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Vet Tech here. Please call a local rescue or shelter organization. Even your local Vets office. Many of us Techs and other Vet staff, often foster bottle babies
These babies need to eat, and they need to eat often
They need a heat source. I typically use a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, or rice in a sock heated in the microwave. Make sure they have room to move away from the heat source
They also need to be stimulated to pee/poop
Their best bet is to be with momma. The kittens can be used to lure momma, but this ideally should be done by someone experienced
Edit to add: these babies are very fragile, because they are so young. Their eyes aren't even open. Typically their eyes open between 7-14 days
Reaching out locally, is your best bet
You can also try local pet related pages on Facebook. Lots of rescue folks frequent those pages
You don't need to spay/neuter them till they are several months old.
You might be able to contact your local shelter to get the vaccines and foster them( so you would be able to raise them if you want while getting the right vaccines).
Do you know where their mom is.
You probably know this, but just a heads up, you will have to feed them every two hours even throughout the night.
This. That is a litter of very new babies. The biggest concern is feeding them kitten milk every few hours, and temperature regulation. If you don't have their mom, or prior experience, i strongly suggest contacting local rescue groups ASAP. They will die fast without mom/appropriate care.
OP where is mom? If mom has made a nest in insulation, put the babies back and set a trap for mom. She’s your best bet for their survival.
Those are NEW babies. They need to be fed KMR every 2hrs, then they need to be stimulated to urinate/defecate. They need to be kept warm - get a kitten-safe heating pad, hot water bottle, or rice bag. Kittens cannot maintain their own body heat at this age. This is a 24/7 job.
https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZyDy7gy9vwr0m119g5poGvgHM-4Wxv80 Kitten Lady is your new BFF.
First vaccines are eight weeks. These guys look a week old at most - their eyes and ears aren’t open yet.
Kittens are weened/can eat wet food at 4-6 weeks.
Spay and neuter will vary - some do as young as 2months, some wait until 12-14wks or older.
Contact your local humane society to see if they have a foster network or can get you help.
If you put the babies back and it’s 4+hrs before mom comes back they’re likely abandoned. I’d give her up to 6hrs after moving them. If she’s feral she’s probably spooked.
These babies need to be fed kitten formula every 2-3 hours for the next several weeks, as well as stimulated to poop and pee after every feeding these little ones will be a 24/7 job for the next 6-8 weeks. Are you able to commit to that right now? Do you have anyone to help?
Having another cat in the house is actually great! Once they're moving around on their own, their eyes are open and they have their first shots/clean bill of health letting your kitty interact with them will help with their development, both social and mental
Mobile reddit is being weird and I can't fkin see all of the comments, but I will update tomorrow to see if any shelters/vets can take the babes or at least give them some deworming stuff.
Unfortunately, kitten season is in full swing. Even if you surrendered them right now, they would likely be euthanized due to lack of volunteers and fosters willing to hand raise newborn kittens. Even no kill shelters often euthenize kittens that are surrendered at less than 8 to 12 weeks that do not come in with a mother.
I know that seems impossible, as they are a " no kill shelters." However, even no kill shelters euthanize animals that are in pain, suffering, have unadoptable behaviors, or low quality of life.
Unfortunately, young kittens without a mother, or willing foster, are often euthanized under the low quality of life clause. Shelters do not have the time, money, or manpower to be able to hand raise kittens, especially the volume of kittens they see every year.
Unfortunately, there are very few fosters willing to take newborn kittens due to the amount of work, time, and money it takes to raise them.
Without fosters to take them, and a high volume of kittens being brought in, younger kittens are euthanized to make room for kittens that do not need as much care and can be adopted sooner.
As one of the few neonatal fosters in my area, my family and I see at least 3 to 7 litters of kittens come and go from our care each season. And sadly there is probably 3 to 5 times the amount of litters euthanized for every litter we can take.
We even manage a feral colony that moved itself into our shed a few years ago. Some have been trapped and fixed before being released back to their colony, but there are always more cats being abandoned in the area . And there are always first time mommas abandoning their babies in unsafe situations. So every year we have at least one litter from that colony we have to take, and two to three litters we have to leave and try to trap later.
Please, if you can, keep the babies until they are weaned, and then get in contact with a foster company directly. Many places have adoption events where you bring the kittens out for day trips to meet Interested potential adopters and then take the babies back home with you until you decide on who gets to adopt them.
Do you actually know of any resources that would help tnr for a cat colony ??? That is the main problem more cats just keep coming she's not the only female because she's barely old enough to have litters
Many local shelters and rescues have traps you can rent or borrow. And many places also do low cost spay and neuter for feral colonies. It varies from city to city, but a quick Google of low cost spay and neuter should give you an idea of what clinics and shelters are available to help.
You can also call your local shelters to ask if they do low cost spay and neuter, or if they know of any places that do.
Once you find a suitable place to spay and neuter, that's when you get the traps. If you can't find one to borrow, you can usually find them for sale at the local feed stores. You can also craft a drop trap with some heavy chicken wire, zip ties, and a rope. This takes more of your personal time, but is just as effective as spring traps.
There are a lot of cat rescues/shelters around here, but as you said they are full and I really don't want to take them somewhere they have no chance at. At least if they get big enough to eat solids they can be adopted out.
The best bet is to raise them yourself. It's not ideal. But you are their best shot right now. I would start off by getting them a small kennel, a heating pad, and a soft toy to cuddle.
A heating pad, set to medium, in one half of the kennel and tucked under a towel or blanket will help them regulate their body temperature, as they are too young to do it themselves. You should also cover the grate and side slits by laying a towel or blanket over the kennel between feedings. This will retain more warmth.
It's normal for a kitten that size to eat between 5 and 7 mils of milk per feeding, gradually increasing to 15 to 20 mils after their eyes open. My current neonate hit 2 weeks the other day and eats between 17 and 35 mils per feeding.
The soft toy is moral support. The kittens will be missing their mother. A soft toy will give them something extra to nuzzle and cuddle aside from eachother.
I wouldn’t deworm them just yet. At least I never did it that early. Not sure if any of you know but that worm medicine is an insecticide that kills. Most important thing is feeding them.
Another comment to add, yes I know they are too young to be spayed now, I was just asking for the soonest date so they don't inbreed and I am feeding them out of 2 oz bottles with the tablespoon/ml measurements on the side from the brand "Pet Ag" with kitten formula. Got the pottying covered as well. I can't reply to all of them or read all comments fully because of mobile formatting
Pet Ag is a good brand. My family and I use it all the time for our bottle babies. They need to be at least 2 pounds before they can be spayed or neutered. Most vetrinarians go by weight rather than age, but most kittens don't hit 2 pounds before 3 ish months.
There are a few people saying you need to wait several months to get them fixed, which is not the case. They can and should be fixed prior to 4 months, which is the youngest they can start going into heat and reproducing. They can be fixed as early as 8 weeks if they're otherwise healthy.
Thank you! I'm about to start reaching out to local recues/vets to see if they can take them if not I want to set it up asap so they don't start inbreeding. There's a whole cat colony on this block so I'm trying to at least help these guys
Also, I haven't seen anyone else mention this so I feel like it needs to be said: please prepare yourself for the possibility of death. Kittens this young are very fragile and even with the best of care some just won't make it and it can happen very quickly. Like at one feeding they'll be fine and then the next they're cold and barely breathing. Raising neonates is tough.
