Damn it!!!!!!

[SeaCat]

Damn, damn and double damn.

As some of you know I had a half wild cat take up residence in my carport/garage not so very long ago. She was more than just friendly and more than a little pregnant. Well a week ago she had her kittens, four of them.

She was staying in a box out in the garage and everything was going well. My two cats were slowly getting used to her scent on us and seemed to be accepting her being around. (They have been nose to nose through the screens more than once without the usual hissing and yowling.)

Tonight, about half an hour ago I was sitting at the computer and heard one hell of a racket outside. when I went outside to see what was going on I was confronted by a very unhappy Mamma Cat barely holding off a rather large Raccoon.

For the one time in my life I was happy about my being lazy and not putting the yard tools away after using them yesterday. With some very creative use of a set of garden shears and a small mallet there is now a very dead raccoon floating down the Intercoastal.

I now have a very nervouse and unhappy Mamma Cat and kittens in the spare room. Three of the kittens seem to be in perfect health but the fourth, the only all black one doesn't seem to be doing very well. He has a small cut or puncture wound on the shoulder which doesn't worry me too much. What does worry me is his breathing which is labored. We shall see what happens I suppose.

Anyone going to want a kitten in a month or so?

Cat

 

[rgraham666]

Sigh. Prayers for the little one, SeaCat.

Can't help you on the adoptions though.

 

[Liar]

Hmm. Doubt you could ship one over here.

Hos'w the nieighborhood? Would a "want a kitten?" posters yield result?

 

[3113]

Oh. Can we see pictures of Mama and the kittens? Please?

Where are you located, Cat? That'll help us with adoptions given that you can't really ship these kittens Fex Ex.

 

[zeb1094]

there is now a very dead raccoon floating down the Intercoastal.

Cat

Somewhere in Fla. I would say!

 

[Guest]

Do you think the kitten is in shock? They are so tiny - even moving them from one room to the next is upsetting. Maybe when it settles down a bit its breathing will even out again.

Wish we could take one but we couldn't fit another kitty into our house.

You are a good man, Cat.

 

[fieryjen]

Thinking of, and best wishes for the kitten

I wish I could take one, if my current living situation would allow it. As it is, I unfortunately can't help you either

 

[SeaCat]

Yeah, most likely it's in shock. We shall see what happens. When I looked in a couple of minutes ago it was on it's belly with kittens on either side and Critter, (Our name for Mamma,) licking it. Much better than the last time I looked when it was laying on it's side panting.

As for where I am, South Florida.

Cat

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Hoping for the best. My heart is always captured by the small ones.

 

[cheerful_deviant]

It's probablly in shock and will recover in time. But if it got shaken about it may have further injuries. Unfortunatly, many times in a litter, at least one or two kittens will die, especially if the mother is a stray and hasn't been eating all that well.

Look about on the internet and check with your local ASPCA. THere is probablly a local non-profit animal resuce league in your area that will help you find good homes for them. I know of a few up here (won't help you but it proves they exist). The local pound might also have a line on any leagues around.

 

[SeaCat]

It's probablly in shock and will recover in time. But if it got shaken about it may have further injuries. Unfortunatly, many times in a litter, at least one or two kittens will die, especially if the mother is a stray and hasn't been eating all that well.

Look about on the internet and check with your local ASPCA. THere is probablly a local non-profit animal resuce league in your area that will help you find good homes for them. I know of a few up here (won't help you but it proves they exist). The local pound might also have a line on any leagues around.

Thanks Duck.
I'll check into the rescue leagues.
I don't know if it got shaken or not. It like the rest were scattered about a bit, and this one was soaked from the water bowl being knocked over.

Mamma Cat has been eating quite well thank you very much. She eats as much as my large cat does and is about half his size. Up until this happened all four kittens seemed in good health, so like I said we shall see.

Funniest part is, I know of several people including my father who have attempted to take in a wild one and it didn't work out. They went beserk once they got inside. Critter on the other hand has always tried to get inside. Tonight when I brought her in she yowled for a couple of minutes until I brought her kittens in then sat down and petted her until she calmed down. Now though she is comfortably ensconsed in a new box with all four kittens, and has even used a makeshift litter box once. Somehow I think she has been outside for a very short period of time.

Cat

 

[BlackSnake]

Man, I have grown a soft for the little fuzzies I use to call mobile-dogfood. I grew up having hunting dogs, but now I have three cats. They all have their claws, but I still don't let them out of the house.

Sorry, you had to hear the attack, and I hope the kitten pulls through.

 

[SeaCat]

Man, I have grown a soft for the little fuzzies I use to call mobile-dogfood. I grew up having hunting dogs, but now I have three cats. They all have their claws, but I still don't let them out of the house.

Sorry, you had to hear the attack, and I hope the kitten pulls through.

Actually I'm glad I heard it. I was able to stop it before too much damage was done. (Well damage to the Cats at least.)

I too hope the kitten pulls through. I looked in a couple of minutes ago and it's still among it's brothers and sisters and still breathing so there is still hope.

