Not Sure What's Going On

CatladyJan

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Momma recently brought her last litter to the usual place, there are four of them. I'm not sure how old they are because it's been a bit difficult to determine when she had them. Originally speculated early September which would put them at 8 weeks. She is still hanging with them, but I do not understand why are they not coming out and eat the cat food at such an age? I've seen them drink water, but she eats 'all' the food? Any feedback appreciated.
 

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Whenallhellbreakslose

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Those kittens look at least 6 weeks old to me. They should be eating solid food by now. I have seen kittens who were still nursing after 6 weeks of age, but I tried to get the kittens to eat by putting kitten food mixed with some kitten formula or cat milk.
You have to work with the familiar (cat's milk) and slowly add the unfamiliar (the kitten food). The kittens I was feeding was first apprehensive, but as the got use to the kitten food I eventually stopped giving them the formula/cat milk.

Mother cats don't always wean kittens at 5 weeks, but it is best that kittens are beginning to eat solids by then and get all the nutrition they need. Do you think it is possible that the momma cat is taking her kittens to another feeder and coming to you for extra feedings? Cats can be opportunists and if their is multiple feeders in an area they won't hesitate to bounce around between feeders. This is not every cat though, some cats are content to stay with one feeder.

Well, I hope my reply helped. The kittens look very cute and healthy. 🙂
 
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CatladyJan

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Those kittens look at least 6 weeks old to me. They should be eating solid food by now. I have seen kittens who were still nursing after 6 weeks of age, but I tried to get the kittens to eat by putting kitten food mixed with some kitten formula or cat milk.
You have to work with the familiar (cat's milk) and slowly add the unfamiliar (the kitten food). The kittens I was feeding was first apprehensive, but as the got use to the kitten food I eventually stopped giving them the formula/cat milk.

Mother cats don't always wean kittens at 5 weeks, but it is best that kittens are beginning to eat solids by then and get all the nutrition they need. Do you think it is possible that the momma cat is taking her kittens to another feeder and coming to you for extra feedings? Cats can be opportunists and if their is multiple feeders in an area they won't hesitate to bounce around between feeders. This is not every cat though, some cats are content to stay with one feeder.

Well, I hope my reply helped. The kittens look very cute and healthy. 🙂
Anything is possible, the building I work in is between a corn field that needs harvested and an area of brush. She usually brings her litters to the shed by our parking lot and did have them there until I got too nosey 👀 Then she was keeping in a ditch inside of drain pipes. She will come from 3 different directions when I go out to feed so I'm just confused. Maybe she is giving them mice and dead birds and eating the good stuff for herself :bigeyes:
 

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Mom can still be nursing them and she may really need the extra nutrition herself. As you say, she may be feeding them wild food since she would be teaching them to hunt but wild food can contain a lot of parasites. You might try giving mom cat some KMR or some goats milk to boost her system. If she is fully nourished, she should have kittens , at least to some degree, eating with her. She may also be wary of having you see the kittens but as the kittens become more independent, you should see them feeding there. Some mom cats will discourage their kittens from feeding where they feed as they get mature. It’s an attempt to push the males away to stop them from attempting to breed with her. If possible, getting them all neutered and spayed should stop that , perhaps entirely, and they can live as a family unit which carries great benefits for them all. No more kittens will be struggling to survive as ferals and by hunting and no fights, inbreeding, competition for safe living space, etc. Those kitties are all beautiful! Bravo to you for watching over them!
 
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CatladyJan

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Mom can still be nursing them and she may really need the extra nutrition herself. As you say, she may be feeding them wild food since she would be teaching them to hunt but wild food can contain a lot of parasites. You might try giving mom cat some KMR or some goats milk to boost her system. If she is fully nourished, she should have kittens , at least to some degree, eating with her. She may also be wary of having you see the kittens but as the kittens become more independent, you should see them feeding there. Some mom cats will discourage their kittens from feeding where they feed as they get mature. It’s an attempt to push the males away to stop them from attempting to breed with her. If possible, getting them all neutered and spayed should stop that , perhaps entirely, and they can live as a family unit which carries great benefits for them all. No more kittens will be struggling to survive as ferals and by hunting and no fights, inbreeding, competition for safe living space, etc. Those kitties are all beautiful! Bravo to you for watching over them!
Momma is quite familiar with me lol. I started working there 2 years ago and have rescued 3 kittens from 2 of her litters. The first litter she hung out with. Last years litter she took off and so did one of the kittens and I have the other one in my home. This last litter which are living in my outbuilding have been socialized and I am searching for rescues and/or homes. I'm out of space and running out of funds. She got pregnant a 2nd time this year right after her other litter. There are 4 kittens right now I don't know where she has them. She does look for me to feed her. My hope was to finally trap her and get her spayed but I fear that they will be weaned and she will move on before I am able to help. :disappointed:
 

