Mummy and kittens on doorstep
Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2020 6:54 am
Hi.
I have a feral cat that has just had her latest litter in a box on my doorstrep.
I live in the countryside, and there are lots of feral cats around here (I live in Hungary, although I am British). A couple of months ago, one of the cats who we see often in our garden appeared with two kittens, approximately 8 weeks old. Previously I had been chasing this cat out of the garden as she was hunting the birds on the bird feeder I have. I hadn't realised she was about to have a litter. Anyway, she'd had them in the neighbour's woodpile, and only 2 of 4 had survived according to the neighbour. Soon after, one of the two kittens disappeared - presumably taken by a large bird of prey we have in these parts.
I started to feed the cat and kitten, and gradually over the past 2 months some trust has grown. I have a basement, and put an automatic cat feeder in there to feed them when I am not around.
Anyway, it soon became clear the mummy cat was pregnant again, and so I have been feeding her well. The cats started to come in the house and now the kitten, which has been rejected by the mother, is now spending the night inside the house and is now allowing me to pet her. Mummy comes in the house for food, but generally leaves when finished and doesn't like me too close (about a foot is the closes though I have stroked her a little when feeding. I had built a couple of nests in the basement (boxes with blankets in surrounded by wood with two ways in and out so she might have the litter there as it's quite protected and out of the weather.
I had previously put a box with a blanket and hole in it by the front door, more for the kitten - but this morning the mother is in it with two seemingly well newborn and one dead kitten by the entrance hole. There is another box and blanket on top, but this is open and was where she has been sleeping overnight the last few days....
So - I need advice. It's getting quite cold at night here, and I would like to bring the box with mummy and kittens inside to where it is warm. I have prepared a large box in which I will put this one with a entrance cut in it and no top so I could put the current box inside with a litter tray - but I don't want to freak the mother out. She quite freely comes in the house, and sometimes even sits in here when the door is open, but also bolts if I open the door to quickly when she is in the outside box she was sleeping in. This morning I have been able to let her sniff my hand and go in and out without any reaction...
So, what should I do?
I have a feral cat that has just had her latest litter in a box on my doorstrep.
I live in the countryside, and there are lots of feral cats around here (I live in Hungary, although I am British). A couple of months ago, one of the cats who we see often in our garden appeared with two kittens, approximately 8 weeks old. Previously I had been chasing this cat out of the garden as she was hunting the birds on the bird feeder I have. I hadn't realised she was about to have a litter. Anyway, she'd had them in the neighbour's woodpile, and only 2 of 4 had survived according to the neighbour. Soon after, one of the two kittens disappeared - presumably taken by a large bird of prey we have in these parts.
I started to feed the cat and kitten, and gradually over the past 2 months some trust has grown. I have a basement, and put an automatic cat feeder in there to feed them when I am not around.
Anyway, it soon became clear the mummy cat was pregnant again, and so I have been feeding her well. The cats started to come in the house and now the kitten, which has been rejected by the mother, is now spending the night inside the house and is now allowing me to pet her. Mummy comes in the house for food, but generally leaves when finished and doesn't like me too close (about a foot is the closes though I have stroked her a little when feeding. I had built a couple of nests in the basement (boxes with blankets in surrounded by wood with two ways in and out so she might have the litter there as it's quite protected and out of the weather.
I had previously put a box with a blanket and hole in it by the front door, more for the kitten - but this morning the mother is in it with two seemingly well newborn and one dead kitten by the entrance hole. There is another box and blanket on top, but this is open and was where she has been sleeping overnight the last few days....
So - I need advice. It's getting quite cold at night here, and I would like to bring the box with mummy and kittens inside to where it is warm. I have prepared a large box in which I will put this one with a entrance cut in it and no top so I could put the current box inside with a litter tray - but I don't want to freak the mother out. She quite freely comes in the house, and sometimes even sits in here when the door is open, but also bolts if I open the door to quickly when she is in the outside box she was sleeping in. This morning I have been able to let her sniff my hand and go in and out without any reaction...
So, what should I do?