Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Mumsnet classics

Relive the funniest, most unforgettable threads. For a daily dose of Mumsnet’s best bits, sign up for Mumsnet's daily newsletter.

Original poster

Just found a cat and newborn kittens in my garden on a low bench. WWYD??

1392 replies

Pinot · 17/04/2011 11:40

OP posts:
Original poster
Pinot · 17/04/2011 16:11

Ickle kitty just had a good feed and a wee :) I'm so proud :) Have convinced DH that we should keep her. Fingers crossed for her x

OP posts:
TheMonster · 17/04/2011 16:18

Put a picture of her on your profile!

Vallhala · 17/04/2011 16:20

FFS, CP are becoming more like the RSPCA by the minute! Did they not offer to take the cat in? Am I misunderstanding or are they content to leave a cat and vulnerable kittens out in the none too warm April nights, at risk of harm and of the motehr becoming pregnant again fast?

There is no guarantee that she'll be fine at all if left... what CP mean is that they are sadly inunndated with cats and kittens and haven't the resources to help. Again.

I'm a rescuer - I recently took in (via MN as it happens) a cat which the CP had similarly abandoned to fend for herself having had kittens but at least there they took her in and vaxed and spayed her before chucking her out into gardens again. She's now safe and well on my sofa, sleeping. Poor mite is deaf, which the CP vet DIDN'T pick up on. They dumped her back into a garden near a busy road saying they could home her kittens but not her... unbelievable!

Can I help in any way, Pinot? Happy to find you a rescue which WILL get them all out of danger or to care for them all myself if needed and of course to provide you with all necessary references and reassurances.

Original poster
Pinot · 17/04/2011 16:27

Bless you vallhala you have a very kind heart indeed. The vet said the kitten is 3/4 days old so guess Mum is quite content there, we've put everything back and blocked it all off from our doggies. I can see the bulge in the tarpaulin where they are. I am checking on them through the conservatory window but I do worry :( I'm in Sussex if you're local? I wonder why the owners havent been canvassing everywhere if their cat has been missing for 3/4 days?! Even if it had gone home for food, surely they'd notice it's not pg anymore? What kind of home must this cat have if it chose my quiet garden bench rather than its house. So sad.

Any tips on handrearing gratefully received :)

OP posts:
Vallhala · 17/04/2011 16:29

Have pm-ed you pinot and will follow that up with another. :)

nailak · 17/04/2011 16:38

its probably a neihbours cat...

SummerRain · 17/04/2011 16:40

poor icle kitten.

not sure if the vet told you but at this age they need a little help in the toilet department... usually the mother will lick their bums after a feed to stimulate the poo, you may need to mimic that with a damp piece of cotton wool (charming isn't it?)

puddytats · 17/04/2011 16:41

Ohhhh, i am in Sussex and would love another kitten or 2 but DH says that 8 is enough Sad, might have to work on him.......!!!!

Original poster
Pinot · 17/04/2011 16:41

Its a local cat, have seen it around. I'm just so worried the babies will get cold etc or the Mum wont eat. I dont know. Just worried :(

OP posts:
Original poster
Pinot · 17/04/2011 16:43

yes summer have massaged a lil wee out :) :) I'm almost looking forward to the poo later. So pleased - she's just taken 3.5ml of formula

OP posts:
SummerRain · 17/04/2011 16:46

I once fed a stray who i knew had kittens down the street in an abandoned shed. I fed her several times a day and got her used to being handled.

After a few weeks I came down one morning to find one of the kittens on my doorstep. Half an hour later she turned up with another one in tow. I plopped them in a basket by a radiator and she happily settled herself in with them.... leaving me to break into the shed and rescue the other two (extremely feral) kittens and bring them to her! I still have scars from the little buggers.

She's been here for 3 years now and is the cuddliest housecat you ever met and we kept two of the kittens too, as well as ones from the next two litters (bloody cat got pregnent right after birth each time and the arsing vets refused to spay her while she was nursing.... I had to go in all guns blazing in the end and have a shouting match with the vet to have her done Angry)

Moral of that waffling story... if you feed her and are kind to her she may decide of her own accord to bring them inside to you.