Whenallhellbreakslose

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Momma is quite familiar with me lol. I started working there 2 years ago and have rescued 3 kittens from 2 of her litters. The first litter she hung out with. Last years litter she took off and so did one of the kittens and I have the other one in my home. This last litter which are living in my outbuilding have been socialized and I am searching for rescues and/or homes. I'm out of space and running out of funds. She got pregnant a 2nd time this year right after her other litter. There are 4 kittens right now I don't know where she has them. She does look for me to feed her. My hope was to finally trap her and get her spayed but I fear that they will be weaned and she will move on before I am able to help. :disappointed:
Please do try to get her before she gives birth to another litter. Female cats are either in one of the following stages: In heat/mating, pregnant, or nursing a litter. There is very little downtime between these stages. I have seen with my very own eyes a female cat leave her 3 week old litter of kittens to go and mate. She was actually in heat.😱 This is not that uncommon. I also had to bring two sister kitties in to be tnred; one gave birth to a litter and was doing a terrible job taking care of them, the other kitty had to have a late spay(she didn't even look pregnant.) 😯 TG that the litter of the momma cat was taken off the street and adopted out. The male cats were hanging around her, waiting for her to go into heat. Those kitties where in trouble and I was so relieved when they were taken off the streets.

Seriously, I wouldn't wait, trap the momma and trap the kittiens for adoption. Do it before the Momma gives birth again. Also, Heaven forbid you put this off and one of the kittens reach early sexually maturity. I have seen two barely 5 month old kittens go into heat. It is alarming.😱 Don't chance anything, act fast or they will continue to multiply. Seek help with tnr, if you have a problem with trapping.

Best of luck. I live on a block with a large cat population for a small dead end block. It has been two years since the cats were tnred and although we had no new kittens, we still have plenty of cats. I always say with tnr, to nip it in the bud or you will have to live with a large cat population, and in my case it is a struggle because I have limited financial means. I love the cats, but it can be a bit much for me at times. I have learned my lesson. Don't wait, act asap.

Best of luck to you. Have a goodnite.🙂
 
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CatladyJan

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Please do try to get her before she gives birth to another litter. Female cats are either in one of the following stages: In heat/mating, pregnant, or nursing a litter. There is very little downtime between these stages. I have seen with my very own eyes a female cat leave her 3 week old litter of kittens to go and mate. She was actually in heat.😱 This is not that uncommon. I also had to bring two sister kitties in to be tnred; one gave birth to a litter and was doing a terrible job taking care of them, the other kitty had to have a late spay(she didn't even look pregnant.) 😯 TG that the litter of the momma cat was taken off the street and adopted out. The male cats were hanging around her, waiting for her to go into heat. Those kitties where in trouble and I was so relieved when they were taken off the streets.

Seriously, I wouldn't wait, trap the momma and trap the kittiens for adoption. Do it before the Momma gives birth again. Also, Heaven forbid you put this off and one of the kittens reach early sexually maturity. I have seen two barely 5 month old kittens go into heat. It is alarming.😱 Don't chance anything, act fast or they will continue to multiply. Seek help with tnr, if you have a problem with trapping.

Best of luck. I live on a block with a large cat population for a small dead end block. It has been two years since the cats were tnred and although we had no new kittens, we still have plenty of cats. I always say with tnr, to nip it in the bud or you will have to live with a large cat population, and in my case it is a struggle because I have limited financial means. I love the cats, but it can be a bit much for me at times. I have learned my lesson. Don't wait, act asap.

Best of luck to you. Have a goodnite.🙂
Thank you. I'm between a rock and hard place right now, I still have the first litter of 2020 in an outbuilding and cannot find a rescue or anyone to adopt. I don't know where the kittens are at this time, but at least momma is still hanging around. I've tried for 2 years to get her but she takes off. I have no place to put her or the kittens at this time and I don't want to take her without the kittens. It's been cold and raining the past few days I'll be able to keep an eye out this weekend when I work.

I was going to try to trap her in May before she gave birth, but I had a health issue and was out for a few weeks. 'Sigh"
 

Whenallhellbreakslose

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Thank you. I'm between a rock and hard place right now, I still have the first litter of 2020 in an outbuilding and cannot find a rescue or anyone to adopt. I don't know where the kittens are at this time, but at least momma is still hanging around. I've tried for 2 years to get her but she takes off. I have no place to put her or the kittens at this time and I don't want to take her without the kittens. It's been cold and raining the past few days I'll be able to keep an eye out this weekend when I work.

I was going to try to trap her in May before she gave birth, but I had a health issue and was out for a few weeks. 'Sigh"
I hope you can work this all out and get her tnred soon. I know all about a rock and hard place situations. I had alot going against me, but things got exponentially worse. It was a complete nightmare. We finally got a tnr group on the block, I got tnr certified prior to and spent money on buying traps, even a drop trap. The tnr total came to over 25, not including a litter of 3 week old kittens taken off the streets. It was such a relief when it happened.