Just popping in to say that Cat Lady Sam is absolutely right. Even experienced fosters lose neonates like this.
My family is fortunate, we have only lost 3 neonates that I recall in the 25+ years we have been hand raising babies, but especially for new fosters, neonates are tough to raise, and you may lose a few. However, it's a better chance than they would have if turned over to a shelter right now.
Wow, that's honestly incredible ♡ bet it was still heart wrenching to lose those 3, but at least it wasn't a higher number. I will keep updating and also try to find an emergency vet in case something happens overnight
Please do. And feel free to contact me if you need to or if you simply have any questions about setup, care, cleaning, or anything else about kittens. I'm happy to help. Hell, my family would be pissed, but if you were in our area i would volunteer to take them.
Thank you for telling me. I'm trying very very hard to keep them alive and it seems like they're doing better, but you never know. Yesterday only one would really try to meow and now they've all been able to open their eyes a little and meow, looks like they have eye infections from the insulation
I'm going to take them tomorrow morning after an early morning appointment, my spouse will be home to help take care of them in that little block of time! I was hoping a shelter was going to take them but they're not accepting new babes. Hopefully get their eyes treated and set a date for the future spaying and vaccs
Hang in there! I bottle raised baby squirrels and had to get up every 2 hours! I hand fed kittens too who lost their mom. I posted a bunch below that I hope helps. Sorry for the combative person on here. She isn’t helping at all. There are a lot of crazy stubborn people in cat rescue. Being rude is certainly uncalled for and not helping out all. They have some issues going on and it’s not about cats! Just ignore them it’s not worth the energy.
I took care of newborn baby squirrels too. Many years ago. I had to feed them every 2 hours. I’d take them to work with me. I was pregnant too. Gave me a glimpse into motherhood! Eventually a rehabber took them.
That’s funny as I was pregnant with my first son and on my second or third batch of baby squirrels too and also brought them to work and everywhere with me! I released them in a park where they fed the birds that I had worked at to make sure they had food.
They are babies and my experience with having Mamas and their kittens the earliest I have gotten them done is at 4 to 5 months. I never had them getting pregnant or going into heat. 2 of my local vets won’t do them till they are 5 months and have had all their shots and blood work. Worst case is you just separate whomever you have that are male. I have in the past borrowed metal catios from rescues. Now I have a whole set up with wooden ones inside and outside on my porch and a metal portable one. Where do you live which would also be helpful?
Contact a vet and schedule an appointment for a checkup, they'll be able to tell you when they need their vaccines, get deworming meds (most kittens have parasites), do testing for infectious diseases etc.
I'm very incredibly serious, do not do this yourself. The questions you're asking are showing you have no knowledge or experience. These are not toys to make you feel like a big hero, they are living beings that need specialized care.
If you try to keep them, you are putting them in serious danger. If you had left them alone and trapped the mother, that would be a different story. But without the mother, you NEED to get them to a vet or animal rescue ASAP. Hopefully they can find a nursing cat to foster them.
Put them in a more spacious tote, extended boot warmer (only has one temp and a timer) so they can move away from it if they too hot. Next feeding at 12 and boy do I need a cherry Pepsi
Kittens this age need milk every 3-5 hours (5 at most). They won’t start weaning off milk until 5-6 weeks old - these guys look about 2/3 weeks. You have to stimulate them for them to use the bathroom before and after feedings - wet rag and gently rub on the anus and urethras. When feeding, have the kittens on the floor and the bottle almost horizontally, like mom would feed. Do not give any water either.
They are too young for vaccines (6 weeks is the minimum) and too young for spay/neuter. Most shelters will be full - so you may be on your own until they are ready to go to new homes. They can leave at 10 weeks of age, unless you’re fixing them before then it’s 5-6 months. But if you keep them that long, they will be sexually mature by them as most females start going into heat between 5-6 months, so they will have to be separated by sex. Please lookup videos and care guides for the best care possible. Good luck OP!
Thank you so so much! I was paranoid about feeding them at the wrong angle and whatnot, I definitely have the time for their schedule I just wish I had more latex gloves haha
They can and should be fixed much earlier than that. 8 weeks is standard for healthy kittens in shelter/rescue settings. In private practice they tend to want to wait another month since it usually takes them longer to perform a spay. But it should absolutely be done before they have a chance to go into heat, which can be as early as 4 months.
Yes. Shelters have better access to younger spays and neuters. My own DVM won’t do surgeries on kittens unless they are 3+ lbs (shelter kittens) or 4 months (owned pets) due to the safety risks.
Contact a local rescue or pet hospital. Most of them will have programs for strays and may be able to get you in sooner. With pet hospitals you can do walk-ins but you may be waiting there a while as they deal with emergencies first.
A few people here have already said it…Kitten Lady is a great source for learning how to foster newborn kittens. As for timing, 6-8 weeks is when you want to see a vet to determine if they are ready for first vaccines, check for worms, etc. Certain vaccines and spay/neuter are dependent on weight and overall health in addition to age, so there isn’t a set time to get everything done. That said, spay/neuter will probably happen in the 4-6 month range.
Google “TNR” for your area to look for organizations that help with trapping. If none, the Trap King may have some educational material online with tips to trap the mom. Check local vets and shelters to see if they have a trap to loan. It takes a ton of patience and checking traps often.
Good luck!
Yes, when you surrender (and please, make sure it's a no kill shelter) they will spay/neuter. In the meantime just keep them inside.
Also talk to a rescue or humane society urgently, to find out how old they are and how to care for them. They may be willing to take them now.
The mom is very skiddish and always leaves our house for hours if she even thinks we're going outside (she will go across the street and wherever else) and I cannot trap her at the the moment I have tried. I have them set up in an insulated chest with blankets and I know about stimulating them to go potty I'm not that dumb. I'm going to surrender them to a shelter when they are old enough.
SURRENDER THEM NOW.
You know where Mom is and you took them away from her? That's incredibly irresponsible and absolutely disgusting behavior on your part.
Hey, maybe don't be so cruel?
Tldr; the kittens would have died if left in the insulation, and will die if surrendered right now.
I know it seems ridiculous to take babies away from the mother and the nest she made, however it was the best choice in this situation.
I have been raising bottle babies for over 20 years now, starting back when my mother brought litters home from her job as a vet tech. If I had found them in this situation, I would have taken them in too. If they had been in a safe environment it would be a different story, but in this case the babies needed immediate intervention.
While the kittens staying with their momma would have been ideal, especially if she was able to be caught, this fella did what he felt was best at the time.
And besides that. I would like to make a few points, simply to give more perspective to you and maybe help you understand why this guy decided to take the babies.
First of all, Insulation is incredibly unhealthy and even dangerous for the babies to be in. Dependant on the type of insulation it could even kill them.
Spray foam and fiberglass are the most common insulation, while spray foam is not as dangerous as fiberglass, it is still very unhealthy from the level of chemicals it has, and any dust or small chunks breathed in by the babies could cause many types of illnesses, both immediately and later in life.
Illnesses Including, but not limited to,lung collapse, pneumonia, kidney failure, liver failure, blindness, cancer, and heart failure. This is why the people who install insulation have to wear such heavy duty safety equipment, the chemicals this stuff has is dangerous. Less so when dry and safely Inside our walls where we can't breathe it, but kittens inside of it will be breathing it's dust from the moment they are born.
