So I found something in my shed this morning...

[Missmonkeypenny]

Rural area, mum nowhere to be seen, very cold and shivering so have bought them in to warm up.

Now what?!

@picklemewalnuts mother cats that don't have a regular food source frequently leave their kittens for a number of hours, particularly in daylight hours. She may already be looking for them as the OP took them in.

Thanks for answering the summons @thecatneuterer

Please listen to her OP.

@NorbertMeubles

Why oh why oh why can't I find kittens in my shed!!!!! So jealous!

Move to East London - there are probably more garden sheds with stray and feral cats giving birth than there are sheds without. OK, a bit of an exaggeration, but I don't think there is a block of gardens in a five mile radius that hasn't had stray cats giving birth/pregnant cats/feral colonies we have had to deal with at some point.

Agreed @BoreOfWhabylon - so glad you're here @thecatneuterer - I took in a stray kitten who had actually been left by her Mum. Searched for days. My poor little kitten passed away after 2 days of me milking her and making her go to the toilet. It was just awful. I know how much kittens need their Mummy so Im glad you're clearing that up for the 'they're so cute, just keep them' posters

Aw perhaps phone your local vets and ask their advice. They will need to have a check up and injections

My darling late Roxy was dumped at my vets when she was a few weeks old (apparently not breathing) but they managed to pull her through - a few days later I just happened to be there with one of my older black cats. The nurse said "come and see what we have" and she looked just like these. I took her home at 6 weeks, the vet gave me free treatment for a year and she lived until she was over 18.

I know how much kittens need their Mummy so Im glad you're clearing that up for the 'they're so cute, just keep them' posters

I assume those posters mean for op to give them a home if/when they need it, rather than gleefully take them away from mum because they are cute. I do hope no one is that heartless.

It's lucky op discovered them and is caring for them while still looking out for mum. It's freezing out there at the moment.
I rarely venture out to my shed in winter. This thread had reminded me to regularly check, although we have a very territorial cat who would alert us very vocally to any imposters!

@LagneyandCasey

I agree - im sure its mainly from a kind place but OP you have to keep them!!! How lucky are you - with no mention of the Mum just rattled me I guess. Fingers crossed for a happy ending either way anyway

They look in quite good shape so I think it’s probable that mum is somewhere around.

Love Divine Comedy!

They look well cared for. Mummy cat is doing a good job. She's likely to be hunting to feed them. Are you able to return them to the shed maybe with blankets and a hot water bottle? I'd keep a close eye on them every half hour or so. But that mummy cat will be distraught when she arrives home to feed them and they have gone. She'll go searching for them.

If after a day there hasn't been a sign then bring them inside. But give the mum a chance to return.

[quote Nannewnannew]@Missmonkeypenny.I see that you live in Hampshire, if you are on the south coast then there is a very good cat rescue in Lymington called Lymington Cat and Kitten Rescue.
Good luck with those beautiful kittens, they melt your heart, just hope that it wasn’t their mum that you saw knocked down. 😢[/quote]
Good recommendation. I've had dealings with them. They seem quite good.

Put the find on the local facebook page

@CatsOutOfTheBag

Put the find on the local facebook page

Do not do that!!!! You'll get nutters and worse replying and interfering and it will only make things more difficult. First the mum needs to be located and then a charity needs to take charge.

Put them back and just keep an eye out. Mum has obviously been doing a good job feeding them for the last 4/5 weeks looking at the size of them.

There's something heartbreaking about the thought of the mum carefully taking her wee kittens into a shed to keep them safe.

I hope the mum can be found and isn't the poor cat who was run over in the area.

It would be a massive coincidence if the cat you saw run over was the mother of these kittens, on the same day you found them.
That's what I'm telling myself anyway.
Mum will be along shortly 🤞

Yes it would CastleOfDoom. Also we still don't know how far away this was.

I guess I'm just a pessimist. I feel like it would be a massive coincidence to find a litter of black kittens all on their own on the same day a black cat is seen run over on a local road and it not be the mother. But yes, fingers crossed, of course.

Another one saying please put those kittens back OP. The mother cat will be very distressed if she finds them gone. You can keep checking up on them, but they should be with their mother. How can you be certain they're abandoned/orphaned?

@thecatneuterer

And I've just seen you're in the South East, in which case Celia Hammonds may be able to help. So put them back and then please pm with your location and I will see if I can organise help.

The team at Celia Hammond picked up an elderly sick stray from us about five years ago. They neutered him, fixed him up, and returned him to live in our garden. He's now very much a lap cat and adores our toddler (he follows her everywhere and purrs when she gets her toy doctor set out because he knows he's in for some attention). I'll always be thankful to your Canning Town team for giving us the best cat in the world (that we didn't know we wanted).

Out of interest how often do you use your shed? I’m wondering if they could have been born there or it’s a shed you use daily.

Guys, I'm not some kind of cat thieving monster who wants to take kittens away from their mother for fun. I posted this morning for advice as I just want to do what's best for them and to make sure they're okay, mum included

Mum hasn't been back at all so I will bring them inside tonight. It's due to drop to 1c here and it's far too cold if she isnt with them for warmth. As I have said, there will be food for her should she come back and I will check for flour-y pawprints first thing in the morning before the schoolrun.

Mum is probably dead cat you saw .

Poor babies . How lovely you found them .

If you get to name them, please call this one 'Chadwick'. He looks like a cuddly version of Black Panther!