SummerRain · 17/04/2011 16:47

Grin Pinot... not for the squemish this kitten nursing is it!

sharbie · 17/04/2011 16:51

ahhhhhhhh so sweet - i am sitting on my hands here as i wd love anther one.good luck with the tiny kitten .

Original poster
Pinot · 17/04/2011 16:51

I'm really heartened by that Summer thank you :)

I know it's daft but can't believe how tiny she is. Like a hamster with a tail :)

OP posts:
Vallhala · 17/04/2011 17:04

Awwww....Summer*, that's lovely. Good for you, the world needs more of your type. :)

SummerRain · 17/04/2011 17:18

dp would argue that point... at one point we had 8, some of them kittens to be rehomed and some grown cats who were permanent residents and I came in the door with a kitten I'd found dumped at the side of the road.... dp damn near left that day Blush

TrillianAstra · 17/04/2011 17:19

Your DP would agree - if there were more people who would take in kittens then you wouldn't have to have 8! :)

virginiasmonalogue · 17/04/2011 17:24

You mustn't separate the rejected kitten from it's mum. Keep putting it back to her and check it stays there.

She should be indoors overnight or the kittens might not survive the night....maybe try and get her in your shed. I know people say not to feed other peoples cats or they'll stay forever, but if it means her and her kittens being safe it's worth it... maybe lure her into your shed/greenhouse with somw food so foxes can't eat them.

Hangingbellyofbabylon · 17/04/2011 17:26

My cat was pregnant last year and took herself off somewhere to have her babies - we could see her going over several fences and she was obviously quite a long way from home. It was an incredibly distressing time for us all. We left some boxes in strategic places indoors and after 5 long days we went out and came home to find mum and 4 kitties safe in the house.

So I guess there could be a family out there wondering where their mummy cat is and it could be from several streets away. If the kitties are happy with mum then I would leave them be. It is really good that you are looking after the one she rejected - a real labour of love but knowing how newborn kitties are I can imagine it must be quite a pleasure as well. Smile.

Hope mummy and babies are ok.

Hangingbellyofbabylon · 17/04/2011 17:27

I really think that the mum is not going to be daft enough to let her babies die of cold. Our mummy cat had her babies outdoors in November. She will keep them fed and warm and they are obviously in a sheltered place.

chickchickchicken · 17/04/2011 17:35

was hoping you would ring cats protection and not rspca and then Shock to read later post that they are not helping. sadly this is happening. a group of former cats protection volunteers near me have now set up their own small cat rescue as they were so worried about cats/kittens not getting help they needed

maybe also post in the litter tray section? dont know how busy it gets as never go there

hope valhalla can help. its very sad to think of them at the mercy of the weather and other animals

nailak · 17/04/2011 17:35

i read cats reject kittens if there is somethin wron with them

TheSmallClanger · 17/04/2011 17:36

Feral and wild cats have their babies in sheltered outdoor spots.
You sound like you have received good advice. I'd start asking round to see if anyone is missing a female cat now, or at least getting the message out there on the grapevine.

You also need to keep an eye on Kitty's poo situation. We have a teeny tiny abandoned puppy as of last week, and she's only just starting to poo properly at 6 weeks. As someone said upthread, after her feeds, you need to wipe her bum quite firmly with something damp to stimulate her.
I know how dodgy that last sentence sounds. Blush

sharbie · 17/04/2011 17:39

we have a black and white fluffy rescue cat who has tiny stumpy legs - we believe because she was born and lived as a kitten under a low shelter Smile

AttillaTheMum · 17/04/2011 17:52

we rescued a cat as a kitten and she fell pg when she was a baby herself. I helped her to look after the kittens and we now have a fully grown tom cat who lays on its back and miows to be cuddled and who follows us around the house. He is wonderful.

You will have a massive 'grown up cat' reward for this!

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In
This thread is not accepting new messages.
Swipe left for the next trending thread