Need Help ASAP...Bella the feral had babies

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05-23-2007, 04:23 AM
kittycats_delight

Need Help ASAP...Bella the feral had babies

Ok I have put off posting this. We found out about 2 weeks before Bella was suppose to be spayed that she was pregnant. We asked them to abort as she was only a little more than 6 months old at our and the vet's guesstimation. They refused. They told us they only aborted if the mother cat's life was in danger and they did not see that at the moment. We have no where to put her inside. I wish we did. I live with my brother in law, father in law and husband. We have 3 animals inside now including Phoenix the rescue we got last March. Phoenix hates Bella and would make her life help. We thought about a large crate too but there is simply no room anywhere. We don't have a garage, basement, attic or spare room. Anyway enough history.

Bella took matters into her own paws so to speak and found a very secure place to give birth. It is under our terrace. The issue is we cannot get under there. The terrace is only about 1 foot off the ground. We live in a duplex. The guy that lives upstairs has the garage but due to family situation he and the dog live in the garage hence not being able to keep her and the babies there. So we went down and asked if we could see if we could reach the babies through a small window there. Not possible. Bella has then in a small outcropping where the window is but to the far side and the window is not big enough to get through or to reach them. They are all alive and doing well. There are 4. A blue one, a blue and white, a black and white and the littliest one a black one.

What I need to know is what can we do to make sure Bella is getting enough nutrients? I was thinking I should put her on Royal Canin kitten formula (kibble) cause it is higher in protein and fat. Would this be a good idea? Also is there anything else I should do. It seems until she is ready the kittens are going to have to stay where they are cause no one can get to them. So until she is ready to bring them out we are stuck. We will be checking in on them through the small window in the 'apartment' garage of the guy that lives here.

Please advise.
Thanks so much.
Michelle, Bella & babies.
05-23-2007, 08:25 AM
catnapper

Not much advice but wishing you plenty of luck! I do know that feeding mama kitten food -- and lots of it will make sure she gets enough nutrients. Make sure she has lots of water too, especially since its getting hot out now.
05-23-2007, 09:11 AM
Fuzzybuns

Could you maybe prepare a box for her with a rope attached to it. Then you could use a broom handle to push it in closer...maybe she'll move the babies into it and then you could pull it back out??
05-23-2007, 09:27 AM
Freedom

Aw geez, crazy vet!!!!

If you disturb the "nest" too much, Bella will move the babies. Since you know where they are, you feel it is a secure place, and she is coming to you for food, maybe just let things be until the kittens are mobile. If she moves the little ones, you won't know where, may not be able to find them, and it may not be a secure a spot.

Buy the highest quality food you can get for her. Best!
05-23-2007, 09:47 AM
moosmom

Awesome advice Freedom!!!

No sense in upsetting that nest.

What I WOULD do, once the babies are older, is set a Hav-A-Heart trap. The sooner you get them away from Mama, the better chances you have of socializing them quickly and getting them furrrrever homes.

Mama should get spayed the minute the kitties are weaned.

KCD,

Great job!!!
05-23-2007, 10:04 AM
kittycats_delight

Quote:

Originally Posted by catnapper

Not much advice but wishing you plenty of luck! I do know that feeding mama kitten food -- and lots of it will make sure she gets enough nutrients. Make sure she has lots of water too, especially since its getting hot out now.

I went this morning and bought her a 2Kg bag of Royal Canin kitten food along with some high quality wet food, all natural. She has food and water available 24/7 and she trusts me and my husband.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzybuns

Could you maybe prepare a box for her with a rope attached to it. Then you could use a broom handle to push it in closer...maybe she'll move the babies into it and then you could pull it back out??

I don't know if I should disturb the nest at all. I don't want to do something like this and then have her feel insecure and moved the babies.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freedom

Aw geez, crazy vet!!!!

If you disturb the "nest" too much, Bella will move the babies. Since you know where they are, you feel it is a secure place, and she is coming to you for food, maybe just let things be until the kittens are mobile. If she moves the little ones, you won't know where, may not be able to find them, and it may not be a secure a spot.

Buy the highest quality food you can get for her. Best!

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe it is best to let her be where she feels secure and safe. The last thing I want is for her to move those babies to somewhere I can't find them or a unsafe place.

Hubby just had another peek at her and the babies first she covered them with her paw but then she realized it was Guido and relaxed and let him see them(not touch). She rolled back a little and stretched out her neck to give a little sniff and then rolled back and settled in with the babies again. He is offering her some food now to see if she is interested as she hasn't eaten much really. She has eaten about 30 g of dry and 100g of wet from the morning but nothing since. She did have a nice drink too before she went back to her babies. He took my phone with him in hopes she will feel comfortable enough to let him take a picture but he will not do it if she seems at all uncomfortable or stressed.

I will let you guys know how things are going.

Oh yeah the vetting here is much different. We called this morning and asked them what we should be feeding her and were told 'Oh whatever you want. Whatever you were feeding her before is fine just give her more.' They charge a fortune for everything a spay will cost me about €250,00. :eek: But it will be done as soon as possible. I don't need her getting pregnant again. She is only 8 months old after all and she will be so much better off not having more. I am just kicking myself in the butt for not getting her before this happened. Unfortunately I had to gain her trust first. And when that happened it was too late. :(

Thanks guys for the support & advice.
Michelle, Bella & babies
05-23-2007, 10:13 AM
kittycats_delight

Quote:

Originally Posted by moosmom

Awesome advice Freedom!!!

No sense in upsetting that nest.

What I WOULD do, once the babies are older, is set a Hav-A-Heart trap. The sooner you get them away from Mama, the better chances you have of socializing them quickly and getting them furrrrever homes.

Mama should get spayed the minute the kitties are weaned.

KCD,

Great job!!!

Unfortunately Donna getting a trap is virtually impossible. Even the ENPA does not have them. I don't think I will have a big problem getting them though. She has no issues with Guido or I and she trusts us completely. So we will figure out something for getting them out of there when the time comes. Around 5 weeks I was thinking.

We are keeping mamma and the little blue one and maybe one other. But for sure Bella and the blue baby. The others I will be fostering until they find a forever home. Approved by me not ENPA. You just have to want the cat for ENPA to allow you to take it home. Not gonna work that way with me. I am hoping that ENPA will give us the forms for them to get spayed/neutered under them as it will be around €60,00 each instead of the normal €250,00. And mamma will be spayed as soon as we get those babies weaned for sure.

Thanks Donna. :)

Michelle, Bella & babies