Hang in there and keep working at this until it is resolved. Be very determined.
 
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CatladyJan

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I hope you can work this all out and get her tnred soon. I know all about a rock and hard place situations. I had alot going against me, but things got exponentially worse. It was a complete nightmare. We finally got a tnr group on the block, I got tnr certified prior to and spent money on buying traps, even a drop trap. The tnr total came to over 25, not including a litter of 3 week old kittens taken off the streets. It was such a relief when it happened.

Hang in there and keep working at this until it is resolved. Be very determined.
Here's an update: I have not seen the kittens since probably the 21st of October. Momma has still been hanging around. My fear is that the kittens crawled into some ones engine (it has happened before). We were dealing with a lot of rain last week and they cut down the cornfield. Momma has been walking up and down the other side of the building in the brush as if she is looking for something (?) One of my co-workers thinks she's pregnant. Any thoughts? Thanks
 

Whenallhellbreakslose

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Here's an update: I have not seen the kittens since probably the 21st of October. Momma has still been hanging around. My fear is that the kittens crawled into some ones engine (it has happened before). We were dealing with a lot of rain last week and they cut down the cornfield. Momma has been walking up and down the other side of the building in the brush as if she is looking for something (?) One of my co-workers thinks she's pregnant. Any thoughts? Thanks
I was just about to log out when I saw your post. I am so sorry that these lovely kitties disappeared. Maybe some kind person or maybe rescuers took them in or maybe they are going to another caretaker, I really hope it is a good outcome like this.

The other scenarios are very unpleasant to think about. What you just mentioned or other scenarios including cars, predators, ingesting toxic substances, and even cruel people. Those kitties are older so I don't think it is this, but I even heard Tom cats killing very young kittens, so there mother would go into heat and mate with them. I feel terrible having to list these scenarios. Please ask around and see if anyone in the area knows. Do you think someone took them to a shelter or dumped them elsewhere? That is another possibility.

I am got to head bed, but I will say a few🙏 for the kitties. I have seen suprising good outcomes and not so good. I am going to pray for the best outcome for the kitties. Good night.😺
 
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I was just about to log out when I saw your post. I am so sorry that these lovely kitties disappeared. Maybe some kind person or maybe rescuers took them in or maybe they are going to another caretaker, I really hope it is a good outcome like this.
As far as coworkers, I doubt it! My coworkers give me mixed messages as to when they last saw the kittens and they all think they are so cute but they haven't offered to help with anything. Someone did tape up a box and put a little window in it and set it outside our employee entrance. I moved the box to the side of the building I know momma goes. It's in the country more/less, there is the farm on one side and they have a big Rottweiler, but it is possible the kittens have taken refuge over there in one of the barns. On the other side is a Dollar store.

The other scenarios are very unpleasant to think about. What you just mentioned or other scenarios including cars, predators, ingesting toxic substances, and even cruel people. Those kitties are older so I don't think it is this, but I even heard Tom cats killing very young kittens, so there mother would go into heat and mate with them. I feel terrible having to list these scenarios. Please ask around and see if anyone in the area knows. Do you think someone took them to a shelter or dumped them elsewhere? That is another possibility.
Her first litter climbed in the engine of a co-worker, but they were found and taken out and now my socialized kittens. Unfortunately the car engine issue has been an issue for some time. I don't think anyone could catch them and if they did they wouldn't dump them and shelters are full. Daddy kept an eye on the first litter and I don't see him hurting this one.

Does mommas behavior sound like she is looking for them? Or more like she is pregnant again?

I am got to head bed, but I will say a few🙏 for the kitties. I have seen suprising good outcomes and not so good. I am going to pray for the best outcome for the kitties. Good night.😺
Thank you prayers are always welcome.
 

Whenallhellbreakslose

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I hope you find them. The momma may have been looking for them. If she was in heat she would be peeing alot (marking her scent for males), letting out shrill noises, rolling around, licking her private area and acting flirty. If you are not seeing behaviors along the lines of this, then she may not be in heat.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for you. 🤞🙂
 
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CatladyJan

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3 of them showed up today I don't know where the 4th one is. Momma came out and ate first and a little later the 3 kittens came up and ate. They are so stinking cute and young.
 

Whenallhellbreakslose

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3 of them showed up today I don't know where the 4th one is. Momma came out and ate first and a little later the 3 kittens came up and ate. They are so stinking cute and young.
Well, thank goodness those kitties showed up. I hope the missing one shows up soon. So happy to hear that they are eating, this was a concern of yours. That must be a relief.

Keep us updated🙂
 
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Update: Now I know why momma cat was going up and down the field like she was looking for something...she was hunting for food. I just saw her take a mouse to the babies
 

Whenallhellbreakslose

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Update: Now I know why momma cat was going up and down the field like she was looking for something...she was hunting for food. I just saw her take a mouse to the babies
Well, that is a relief. Still no sign of the other kitten? I hope it turns up soon.🙂
 
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