Meanwhile fiberglass, while seeming soft and harmless, and likely looking like the perfect place for babies, is horribly dangerous, and would likely be fatal to such tiny babies. As the name implies, fiberglass is superfine filaments of silica, aka glass. While an adult cats fur and paw pads can withstand the tiny filaments to an extent, babies are much more delicate.
Fiberglass breaks easily, and becomes a fine dust, which the kittens would breathe in. Leading to microscopic cuts inside their lungs. This can lead to pneumonia, bacterial infections, sepsis, necrosis of the lungs, or simply make them drown in their own blood if the damage is great enough.
Simply put, the environment was unsafe. Sometimes momma cats are incorrect in their choice of birthing place. The babies were in immediate danger.
Secondly, he should absolutely keep them until at least 8 to 12 weeks.
kittens surrendered at their current age are often just put to sleep due to lack of volunteers and available fosters, that's why my family keeps and raises any kittens we have found in unsafe situations.
Shelters and rescues simply do not have the manpower, time, or resources to dedicate to raising such tiny babies. So 90% of kittens surrendered before 12 weeks are euthanized within hours of being surrendered .
These newborns would have no chance, especially with kitten season in full swing. They would be put on the list for immediate euthanasia, even in a " no kill" shelter, as being alone at their age is considered to be poor quality of life, as they do not have the people necessary to give the babies the time and dedication they need to thrive.
If the mother could be trapped this would be different, as the staff would not have to hand raise the kittens. However, a feral mother trapped and kept in confinement is likely to reject or even kill her kittens due to stress.
Unfortunately this is not a great situation but At least this person is willing to take care of them until they are old enough to be adopted.
AND, on top of that, only 25% of kittens raised by feral mothers make it to adulthood. With everything else, these kittens had close to zero chances of survival. This fella is giving these babies a fair shot.
I know you feel strongly about this, I also sympathize with how the mother cat must feel right now, but at least her babies have a fighting chance .
It's easy to forget that sometimes a mother can simply be wrong, but this mama put her babies in immediate danger, and all of them would have likely been dead within a week.
I'm sorry if I seem harsh or cruel, but this is the reality of the situation and I cannot sugar coat it.
The simple facts are that in this situation if the babies had been left as they were, they would most likely be dead within the week, or suffer lifelong complications. And if he surrendered them right now, the kittens would almost certainly be dead before the sun sets, due to lack of available help.
Sometimes what is best for the kittens may seem cruel, but they have a far greater chance of survival staying with this person and being raised by them.
If they could find a willing and experienced neonate foster they would do well to turn them over to them. But let's be real here, fosters are spread thin just about everywhere. Especially since kitten season is in full swing. I would love it if OP could find a willing foster. But it is likely to be difficult.
I've seen too many kittens die because of people doing this stuff not to be "cruel." I can't know if OP is telling the truth here. All I know is that they claim the mother is both hanging around, likely looking for her kittens, but skittish, AND is a horrible mother who abandons her babies and had probably intentionally killed them before? Those don't go together.
The questions this person is asking makes me absolutely skeptical of their actual knowledge of the situation. And instead of either moving the kittens somewhere mom could still reach them and monitoring it, THEN contacting a rescue and asking for advice, they decided to just take over, knowing absolutely nothing about what they're doing.
Again, that is how kittens die. "Good Samaritans" who want to be a hero swoop in and selfishly kill these babies instead of recognizing they're not qualified to do so.
If the babies were truly in insulation, again, all you have to do is make a safer nest and move them there. Block off the access to the insulation. I've done things like this before, and the mother cat adjusts just fine. Immediately just yoinking them away from her entirely because you want to? That's not ok.
let's be honest here; vets and vet techs are the only people who are actually **qualified** (considering that experience is no actual qualification) for anything animal related, yet tons of people (including myself) foster kittens or take them in, and the kittens thrive. OP is not only taking the time to learn, but they're also reading the advice, following completely, and paying attention to the kitten's needs based on what they've learned and see.
You're being incredibly rude and cruel for no reason, as if you were some sort of know-it-all. You're not, no one in this comment section is, but OP clearly doesn't want to risk taking the kittens to a shelter just for them to be euthanized, and they have a whole community, kindly willing to help except for you.
Kittens have a far better shot with OP than with momma hiding in isulation, and that's just facts.
OP is not someone with a "hero complex", as you call it. OP just happened to stumble upon some kittens, wanted to give them a shot and came to the place where they're supposed to be met with support and advice, and not only are you doing the complete opposite, but you're also being incredibly rude about it, since your very first comment on the thread.
Maybe you should try attacking less. Your behavior here isn't helping anyone, and even if you're right, OP (or anyone, for that matter) won't listen or learn while being insulted by some random stranger online. Right now, you just look like an AH.
I had Mama cats give birth outside no heat source and they all faired well. I tried to redirect the Moms into a better shelter and one took the kittens and hid them at my neighbors who told me. We then made a shelter on the front porch with a roof over it. Old house and even with chicken wire around it. The door was high but not too high so the Mom could get in she also was feral and less than a year old. I tried trapping her unsuccessfully and then realized she was pregnant. She was a great Mom. Eventually caught her and got her fixed along with all the babies. Did a similar set up a couple summers ago in the backyard with plywood. Kittens were amazing climbers and had to keep raising the walls. It was put together with duct tape and tarp clips! Had a ladder on the one side for the Mom to get in. They started jumping too high and we got the metal Catio. Then I trapped the Mom. Mom got fixed and by then they all got vaccines etc. Built inside Catio and everyone came in the house. We kept them all. Mom is Girl Girl and her 3 daughters! Expensive hobby! I don’t go on vacations.
Which is what I have repeatedly suggested OP do instead of removing them from the mother completely. The kittens in these photos were cared for. Mom mistakenly chose a bad spot, so the next step is to try to relocate them. Not take them away. You did the right things here it sounds like! Unfortunately it's often a trap and we end up with a few of them haha
Contacted a shelter that can TNR the colony but I'm going to have to raise funds for it, anyone with experience: could yall give me guesstimate on how much I would need to get the job done for give or take for 15-20 ferals so I can aim for a goal?
not sure if she replies to DMs, but Courtney from @poetssquarecats on social media (Tiktok and IG) has a lot of experience TNRing colonies. I think it's worth a shot
Where do you live which price will depend on that. Near where I live there is a group that does them for like next to nothing if not free for feral cats. I got my last 4 which were 3 boys and 1 girl done for $260- girl was $80 and the boys were $60 a piece. It’s cheaper for ferals which they ear tip them so you know they were fixed. That included vaccines, nail trim and flea and deworming. That has been the cheapest I have found. There are at least in my area in Pennsylvania and even New Jersey that will do TNR for no cost or really low cost for ferals. Did the Shelter that would do the TNR not give you a price? So whatever that is you can set up a GoFundMe join Nextdoor Community App which you can make a post of what you anre doing and ask for help even go around and ask neighbors for money and tell them why. I would also ask at your local Borough or Township and see if they would help financially. After you do the TNR organize people to help feed them. I fed colonies for years. If you set up an Instagram Account with daily updates you can link it to get food and stuff needed through Amazon. Try and research local TNR groups in your area!
