in the area killed them.
    All I really want to see is that they are ok and safe also, begin to socailize them.

    My kitty(Snowy) is very social and lovable so I want that for her babies too.

  • claraserena
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    OUr kittens are 3 weeks now and doing very well. They are with the mom in a back entry way (3 doors: to house, to garage and to outdoors). We don't have a barn (on our wish list) nor do we have any pet doors so they are either in or out. How/when should I try putting them in the yard? We have some pens around the chicken coop (could keep the chickens out) so that's an idea for during the day but there isn't a shelter in the pen so I'd bring them all in at night. Mom uses the litter box and I want her to teach the kittens to so would I put a litter box in the pen too? Also, when will they need kitten food? I handle them often--they let me know when they want to go back to mom. Oh--a couple of times when I've left the door to the house open, mom has carried kittens into the house into the back of a closet. I'm guessing HER long term goal is to move the family in with us!

  • Lexi Thompson
    8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I have a cat and she's a outside cat. We first got her when she was eight months old and we got her for free and she had three babies with her. The previous owner was getting to old to take care of them so he sold all of these cats with babies for free. We took her and her babies home. Her babies that we got with her are about nine months old now. I noticed a week ago she's getting very fat, so I thought she was just getting fatter, but today I've noticed that she's very pregnant. My question is how am I going to prepare for her birth because she's a outside cat. I don't know if I should put her in a cage in our barn with our goats. I know she's definetly pregnant because she's skinny and all of a sudden she's fat. I hope her son didn't breed with her. I hope a wild male cat bred with her.
    Thanks!! Please answer back! :)

  • sylviatexas1
    8 years ago

    Don't do anything; cats do much better without interference. Once she has the kittens, if you can, remove the stained bedding & replace it with clean; that way she isn't as likely to move the kittens to another place (to keep the odors from drawing predators to her kittens). As soon as she weans the kittens, take her to the vet or to a clinic & have her spayed; otherwise, you're going to have too many cats very soon, & at that point they become liabilities rather than assets, & they'll fight more, compete for food, get skinny, attract predators, etc, & their lives as well as yours will be miserable. Many places have special programs for feral or barn cats so that people can have them sterilized for some affordable amount. I wish all of you the best!


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