Our cat has just had kittens - now what?

[SquidgyMummy]

Sorry to sound so clueless but I am. We were given a cat last year, she was about 6 months old and we didn't have her spayed straight away. Anyway, fast forward and she had 3 kittens last night. She had them on DS's bed, so we have left them there for now and have been giving our cat lots of milk and foo din situ so she can feed them in peace. I think some friends may take a couple of kittens, or I will ask at DS's preschool this morning, If they won't and we may possibly keep one.

So a friend messaged me on facebook and said to leave them alone as much as possible. I have put a litter tray in for our cat (she normally goes outside) and am have left food for her, but usually hold the bowl on the bed so she can stay close to the kittens.

So have googled and kittens need to stay with their mums for 8 weeks - is this correct? (or do they need longer?)

Also, I want to get her spayed asap - does anyone know how soon this can be done (ie I am assuming it is after the kittens are weaned.) Also to get a rough idea how, how much does it cost to get kittens vaccinated? - we are in France, so don't have a clue.

Any other tips gratefully received!

Do you have a box you could move her to ? (stick a blanket in it to make it comfy ) & just place the kittens in their and she will follow , then place all her amenities near to the box/bed .
She can't be neutered/spayed until the kittens are weaned which is around 8 weeks .
I don't usually let kittens go until they are 10-12 weeks as I feel they are much to young .
It costs £20 to get a cat neutered at my local PDSA & £35 for vaccinations

Good Luck

Sorry about the Random A

Thanks sonumb will go and get a box and her old blanket and move her to the spare room.
Should I line it with something for the kitten poop? (I am assuming they are too young for the the litter tray?)

what is PDSA?

PDSA is one of the charities that will help subsidise the neutering costs, you can google what it means.
Cats Protection League has a similar scheme, locally. Odds are that any local vet can tell you what subsidy schemes are running locally.

They are supposed to be means tested, obviously pay the full whack if you can, but main thing is to get her spayed ASAP however you fund it. Vet can also advise I should think about what charity can help you find homes for the kittens.

People's dispensary for sick animals - a vet charity that performs spaying cheap. Most animal charities will spay either free or at cost because it's core to their aims, so have a google and find out what the situation is in France.

You leave the kittens alone for a couple of weeks to prevent maternal distress/rejection but after that it becomes important to cuddle and play with them as much as possible so they become good family pets. 8 weeks is the standard age for adoption and is certainly possible but some people (as above) prefer a bit older.

By the way, cats shouldn't drink milk.

The mum cat will take care of the 'pooping' (Eliminating- I think that's the right term) for now until around 6-7 weeks

picklemobile - why shouldn't cats drink milk - ours guzzles it? (obv I won't give any to the kittens.

Sonumb the mind boggles what does mumcat do with the poop?!

she licks the Anus to stimulate and I'm sure you can guess the rest
Cats are Lactose intolerant (I swear that's what it is but don't hold me to it)

Most adult cats are lactose intolerant and milk products will cause diarrhoea. The very best thing for her right now is kitten food ( it is for pregnant and lactating cats too).
As you are not an experienced breeder then yes it is best for kittens to go to their new homes at 8 weeks to ensure good socialisation.
Mummy cats milk needs to be dried up before she can be spayed and this is usually completely done about 2 weeks after weaning. I would keep her in till then as she can fall pregnant very quickly after having kittens which you obviously don't want.

Sonumb's right, they're lactose intolerant. It gives them stomach trouble.

We need pics of the cute little kittens by the way!

Thanks for the advice. No we are definitely not breeders!

We said we would look after her for an elderly friend who is only in France during the summer months and couldn't take her back to the uk.
She has become part of the family.

I have just been to the Mairie after school drop off, and will post some photos in a few weeks to get new hones for the kittens.
I will also phone the local cat charity to see if they offer cheap neutering.

I will go out and get some special cat milk (I thought it was a joke for PFB catowners!!) and some kitten food.

Photos of them last night attached.

Now she is a pretty girl. Do you know whether the kits are boys or girls yet?

By the way, \link{http://www.icatcare.org/advice/my-cat-having-kittens/bringing-litter-kittens-%E2%80%93-health-considerations\Here's} some reputable guidance on kittens for you to read if you're at a loose end. It has links for further reading although some of them will have references to UK stuff which may not apply to you as you're in France.

Thanks very much for the link cozietosie there's some useful tips

We think 2 of them are boys, as there seem to be some bumpy bits in their nether regions. We have tried not to handle them too much, so haven't had a look at the third.

We have moved them into the house next door (we have a few buildings as we are quite rural.) There is a cat flap, but she has her litter tray, food and water.

I now have to go and disinfect DS's room. I think I will give the duvet she delivered on to the cat too, so they are warm enough it's not going anywhere near DS now!

Oh she & they are gorgeous, & she looks totally blissed out

I bet you'll end up keeping keeping them

There is no need to disinfect everything and good clean and a pop through the washing machine will be sufficient. Placenta etc are all sterile.
My DD slept for three years beneath a dead dog's duvet - I dd wash it, but it was a really expensive Baby Bjorn one.

Beautiful

Will you keep all the kittens or rehome them?.

Aw, she looks so happy

I would like to keep one, as it seems mean to take away all her children.... (perhaps that's just me.) I'm hoping some friends of ours will take the other 2, otherwise I am going to advertise at the Mairie, DS's school, and my gymn.

I think it would be nice to not split them up too much. Just went in to give Mumcat some food and the kittens were just climbing all over each other and snuggling together.

Am leaving the duvet with the cats at the moment as I think the smell must be reassuring, and it does get cold at night...

By the time they're old enough to go she'll probably be glad to see the back of them

It'd be nice though if they do go to friends so you can be updated regularly (even though the cat won't care!)

Whoever said you shouldn't handle them much wasn't giving great advice. You need to handle the kittens a lot or they will end up feral. When they are very little it should be for no more than a few minutes at a time, but you still should do it. And gradually increase the time as they get bigger.

I'm a bit worried about her being in another building with a cat flap. Cats like to move their litters around a bit and she might end up moving them to somewhere outside or where you can't find her. Then the kittens really will end up feral.

Can't you bring her into your house and keep her in a spare room or something? Failing that can you lock the cat flap where she is so she can't get out? I would keep her in until the kittens are about six weeks old.

She needs to be neutered months ago as soon as the kittens are weaned, so when they are about 5 weeks old.

hi catneuterer, yes, will lock the cat flap.
However, she is pretty good at coming back for her food, so I doubt she will wander off.
From what I have read, for the first week or so it seems best not to handle the kittens as it stresses out the mum and she may reject them.
This seems right as she meows when we DP comes in and puts herself between us and the kittens

After that, I thought it is fine to play with them so they become socialised.