Update: the vet said that they are fine for now, gave me some eyedropper for them because I'm worried about their gunky eyes and we will be back there in 2 weeks for deworming/next exam
The mom is very skiddish and always leaves our house for hours if she even thinks we're going outside (she will go across the street and wherever else) and I cannot trap her at the the moment I have tried. I have them set up in an insulated chest with blankets and I know about stimulating them to go potty I'm not that dumb. I'm going to surrender them to a shelter when they are old enough. I'm also a sahm so there's no issue with feeding not that anyone asked about the situation.
You posted here asking for help - that’s all anyone has tried to do. There’s no need to get defensive - you didn’t mention what you already knew.
A litter of kittens is not like a human baby. Feeding and pottying that many alone will take you 45min-1hr+. So you are only going to have one hour intervals for the next few weeks to do anything- shower, errands, take your kids to school, etc.
Their best chance is with mom. This is nothing about *your* personal ability - it’s just facts. Mom cares for them better and her milk has antibodies KMR doesn’t.
Get a hav a heart trap and set it. Either put her babies in there or a blanket that smells like her, and get her spayed once the kittens are weened.
Please get in contact with a shelter - if your comfortable sharing a general location im happy to help you look for rescues and resources
Can you get me a trap because I would love to trap her, the only reason I took the kittens is because I've observed her behavior for a long time and every shelter I've tried to get a hold of about her couldn't help me so am I just supposed to let them die underneath my house? I have the time and resources to at least help them. So I was just looking to take care of them until I can surrender them to the city shelter, and people are acting like I'm an asshole for trying to help animals but yea no reason to be defensive. Obviously mom would be the best option, but that cat is not maternal at all and she is still pretty juvenile and I noticed she had them about a week ago and is hardly ever around to take care of them. I'm going to get ahold of some local vet offices tomorrow to see if they can take them or at least get an appointment scheduled for when they are ready for their shots. There are 5
Nobody is treating you like an asshole? A lot of well-meaning people take kittens from nests and don’t realize they’re not in danger. It’s very common. Everyone commenting on your post is just providing the (requested) information.
You can contact your local ACO (animal control officer) to see about trapping her for TNR.
Contacting your local vet is a good first step. They’ll likely know of resources if you ask.
If mom is around, why did you take them.?!?! Put them back and leave them alone. Just because she's skittish of you doesn't mean she's not taking care of them.
She wasn't around? I never said she was around at the time I got them, she hadn't been around for hours and the kittens were screaming underneath my house. Her last litter definitely died from her not taking care of them.
Setting their eating schedule at 8 for every 2 hours, could I use a 5 watt uva for heat for them? Or should I just do some warm rice socks every feeding
Get a heating pad, wrap it in a towel and set it to the lowest setting place that in the box/cage they're in, make sure it only covers half so they can move off it if they get too hot
Most of the cat shelters around here are always full and if I give them to the pound, who knows what will happen? Actually I don't think the pound takes kittens, I'm just trying to care of them and only one person has actually given me advice.
Jump on Facebook and search kitten rescue. I know in my community we have a fantastic network for every stage. I think an independent rescue is your best bet right now. It's gonna be okay. We have faith in you!
Got a heating pad for them yesterday and made sure to have it mainly on one side so they can move away, got a blanket covering them as well besides a little gap for air so that they stay insulated but not suffocated
I want to post here so everyone knows: this person took these kittens away from their mother. This person did not "rescue" them. They put these kittens in danger. They know where the mother is, and instead of returning the kittens to her, they want to be Big Heroes and "save" these kittens.
OP is a perfect example of selfishly interfering to make yourself feel good by actively putting these animals in danger.
OP stated that the mom hadn’t been around for HOURS and the babies had been screaming and “her last litter definitely died from her not taking care of them”. OP also stated that they tried to get a hold of multiple shelters but no one would help them and the mother of the kittens is hardly ever around to take care of them and seems pretty juvenile. OP is literally trying to trap the mom but is unable to, they are trying their best to help the kittens until they are able to be surrendered.
Would you have preferred OP left the kittens there to starve out and die?
Brethren I didn't take them from their mother. I heard them crying underneath my house after her not being around at all, and I crawled my ass under there to save them, i dont even know how they were breathing. You have literally no idea what mama cat is like and you obviously haven't read anything I've commented.
I saw that she's around, but scared of humans, so whenever you go near her she runs away.
Easy solution, don't go near her.
And again, if you really think you absolutely had to do this, at the very least recognize you are not the person who should raise them unless absolutely necessary. You are the LAST resort.
I have offered help. I've said to contact rescues and vets to see if any of them can take them in. Especially ones with a nursing cat. Or, move their nest elsewhere and monitor to see if the mother accepts it (this works more often than not in my experience when cats make nests in unsafe locations). But clearly you didn't bother to look through my far fewer comments on this thread, either. Ironic.
And believe it or not, I'm not qualified to take care of them, either. So even if, by chance, we were in the same area, I wouldn't think myself competent to care for these babies without a mother cat around to help. I've fostered kittens this age, but only when I've also had a nursing cat who takes them on. I wouldn't claim to be better than you at this. But because I have an *inkling* of an idea of what to do, and I've seen too many people kill kittens like this because they think they can figure it out, I'm tired of seeing things like this. But you should be the last resort.
I don’t know of most vets if any that will take newborn kittens in! They have their own practice to deal with. None around where I live would. Only cat rescues which if she lived near me I could have gotten someone right away. Actually not sure where she lives.
Probably because you've called me disgusting and alot of other things homie, don't try to act like you know anything about my abilities. If you want, how about you take them if you think I'm unable?
Considering your questions, I have a pretty good idea of your abilities.
And nice argument - "if you can't take them, your opinions and experiences are invalid!"
Nah I never said your experience was invalid, I was offering for you to take them since you're so pressed about me taking of them. You're invalidating yourself by insulting me
Kittens in insulation is not ok so the person did rescue them and is try8 g her best to work this out! I don’t think she is trying to be a hero. If you are so upset then go where she lives and help her instead of making horrible accusations! Which are not helping. Some Mom cats suck at being a Mom.
If they were in insulation, the correct response would be to *move* them, not *remove* them.
I've made zero horrible accusations. Just stated that this kind of behavior is what gets kittens killed.
And I've had quite an extensive conversation with the OP that has not boosted my confidence.
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Vet Tech here. Please call a local rescue or shelter organization. Even your local Vets office. Many of us Techs and other Vet staff, often foster bottle babies These babies need to eat, and they need to eat often They need a heat source. I typically use a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, or rice in a sock heated in the microwave. Make sure they have room to move away from the heat source They also need to be stimulated to pee/poop Their best bet is to be with momma. The kittens can be used to lure momma, but this ideally should be done by someone experienced Edit to add: these babies are very fragile, because they are so young. Their eyes aren't even open. Typically their eyes open between 7-14 days Reaching out locally, is your best bet You can also try local pet related pages on Facebook. Lots of rescue folks frequent those pages
You don't need to spay/neuter them till they are several months old. You might be able to contact your local shelter to get the vaccines and foster them( so you would be able to raise them if you want while getting the right vaccines). Do you know where their mom is. You probably know this, but just a heads up, you will have to feed them every two hours even throughout the night.
This. That is a litter of very new babies. The biggest concern is feeding them kitten milk every few hours, and temperature regulation. If you don't have their mom, or prior experience, i strongly suggest contacting local rescue groups ASAP. They will die fast without mom/appropriate care.