Cat

 

[Guest]

Actually I'm glad I heard it. I was able to stop it before too much damage was done. (Well damage to the Cats at least.)

I too hope the kitten pulls through. I looked in a couple of minutes ago and it's still among it's brothers and sisters and still breathing so there is still hope.

Cat

Good news so far, then.

I have to share with you, Cat. We took in a momma kitty last summer. She belongs (belonged) to our idiot neighbors and they never took care of her. Consequently, she spent all of her time in our yard with our kids. She was lonely.

Anyway, she had one litter outside and brought them over to our house where the dryer vents to keep them warm. When they were mobile, they went back next door. When they grew up, the neighbors gave two away and left two to roam. We adopted them. Two big Tom Cats - we call them the knuckleheads.

In August, we also took in momma. Unfortunately, she was already preggers. Litter number two. Oops. We had to take her in. The neighbors were going to let her indiscriminately breed - forever.

We gave away three of the kittens and kept just the one little girl. We just spayed momma, and her two older kittens go next.

So now we have four much older kitties and four very young kitties (momma kitty probably bred at 8 months - very young). It took awhile for the older crew to accept the younger, and we still have occasional spats and spits and yowls, but things are settling well.

And I really do not understand people who refuse to take care of their animals.

(And Cat? You are a terrific person.)

 

[glynndah]

When we moved into a different house, there were lots ofl stray cats hanging around eating our cat's food. Among them was a momma cat who insisted on having her kittens in our back yard because we had a tall dog-proof gate.

We contacted our local vet and arranged to bring in as many of the critters as we could catch to be spayed or neutered. He gave us a great deal, "Do 2, get the 3rd one free". I think we took care of about 10 or so. The momma cat and her kittens (all adults and spayed or neutered) went with us when we moved out to the country.

My mother-in-law next door had a little kitten (about 6 weeks old) show up on her kitchen table. She'd crawled through the doggie door and was chewing on a dead mouse she'd brought in with her. Four months later Sally's the newest member of the menagerie (spayed, of course).

I'd take your kitties if I could... I'd suggest checking with your vet and see if you can post pictures for adoption.

 

[SensualCealy]

You know, one good way to advertise is at local schools. Make flyers and hang them on posts near the school.

Mommies and Daddies walking their kidlins to school will see the posters and if interested will call.
Wouldnt hurt to have pictures so the kids can see them and go "Oh Mommy PLEAsseeee!!! Can I have a kitten!!!"

I know thats evil but it will work!
Cealy

 

[Guest]

You know, one good way to advertise is at local schools. Make flyers and hang them on posts near the school.

Mommies and Daddies walking their kidlins to school will see the posters and if interested will call.
Wouldnt hurt to have pictures so the kids can see them and go "Oh Mommy PLEAsseeee!!! Can I have a kitten!!!"

I know thats evil but it will work!
Cealy

We took the kittens in for show and tell.

 

[rgraham666]

We took the kittens in for show and tell.

That is pure evil.

I like it.

 

[SeaCat]

All good ideas folks, and I am thankful.

Update.

Critter was more than happy to see us this morning and this afternoon when we got home from work. It seems she attempted to use the home made litter box a couple more time but it was too small. She now has a nice new one which is quite a bit larger.

Smudge is still breathing although his breathing is till labored. Critter is still taking care of him though, something for which I am thankful. (I would of course attempt to keep it fed. I do have several cans of Baby Formula stashed in the closet and several eye droppers. {No don't ask.})

We now have a large screen in front of the door, with the door open. This way there is a breeze through the room to keep it cool. An added plus is now all three of the adult cats can see and smell each other without actually coming into contact. This way they can start getting used to each other.

Cat

 

[rgraham666]

Good news, SeaCat.

Prayers going out for Smudge.

 

[SeaCat]

Good news, SeaCat.

Prayers going out for Smudge.

I thank you.

I think tomorrow I will attempt to get some pictures of the Kittens as well as Critter for you all to see.

Cat

 

[SlickTony]

I'm glad the kitten is still hanging in there, Sea Cat. Can't help you on the adoption, though--we have 2 1/2 cats as it is. Two in the house, and one which was abandoned by the neighbor who moved, and who hangs out on our porch nowadays. My husband is trying to get him to come in (this, after years of being adamant about having only 2 cats at a time) but he has too much respect for Ziba and Doc's territory. Besides, I think he's like these hardheaded guys who would rather sleep under a bridge than come into the homeless shelter and follow rules. We have been living in our house for about 6 years, and in all that time, I've only ever seen this cat outdoors.

 

[SeaCat]

Okay, good news bad news.

Smudge didn't make it. I found her this morning. The only good thing about it was when I found her she was surrounded by her brothers and sisters and Critter was curled around all of them.

The good news is that Critter and the other three seem to be doing just fine. (although Critter does seem to want a whole lot more attention.)

Cat

 

[Guest]

 

[SlickTony]

I'm sorry to hear about Smudge.