found mom & babies

[momofcats]

Yesterday behind our gagage my dog found a mom cat with her babies. She was very well hidden. Blends in with the leaves that are behind the garage and has herself a little cubby hole.
I gave her some food and water. She is so, so skinny for having two little babies about a week old.
Well, this morning while building a little shelter for the food (to keep it out of sight of all the squirrals) she let me pet her and rub her head. She has no claws to hunt or defend herself.
She is the sweetest little girl.
My concern: no claws to defend herself or hunt.
I can't take her in because I already have two cats (and a few months ago I posted for advice about one of mine who didn't adjust to a move recently and marked her territory so I don't want a repeat of that) and a large black lab.
Should I just care for her and the babies by giving her the food and water and hope for the best until her babies are old enough to get them homes or should I contact my vet and bring the bunch in now where it is safe from cars and such?
help!

[lbaker]

Is there an animal (no-kill) rescue organization somewhere around you? Definately call someone. Do you know and trust your vet to help find a foster somewhere? If she has no claws someone must have owned her. Could they have really just put her outside because she was preggers? AWFUL to think about but then maybe someone is looking for her. Do let us know what you decide. Bless you for trying to help.

[moosmom]

I would definitely call your vet to see if they can take them in. 2 weeks old is WAY too young to be outside. And the mother being declawed is even worse. Making a shelter for them isn't enough since she IS declawed. Get some cans of Science Diet kitten food and feed it to the mother. It has alot of fat and protein in it and will help her put on weight as well as produce milk.

If you cannot find a rescue organization or the vet, is it at all possible for you to take them in, confining them in either a spare room or bathroom? At least until they're old enough to turn into a shelter. The babies are way too young to be separated from their mama.

Leaving her outside to face the elements (someone else's dog, wild critters, weather, etc) is not a good idea.

Where are you located?? Are you very far from Michigan?? If not, maybe I can foster them till they're old enough to place. Please contact me. I will PM you with my phone number.

[lbaker]

By the way Momofcats, I forgot to welcome you to PetTalk. I certainly hope further postings will be of better news and good cheer. Keep in touch

[momofcats]

My mistake. She has claws.
Found out the hardway.
I contacted my vet...he doesn't take animals in for adopted .... try the local shelter
Anyway. I made a bed for her the garage. Hubby will be thrilled. His condition was not inside....never said anything about the garage.
At least they will be safe. Put her and the babies in there with food and litter box. She was ok initially and then when the garage door went up (poor planning on my part) she ran out...crying. Got her back in (comes right to me and let me take the babies to put them in their new home) and put her back in with her babies.
Hope this works out.

[K & L]

Oh poor thing! You're doing such a good thing for her!! Maybe in the meantime you can call some no-kill shelters and get on a list! Good luck to you and keep us posted. Any pictures???

[moosmom]

Momofcats,

That's a great thing you're doing. Any way to convince hubby this is a temporary situation?? Explain that they need to be in a warmer place than the garage. Tell him that once they're old enough to be placed, you'll work diligently to find homes for them. Make him a little promise for a "romantic rondesvous (sp?)" if he agrees. Bribe him. Do what ya gotta do to get these babies and mama through the next 4 weeks.

I assume you don't live anywhere near Michigan or I'd foster them.

Keep us updated, okay??

[momofcats]

Update:
Babies and mommy seem to be doing fine. I am a little concerned because it appears that she did not eat any of the food from today and she is so skinny. We will watch.

My husband understands me by now and knows this is the kind of stuff I just have to do. I, like many of you, am one to pull over and pick up dogs that look like they got lost or whatever the case may be...

Hubby volunteered to build a shelter, multiple room dog house, for mom if I decide to keep her as an outside cat. I think she deserves a happy, loving home inside if she can get one.

Moosmom, thanks for the offer and I will keep you in mind. I am at the Indiana/Illinois border if that gives you any idea to my location to your whereabouts. Thanks again everyone.

[jenluckenbach]

It is great that you have taken the mom into your garage. Some of the most important things to consider are 1) making sure the babies are tamed at an early age so they are more readily adoptable and 2) making sure the entire family gets neutered. In the meantime (as they are growing up) you should search for any and all no-kill rescue organizations that are near enough to you to help in placing the animals after weaning time. Congratulations on doing a wonderful thin for these cats.

[momofcats]

Just wanted to give an update.
Mom (named her Molly) is doing fine. A little cranky this morning. She is selective eater. Hopefully her teeth are ok and she just is picking. Does not touch dry food. Desperate for her to eat something yesterday, so before I was able to go to the store I gave her some tuna...she loved that.
She did eat can food yesterday...not as good as tuna of course. This morning she turned her nose up at another flavor of the can food. Ate some, but not as much as I would like or assume she would eat.
Feeding her KMR too for the nutrients...God only knows what she was through before I came around.

Babies eyes are still not open. Tiny little things. I will bring the babies to a nonkilll shelter where I got my two cats a couple of years back.

I will try to post pictures...have to find the camera.

[jenluckenbach]

LOL....I can't believe Molly is a picky eater. Must not have been a stray on her own for all that long. (this is a good thing).
Looking forward to seeing the babies. You will have a ball watching them grow up!

[momofcats]

I know you guys will appreciate this ....
Did a "bedcheck" last night around 10:00 on Molly and the babies. All were tucked in and safe for the night. Probably need to back track, they are in the garage, in one of those plastic pools with blankets for padding and warmth. A litter box is next to the pool.
Get up this morning to feed Molly and she is gone. No Molly. No babies in the pool.

I call her (very smart kitty) and she comes running out and gobbles down her food. In the meantime, I am looking for the babies. Not the cleaniest garage in the world....allot of hiding places.
So, when Molly is finally done she takes me to them. Literally. Walks, turns as if to makes sure I am following her versus not following her. Stopped for an ear and head rub...
She made a bed for herself on the floor on the excess blanket covering stuff so it didn't get ruined in the move.

Kind of got the impression she is saying "your nice, I trust you, you feed me and I know you are not going to hurt me and the babies...but leave us alone...we need private time too."

[jenluckenbach]

It is so cute when mom moves her babies. As long as they are safe and comfortable is all that really matters.

[momofcats]

Update.

Everyone is doing fine. Molly really does like it outside...she roams a little and comes back. She isn't begging to come in anymore....just that one day which could have been because she was hungrey? I am still looking for a home and keeping all options open.

Anyway. Babies eyes are still not open. One of them were trying real hard yesterday to open up but are not quiet there.

Molly moved babies again last night. Between her and I, I thought we had made a pretty good house for her and the babies. She found a better house. My car. lol
During our little visits I would tap the back of the trunk and she would jump on it for a little cuddle time...last night she evidentially jumped in the car and decided that was the place to be.
Luckily this is a third car that hasn't been driven for a while (and now won't be).

Between my inside cat dragging clothes around (on another posting) and this cat picking up her babies and jumping into a car window...I don't think my black lab really would have a chance if they got mad and decided to take over...

[lbaker]

What a wonderfully loving and interesting household you must have You are such a dear person & I'm sure your furkids all agree. Blessings to you & yours.