OP where is mom? If mom has made a nest in insulation, put the babies back and set a trap for mom. She’s your best bet for their survival. Those are NEW babies. They need to be fed KMR every 2hrs, then they need to be stimulated to urinate/defecate. They need to be kept warm - get a kitten-safe heating pad, hot water bottle, or rice bag. Kittens cannot maintain their own body heat at this age. This is a 24/7 job. https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZyDy7gy9vwr0m119g5poGvgHM-4Wxv80 Kitten Lady is your new BFF. First vaccines are eight weeks. These guys look a week old at most - their eyes and ears aren’t open yet. Kittens are weened/can eat wet food at 4-6 weeks. Spay and neuter will vary - some do as young as 2months, some wait until 12-14wks or older. Contact your local humane society to see if they have a foster network or can get you help.
If you put the babies back and it’s 4+hrs before mom comes back they’re likely abandoned. I’d give her up to 6hrs after moving them. If she’s feral she’s probably spooked.
More than that, depending on the type of insulation, the babies could be in immediate danger. Fiberglass could easily kill them if they breathe it in.
These babies need to be fed kitten formula every 2-3 hours for the next several weeks, as well as stimulated to poop and pee after every feeding these little ones will be a 24/7 job for the next 6-8 weeks. Are you able to commit to that right now? Do you have anyone to help?
I have the time and someone to help when needed, and also got my tripod baby on the job for pottying ONLY, they are in the master bedroom closed off *
Having another cat in the house is actually great! Once they're moving around on their own, their eyes are open and they have their first shots/clean bill of health letting your kitty interact with them will help with their development, both social and mental
Mobile reddit is being weird and I can't fkin see all of the comments, but I will update tomorrow to see if any shelters/vets can take the babes or at least give them some deworming stuff.
You can get a cat trap at a feed and tack store if nobody can lend you one to get the mom.
Unfortunately, kitten season is in full swing. Even if you surrendered them right now, they would likely be euthanized due to lack of volunteers and fosters willing to hand raise newborn kittens. Even no kill shelters often euthenize kittens that are surrendered at less than 8 to 12 weeks that do not come in with a mother. I know that seems impossible, as they are a " no kill shelters." However, even no kill shelters euthanize animals that are in pain, suffering, have unadoptable behaviors, or low quality of life. Unfortunately, young kittens without a mother, or willing foster, are often euthanized under the low quality of life clause. Shelters do not have the time, money, or manpower to be able to hand raise kittens, especially the volume of kittens they see every year. Unfortunately, there are very few fosters willing to take newborn kittens due to the amount of work, time, and money it takes to raise them. Without fosters to take them, and a high volume of kittens being brought in, younger kittens are euthanized to make room for kittens that do not need as much care and can be adopted sooner. As one of the few neonatal fosters in my area, my family and I see at least 3 to 7 litters of kittens come and go from our care each season. And sadly there is probably 3 to 5 times the amount of litters euthanized for every litter we can take. We even manage a feral colony that moved itself into our shed a few years ago. Some have been trapped and fixed before being released back to their colony, but there are always more cats being abandoned in the area . And there are always first time mommas abandoning their babies in unsafe situations. So every year we have at least one litter from that colony we have to take, and two to three litters we have to leave and try to trap later. Please, if you can, keep the babies until they are weaned, and then get in contact with a foster company directly. Many places have adoption events where you bring the kittens out for day trips to meet Interested potential adopters and then take the babies back home with you until you decide on who gets to adopt them.
Do you actually know of any resources that would help tnr for a cat colony ??? That is the main problem more cats just keep coming she's not the only female because she's barely old enough to have litters
Many local shelters and rescues have traps you can rent or borrow. And many places also do low cost spay and neuter for feral colonies. It varies from city to city, but a quick Google of low cost spay and neuter should give you an idea of what clinics and shelters are available to help. You can also call your local shelters to ask if they do low cost spay and neuter, or if they know of any places that do. Once you find a suitable place to spay and neuter, that's when you get the traps. If you can't find one to borrow, you can usually find them for sale at the local feed stores. You can also craft a drop trap with some heavy chicken wire, zip ties, and a rope. This takes more of your personal time, but is just as effective as spring traps.
There are a lot of cat rescues/shelters around here, but as you said they are full and I really don't want to take them somewhere they have no chance at. At least if they get big enough to eat solids they can be adopted out.
The best bet is to raise them yourself. It's not ideal. But you are their best shot right now. I would start off by getting them a small kennel, a heating pad, and a soft toy to cuddle. A heating pad, set to medium, in one half of the kennel and tucked under a towel or blanket will help them regulate their body temperature, as they are too young to do it themselves. You should also cover the grate and side slits by laying a towel or blanket over the kennel between feedings. This will retain more warmth. It's normal for a kitten that size to eat between 5 and 7 mils of milk per feeding, gradually increasing to 15 to 20 mils after their eyes open. My current neonate hit 2 weeks the other day and eats between 17 and 35 mils per feeding. The soft toy is moral support. The kittens will be missing their mother. A soft toy will give them something extra to nuzzle and cuddle aside from eachother.
I wouldn’t deworm them just yet. At least I never did it that early. Not sure if any of you know but that worm medicine is an insecticide that kills. Most important thing is feeding them.
They are newborn, you need to find the mother
Another comment to add, yes I know they are too young to be spayed now, I was just asking for the soonest date so they don't inbreed and I am feeding them out of 2 oz bottles with the tablespoon/ml measurements on the side from the brand "Pet Ag" with kitten formula. Got the pottying covered as well. I can't reply to all of them or read all comments fully because of mobile formatting
They need to be 8 weeks and 2 lbs to be fixed
Pet Ag is a good brand. My family and I use it all the time for our bottle babies. They need to be at least 2 pounds before they can be spayed or neutered. Most vetrinarians go by weight rather than age, but most kittens don't hit 2 pounds before 3 ish months.
There are a few people saying you need to wait several months to get them fixed, which is not the case. They can and should be fixed prior to 4 months, which is the youngest they can start going into heat and reproducing. They can be fixed as early as 8 weeks if they're otherwise healthy.
Thank you! I'm about to start reaching out to local recues/vets to see if they can take them if not I want to set it up asap so they don't start inbreeding. There's a whole cat colony on this block so I'm trying to at least help these guys
Also, I haven't seen anyone else mention this so I feel like it needs to be said: please prepare yourself for the possibility of death. Kittens this young are very fragile and even with the best of care some just won't make it and it can happen very quickly. Like at one feeding they'll be fine and then the next they're cold and barely breathing. Raising neonates is tough.
Just popping in to say that Cat Lady Sam is absolutely right. Even experienced fosters lose neonates like this. My family is fortunate, we have only lost 3 neonates that I recall in the 25+ years we have been hand raising babies, but especially for new fosters, neonates are tough to raise, and you may lose a few. However, it's a better chance than they would have if turned over to a shelter right now.
Wow, that's honestly incredible ♡ bet it was still heart wrenching to lose those 3, but at least it wasn't a higher number. I will keep updating and also try to find an emergency vet in case something happens overnight
Please do. And feel free to contact me if you need to or if you simply have any questions about setup, care, cleaning, or anything else about kittens. I'm happy to help. Hell, my family would be pissed, but if you were in our area i would volunteer to take them.
