- Joined
- Sep 20, 2021
- Messages
- 22
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Hi everyone, I'm very new here and in need of your advice as I've helped a feral cat deliver her babies.
Backstory. These past few months, I've been taking care of two feral cats and they now love hanging around in my car port during the day (they made it as their base).
However, as of this evening, suddenly another cat came to me and she was very docile and kept meowing at me, so I petted her and she was very welcoming (which I find a bit odd, especially if she's feral). She was on guard towards the other two cats that I mentioned, but i didn't think it was to serious and expected the new cat to leave soon. As the title says, this scenario didn't happen.
She kept following me around the cars and seemed like asking for help/shelter. Then I realized she's pregnant after lifting her to separate her from the other two cats as they kept hissing at each other. I gave her a box outside and she curled up then broke her water immediately after, which confirms that she was looking somewhere safe to deliver. The two other cats kept attacking her as I was watching her, so I took her in straight away. 15 minutes later, 2 kittens spawned in my house.
Right here comes the main part, I didn't prepare myself for this because my professional and personal life made it hard for me to consider to have pets (otherwise I would've already taken the two cats in). But in the span of 1 hour, I've instantly/absurdly become a cat dad.
So I've decided to help the mother cat and her kittens for the next few weeks/months, but I'm a total amateur with cats, let alone helping one in labor.
What's the best way to help her and her kittens? I can't take her outside as I'm afraid the other cats in the neighborhood would harm them especially in this state. The mother looked really frail and might deliver more kittens soon.
My questions are:
How long should I take her in? (I might consider adopting her if she's down for it, so far she indulges in my scratches)
I can consider to adopt some of the kittens, but not all (It's a lot to take in), what's the wisest thing to do?
Will she be alright if I give her a protected shelter in my garden porch, as my other parts of the house is currently undergoing renovation?
How to provide the best care for the mother and her kittens?
Any signs that I need to pay attention to? (I'm worried of the mother)
I need your help in general really, I prefer to take tons of information right now as this is all very new and sudden for me. (This all happened in a single hour) I'll get some litterbox and some small shelter for them to sleep in tomorrow morning. I used to have dogs as a pet and have very little knowledge of cats, but I love taking care of a colony or any strays in my neighborhood.
Your advices will definitely be a huge help to me! If you want me to keep the situation posted, just let me know! Thanks.
Backstory. These past few months, I've been taking care of two feral cats and they now love hanging around in my car port during the day (they made it as their base).
However, as of this evening, suddenly another cat came to me and she was very docile and kept meowing at me, so I petted her and she was very welcoming (which I find a bit odd, especially if she's feral). She was on guard towards the other two cats that I mentioned, but i didn't think it was to serious and expected the new cat to leave soon. As the title says, this scenario didn't happen.
She kept following me around the cars and seemed like asking for help/shelter. Then I realized she's pregnant after lifting her to separate her from the other two cats as they kept hissing at each other. I gave her a box outside and she curled up then broke her water immediately after, which confirms that she was looking somewhere safe to deliver. The two other cats kept attacking her as I was watching her, so I took her in straight away. 15 minutes later, 2 kittens spawned in my house.
Right here comes the main part, I didn't prepare myself for this because my professional and personal life made it hard for me to consider to have pets (otherwise I would've already taken the two cats in). But in the span of 1 hour, I've instantly/absurdly become a cat dad.
So I've decided to help the mother cat and her kittens for the next few weeks/months, but I'm a total amateur with cats, let alone helping one in labor.
What's the best way to help her and her kittens? I can't take her outside as I'm afraid the other cats in the neighborhood would harm them especially in this state. The mother looked really frail and might deliver more kittens soon.
My questions are:
How long should I take her in? (I might consider adopting her if she's down for it, so far she indulges in my scratches)
I can consider to adopt some of the kittens, but not all (It's a lot to take in), what's the wisest thing to do?
Will she be alright if I give her a protected shelter in my garden porch, as my other parts of the house is currently undergoing renovation?
How to provide the best care for the mother and her kittens?
Any signs that I need to pay attention to? (I'm worried of the mother)
I need your help in general really, I prefer to take tons of information right now as this is all very new and sudden for me. (This all happened in a single hour) I'll get some litterbox and some small shelter for them to sleep in tomorrow morning. I used to have dogs as a pet and have very little knowledge of cats, but I love taking care of a colony or any strays in my neighborhood.
Your advices will definitely be a huge help to me! If you want me to keep the situation posted, just let me know! Thanks.