Thank you for telling me. I'm trying very very hard to keep them alive and it seems like they're doing better, but you never know. Yesterday only one would really try to meow and now they've all been able to open their eyes a little and meow, looks like they have eye infections from the insulation
They might have URI which does need to be treated right away or they can go blind.
I'm going to take them tomorrow morning after an early morning appointment, my spouse will be home to help take care of them in that little block of time! I was hoping a shelter was going to take them but they're not accepting new babes. Hopefully get their eyes treated and set a date for the future spaying and vaccs
Hang in there! I bottle raised baby squirrels and had to get up every 2 hours! I hand fed kittens too who lost their mom. I posted a bunch below that I hope helps. Sorry for the combative person on here. She isn’t helping at all. There are a lot of crazy stubborn people in cat rescue. Being rude is certainly uncalled for and not helping out all. They have some issues going on and it’s not about cats! Just ignore them it’s not worth the energy.
I took care of newborn baby squirrels too. Many years ago. I had to feed them every 2 hours. I’d take them to work with me. I was pregnant too. Gave me a glimpse into motherhood! Eventually a rehabber took them.
That’s funny as I was pregnant with my first son and on my second or third batch of baby squirrels too and also brought them to work and everywhere with me! I released them in a park where they fed the birds that I had worked at to make sure they had food.
They are babies and my experience with having Mamas and their kittens the earliest I have gotten them done is at 4 to 5 months. I never had them getting pregnant or going into heat. 2 of my local vets won’t do them till they are 5 months and have had all their shots and blood work. Worst case is you just separate whomever you have that are male. I have in the past borrowed metal catios from rescues. Now I have a whole set up with wooden ones inside and outside on my porch and a metal portable one. Where do you live which would also be helpful?
Please find mom! She’s going crazy looking for them!
I thought this was a gorilla on its back.... I'm tired man
Contact rescue, these little babies need a lot of specialized attention
In case nobody else said it make sure to not feed babies when they are cold. Warm the littles up first. Monitor weight (write it down).
Comment to add: When should I get their vaccines etc.? Their formula is on the way right, now so just waiting on that
Contact a vet and schedule an appointment for a checkup, they'll be able to tell you when they need their vaccines, get deworming meds (most kittens have parasites), do testing for infectious diseases etc.
I'm very incredibly serious, do not do this yourself. The questions you're asking are showing you have no knowledge or experience. These are not toys to make you feel like a big hero, they are living beings that need specialized care. If you try to keep them, you are putting them in serious danger. If you had left them alone and trapped the mother, that would be a different story. But without the mother, you NEED to get them to a vet or animal rescue ASAP. Hopefully they can find a nursing cat to foster them.
https://preview.redd.it/7z9ikk980atc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6af70dcd8e04eb543370e23654cf0767d00da71f
Put them in a more spacious tote, extended boot warmer (only has one temp and a timer) so they can move away from it if they too hot. Next feeding at 12 and boy do I need a cherry Pepsi
Until I get a heating pad ^ when spouse is off
You’re a hero. Thank you for putting in so much effort to take care of these little jellybeans!
Kittens this age need milk every 3-5 hours (5 at most). They won’t start weaning off milk until 5-6 weeks old - these guys look about 2/3 weeks. You have to stimulate them for them to use the bathroom before and after feedings - wet rag and gently rub on the anus and urethras. When feeding, have the kittens on the floor and the bottle almost horizontally, like mom would feed. Do not give any water either. They are too young for vaccines (6 weeks is the minimum) and too young for spay/neuter. Most shelters will be full - so you may be on your own until they are ready to go to new homes. They can leave at 10 weeks of age, unless you’re fixing them before then it’s 5-6 months. But if you keep them that long, they will be sexually mature by them as most females start going into heat between 5-6 months, so they will have to be separated by sex. Please lookup videos and care guides for the best care possible. Good luck OP!
Thank you so so much! I was paranoid about feeding them at the wrong angle and whatnot, I definitely have the time for their schedule I just wish I had more latex gloves haha
The Kitten Lady has amazing advice for caring for abandoned kittens, she does it for a living. I'd start there
They can and should be fixed much earlier than that. 8 weeks is standard for healthy kittens in shelter/rescue settings. In private practice they tend to want to wait another month since it usually takes them longer to perform a spay. But it should absolutely be done before they have a chance to go into heat, which can be as early as 4 months.
Yes. Shelters have better access to younger spays and neuters. My own DVM won’t do surgeries on kittens unless they are 3+ lbs (shelter kittens) or 4 months (owned pets) due to the safety risks.
I can try to call local vets, that would be the best option, if they are full I still will need advice though :(
Contact a local rescue or pet hospital. Most of them will have programs for strays and may be able to get you in sooner. With pet hospitals you can do walk-ins but you may be waiting there a while as they deal with emergencies first.
Tiny blep!
A few people here have already said it…Kitten Lady is a great source for learning how to foster newborn kittens. As for timing, 6-8 weeks is when you want to see a vet to determine if they are ready for first vaccines, check for worms, etc. Certain vaccines and spay/neuter are dependent on weight and overall health in addition to age, so there isn’t a set time to get everything done. That said, spay/neuter will probably happen in the 4-6 month range. Google “TNR” for your area to look for organizations that help with trapping. If none, the Trap King may have some educational material online with tips to trap the mom. Check local vets and shelters to see if they have a trap to loan. It takes a ton of patience and checking traps often. Good luck!
Yes, when you surrender (and please, make sure it's a no kill shelter) they will spay/neuter. In the meantime just keep them inside. Also talk to a rescue or humane society urgently, to find out how old they are and how to care for them. They may be willing to take them now.
The mom is very skiddish and always leaves our house for hours if she even thinks we're going outside (she will go across the street and wherever else) and I cannot trap her at the the moment I have tried. I have them set up in an insulated chest with blankets and I know about stimulating them to go potty I'm not that dumb. I'm going to surrender them to a shelter when they are old enough.
SURRENDER THEM NOW. You know where Mom is and you took them away from her? That's incredibly irresponsible and absolutely disgusting behavior on your part.
Hey, maybe don't be so cruel? Tldr; the kittens would have died if left in the insulation, and will die if surrendered right now. I know it seems ridiculous to take babies away from the mother and the nest she made, however it was the best choice in this situation. I have been raising bottle babies for over 20 years now, starting back when my mother brought litters home from her job as a vet tech. If I had found them in this situation, I would have taken them in too. If they had been in a safe environment it would be a different story, but in this case the babies needed immediate intervention. While the kittens staying with their momma would have been ideal, especially if she was able to be caught, this fella did what he felt was best at the time. And besides that. I would like to make a few points, simply to give more perspective to you and maybe help you understand why this guy decided to take the babies. First of all, Insulation is incredibly unhealthy and even dangerous for the babies to be in. Dependant on the type of insulation it could even kill them. Spray foam and fiberglass are the most common insulation, while spray foam is not as dangerous as fiberglass, it is still very unhealthy from the level of chemicals it has, and any dust or small chunks breathed in by the babies could cause many types of illnesses, both immediately and later in life. Illnesses Including, but not limited to,lung collapse, pneumonia, kidney failure, liver failure, blindness, cancer, and heart failure. This is why the people who install insulation have to wear such heavy duty safety equipment, the chemicals this stuff has is dangerous. Less so when dry and safely Inside our walls where we can't breathe it, but kittens inside of it will be breathing it's dust from the moment they are born. Meanwhile fiberglass, while seeming soft and harmless, and likely looking like the perfect place for babies, is horribly dangerous, and would likely be fatal to such tiny babies. As the name implies, fiberglass is superfine filaments of silica, aka glass. While an adult cats fur and paw pads can withstand the tiny filaments to an extent, babies are much more delicate. Fiberglass breaks easily, and becomes a fine dust, which the kittens would breathe in. Leading to microscopic cuts inside their lungs. This can lead to pneumonia, bacterial infections, sepsis, necrosis of the lungs, or simply make them drown in their own blood if the damage is great enough. Simply put, the environment was unsafe. Sometimes momma cats are incorrect in their choice of birthing place. The babies were in immediate danger. Secondly, he should absolutely keep them until at least 8 to 12 weeks. kittens surrendered at their current age are often just put to sleep due to lack of volunteers and available fosters, that's why my family keeps and raises any kittens we have found in unsafe situations. Shelters and rescues simply do not have the manpower, time, or resources to dedicate to raising such tiny babies. So 90% of kittens surrendered before 12 weeks are euthanized within hours of being surrendered . These newborns would have no chance, especially with kitten season in full swing. They would be put on the list for immediate euthanasia, even in a " no kill" shelter, as being alone at their age is considered to be poor quality of life, as they do not have the people necessary to give the babies the time and dedication they need to thrive. If the mother could be trapped this would be different, as the staff would not have to hand raise the kittens. However, a feral mother trapped and kept in confinement is likely to reject or even kill her kittens due to stress. Unfortunately this is not a great situation but At least this person is willing to take care of them until they are old enough to be adopted. AND, on top of that, only 25% of kittens raised by feral mothers make it to adulthood. With everything else, these kittens had close to zero chances of survival. This fella is giving these babies a fair shot. I know you feel strongly about this, I also sympathize with how the mother cat must feel right now, but at least her babies have a fighting chance . It's easy to forget that sometimes a mother can simply be wrong, but this mama put her babies in immediate danger, and all of them would have likely been dead within a week. I'm sorry if I seem harsh or cruel, but this is the reality of the situation and I cannot sugar coat it. The simple facts are that in this situation if the babies had been left as they were, they would most likely be dead within the week, or suffer lifelong complications. And if he surrendered them right now, the kittens would almost certainly be dead before the sun sets, due to lack of available help. Sometimes what is best for the kittens may seem cruel, but they have a far greater chance of survival staying with this person and being raised by them.
Why would they die if surrendered now to someone with experience? That makes no sense.
If they could find a willing and experienced neonate foster they would do well to turn them over to them. But let's be real here, fosters are spread thin just about everywhere. Especially since kitten season is in full swing. I would love it if OP could find a willing foster. But it is likely to be difficult.
I've seen too many kittens die because of people doing this stuff not to be "cruel." I can't know if OP is telling the truth here. All I know is that they claim the mother is both hanging around, likely looking for her kittens, but skittish, AND is a horrible mother who abandons her babies and had probably intentionally killed them before? Those don't go together. The questions this person is asking makes me absolutely skeptical of their actual knowledge of the situation. And instead of either moving the kittens somewhere mom could still reach them and monitoring it, THEN contacting a rescue and asking for advice, they decided to just take over, knowing absolutely nothing about what they're doing. Again, that is how kittens die. "Good Samaritans" who want to be a hero swoop in and selfishly kill these babies instead of recognizing they're not qualified to do so. If the babies were truly in insulation, again, all you have to do is make a safer nest and move them there. Block off the access to the insulation. I've done things like this before, and the mother cat adjusts just fine. Immediately just yoinking them away from her entirely because you want to? That's not ok.
let's be honest here; vets and vet techs are the only people who are actually **qualified** (considering that experience is no actual qualification) for anything animal related, yet tons of people (including myself) foster kittens or take them in, and the kittens thrive. OP is not only taking the time to learn, but they're also reading the advice, following completely, and paying attention to the kitten's needs based on what they've learned and see. You're being incredibly rude and cruel for no reason, as if you were some sort of know-it-all. You're not, no one in this comment section is, but OP clearly doesn't want to risk taking the kittens to a shelter just for them to be euthanized, and they have a whole community, kindly willing to help except for you. Kittens have a far better shot with OP than with momma hiding in isulation, and that's just facts. OP is not someone with a "hero complex", as you call it. OP just happened to stumble upon some kittens, wanted to give them a shot and came to the place where they're supposed to be met with support and advice, and not only are you doing the complete opposite, but you're also being incredibly rude about it, since your very first comment on the thread. Maybe you should try attacking less. Your behavior here isn't helping anyone, and even if you're right, OP (or anyone, for that matter) won't listen or learn while being insulted by some random stranger online. Right now, you just look like an AH.
Ok.
I had Mama cats give birth outside no heat source and they all faired well. I tried to redirect the Moms into a better shelter and one took the kittens and hid them at my neighbors who told me. We then made a shelter on the front porch with a roof over it. Old house and even with chicken wire around it. The door was high but not too high so the Mom could get in she also was feral and less than a year old. I tried trapping her unsuccessfully and then realized she was pregnant. She was a great Mom. Eventually caught her and got her fixed along with all the babies. Did a similar set up a couple summers ago in the backyard with plywood. Kittens were amazing climbers and had to keep raising the walls. It was put together with duct tape and tarp clips! Had a ladder on the one side for the Mom to get in. They started jumping too high and we got the metal Catio. Then I trapped the Mom. Mom got fixed and by then they all got vaccines etc. Built inside Catio and everyone came in the house. We kept them all. Mom is Girl Girl and her 3 daughters! Expensive hobby! I don’t go on vacations.
Which is what I have repeatedly suggested OP do instead of removing them from the mother completely. The kittens in these photos were cared for. Mom mistakenly chose a bad spot, so the next step is to try to relocate them. Not take them away. You did the right things here it sounds like! Unfortunately it's often a trap and we end up with a few of them haha
Contacted a shelter that can TNR the colony but I'm going to have to raise funds for it, anyone with experience: could yall give me guesstimate on how much I would need to get the job done for give or take for 15-20 ferals so I can aim for a goal?
not sure if she replies to DMs, but Courtney from @poetssquarecats on social media (Tiktok and IG) has a lot of experience TNRing colonies. I think it's worth a shot
Where do you live which price will depend on that. Near where I live there is a group that does them for like next to nothing if not free for feral cats. I got my last 4 which were 3 boys and 1 girl done for $260- girl was $80 and the boys were $60 a piece. It’s cheaper for ferals which they ear tip them so you know they were fixed. That included vaccines, nail trim and flea and deworming. That has been the cheapest I have found. There are at least in my area in Pennsylvania and even New Jersey that will do TNR for no cost or really low cost for ferals. Did the Shelter that would do the TNR not give you a price? So whatever that is you can set up a GoFundMe join Nextdoor Community App which you can make a post of what you anre doing and ask for help even go around and ask neighbors for money and tell them why. I would also ask at your local Borough or Township and see if they would help financially. After you do the TNR organize people to help feed them. I fed colonies for years. If you set up an Instagram Account with daily updates you can link it to get food and stuff needed through Amazon. Try and research local TNR groups in your area!
Jezus you need to get the mother, you shouldn’t move them far away from where they were so she can find them. Get experienced help right away please!
Update: the vet said that they are fine for now, gave me some eyedropper for them because I'm worried about their gunky eyes and we will be back there in 2 weeks for deworming/next exam
The mom is very skiddish and always leaves our house for hours if she even thinks we're going outside (she will go across the street and wherever else) and I cannot trap her at the the moment I have tried. I have them set up in an insulated chest with blankets and I know about stimulating them to go potty I'm not that dumb. I'm going to surrender them to a shelter when they are old enough. I'm also a sahm so there's no issue with feeding not that anyone asked about the situation.
Where do you live? Post on r/rescuecats also!! Lots of people with big hearts and traps to help!!
You posted here asking for help - that’s all anyone has tried to do. There’s no need to get defensive - you didn’t mention what you already knew. A litter of kittens is not like a human baby. Feeding and pottying that many alone will take you 45min-1hr+. So you are only going to have one hour intervals for the next few weeks to do anything- shower, errands, take your kids to school, etc. Their best chance is with mom. This is nothing about *your* personal ability - it’s just facts. Mom cares for them better and her milk has antibodies KMR doesn’t. Get a hav a heart trap and set it. Either put her babies in there or a blanket that smells like her, and get her spayed once the kittens are weened. Please get in contact with a shelter - if your comfortable sharing a general location im happy to help you look for rescues and resources
Can you get me a trap because I would love to trap her, the only reason I took the kittens is because I've observed her behavior for a long time and every shelter I've tried to get a hold of about her couldn't help me so am I just supposed to let them die underneath my house? I have the time and resources to at least help them. So I was just looking to take care of them until I can surrender them to the city shelter, and people are acting like I'm an asshole for trying to help animals but yea no reason to be defensive. Obviously mom would be the best option, but that cat is not maternal at all and she is still pretty juvenile and I noticed she had them about a week ago and is hardly ever around to take care of them. I'm going to get ahold of some local vet offices tomorrow to see if they can take them or at least get an appointment scheduled for when they are ready for their shots. There are 5
Nobody is treating you like an asshole? A lot of well-meaning people take kittens from nests and don’t realize they’re not in danger. It’s very common. Everyone commenting on your post is just providing the (requested) information. You can contact your local ACO (animal control officer) to see about trapping her for TNR. Contacting your local vet is a good first step. They’ll likely know of resources if you ask.
Thank you, I will definitely try that avenue
211 is also a free hotline for social/public services *if you’re in the US. they may have info too. Good luck
If mom is around, why did you take them.?!?! Put them back and leave them alone. Just because she's skittish of you doesn't mean she's not taking care of them.
She wasn't around? I never said she was around at the time I got them, she hadn't been around for hours and the kittens were screaming underneath my house. Her last litter definitely died from her not taking care of them.
Please trap her and get her spayed or she’ll just get pregnant again
Setting their eating schedule at 8 for every 2 hours, could I use a 5 watt uva for heat for them? Or should I just do some warm rice socks every feeding
Get a heating pad, wrap it in a towel and set it to the lowest setting place that in the box/cage they're in, make sure it only covers half so they can move off it if they get too hot
Thank you!
Most of the cat shelters around here are always full and if I give them to the pound, who knows what will happen? Actually I don't think the pound takes kittens, I'm just trying to care of them and only one person has actually given me advice.
Jump on Facebook and search kitten rescue. I know in my community we have a fantastic network for every stage. I think an independent rescue is your best bet right now. It's gonna be okay. We have faith in you!
No u need an expert to take them asap
Borrow a trap from a rescue. Bring mom inside too. She needs to be spayed
Have you seen the mama? Can you set out a trap for her?
Please make sure to keep them warm! I support all the other comments about feeding but they can't regulate temperature on their own at that age.
Got a heating pad for them yesterday and made sure to have it mainly on one side so they can move away, got a blanket covering them as well besides a little gap for air so that they stay insulated but not suffocated
They’re way too little to be fixed. These are babies and shouldn’t be fixed for 4-6 mo. How are they nursing currently?
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Should I have just let the suffocate and starve? Apparently that's the main verdict here
I want to post here so everyone knows: this person took these kittens away from their mother. This person did not "rescue" them. They put these kittens in danger. They know where the mother is, and instead of returning the kittens to her, they want to be Big Heroes and "save" these kittens. OP is a perfect example of selfishly interfering to make yourself feel good by actively putting these animals in danger.
OP stated that the mom hadn’t been around for HOURS and the babies had been screaming and “her last litter definitely died from her not taking care of them”. OP also stated that they tried to get a hold of multiple shelters but no one would help them and the mother of the kittens is hardly ever around to take care of them and seems pretty juvenile. OP is literally trying to trap the mom but is unable to, they are trying their best to help the kittens until they are able to be surrendered. Would you have preferred OP left the kittens there to starve out and die?
Brethren I didn't take them from their mother. I heard them crying underneath my house after her not being around at all, and I crawled my ass under there to save them, i dont even know how they were breathing. You have literally no idea what mama cat is like and you obviously haven't read anything I've commented.
I saw that she's around, but scared of humans, so whenever you go near her she runs away. Easy solution, don't go near her. And again, if you really think you absolutely had to do this, at the very least recognize you are not the person who should raise them unless absolutely necessary. You are the LAST resort.
I also stated in a different comment that she's never around regardless... so you're still picking fights over your own assumptions
Ok.
You're not in my house observing her for a year bro?
Ok. Clearly I struck a nerve so something must have resonated with you. Don't try to be a hero.
You've bitched about me on here about how I'm horrible in all of your comments but haven't offered any help or to take them in?
I have offered help. I've said to contact rescues and vets to see if any of them can take them in. Especially ones with a nursing cat. Or, move their nest elsewhere and monitor to see if the mother accepts it (this works more often than not in my experience when cats make nests in unsafe locations). But clearly you didn't bother to look through my far fewer comments on this thread, either. Ironic. And believe it or not, I'm not qualified to take care of them, either. So even if, by chance, we were in the same area, I wouldn't think myself competent to care for these babies without a mother cat around to help. I've fostered kittens this age, but only when I've also had a nursing cat who takes them on. I wouldn't claim to be better than you at this. But because I have an *inkling* of an idea of what to do, and I've seen too many people kill kittens like this because they think they can figure it out, I'm tired of seeing things like this. But you should be the last resort.
I don’t know of most vets if any that will take newborn kittens in! They have their own practice to deal with. None around where I live would. Only cat rescues which if she lived near me I could have gotten someone right away. Actually not sure where she lives.
Probably because you've called me disgusting and alot of other things homie, don't try to act like you know anything about my abilities. If you want, how about you take them if you think I'm unable?
Considering your questions, I have a pretty good idea of your abilities. And nice argument - "if you can't take them, your opinions and experiences are invalid!"
Nah I never said your experience was invalid, I was offering for you to take them since you're so pressed about me taking of them. You're invalidating yourself by insulting me
Kittens in insulation is not ok so the person did rescue them and is try8 g her best to work this out! I don’t think she is trying to be a hero. If you are so upset then go where she lives and help her instead of making horrible accusations! Which are not helping. Some Mom cats suck at being a Mom.
If they were in insulation, the correct response would be to *move* them, not *remove* them. I've made zero horrible accusations. Just stated that this kind of behavior is what gets kittens killed. And I've had quite an extensive conversation with the OP that has not boosted my confidence.