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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Our cat has just had kittens - now what?

85 replies

SquidgyMummy · 10/04/2014 06:25

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!

OP posts:

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thecatneuterer · 10/04/2014 18:30

Yes she would still doubtless come back for food, but could easily hide the kittens somewhere - it happens quite often.

And yes, handling after the first week is probably best.

Original poster

SquidgyMummy · 10/04/2014 18:34

sorry to sound dumb but why would she hide the kittens?

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 10/04/2014 18:38

If they feel threatened they move the kittens to safety.

Nyborg · 10/04/2014 18:39

To keep them safe. Or dome mother cats hide the runt if they feel overwhelmed. That's why you need to make sure she can't leave the house.

When you handle the kittens, start by stroking the mother til she's nicely calm and your hands have her smell. Then handle them where she can see you - stroking them gently with one finger will do but you do need to get them used to it early.

Nyborg · 10/04/2014 20:44

Some mother cats!

sashh · 11/04/2014 07:26

I will go out and get some special cat milk

I looked at the ingredients on cat milk - it said 'goats milk' so I'm going to try that with mine, cheaper to buy a pint of goats milk, and i'm lactose intolerant as well so I'm trying it for me.

Re hiding kittens.

When I was a kid and out cat had her second litter (she was done shortly after that) they mysteriously disappeared when I was at school, all except one. Mummy cat then decided the safest place for her one remaining kitten was my mum's wardrobe.

She had a nice box with a blanket, but if you put the kitten in she would carry it back upstairs and into the wardrobe.

cozietoesie · 11/04/2014 08:20

The famous Cheeky decided that the best place to stash her two kits was in the top left compartment of my father's massive two-tier Victorian bookcase (about 10-12 ft from the ground if my memory serves.) She'd been given a perfectly nice kitten bedroom in the greenhouse, it being summer, but nothing was going to stop her and my father, not knowing the ways of cats, had put them back in the greenhouse after finding them there and closed the study and back doors - but had left the window to the room open at the very top by about 6 inches.

We worked out that she'd then carried each kitten - by the scruff of the neck, I guess - out of the greenhouse, up and over the greenhouse roof, onto the main roof and along the ridge of the kitchen quarters, through the top gap in the window (possibly via the drainpipe) down into the study and up again (possibly via the books) into the top left shelf.

Twice.

No wonder they call them 'cat burglars'.

(My father recognized defeat the second time he found them there.)

TheOneWithTheNicestSmile · 11/04/2014 11:06

Blimey, cozie

I hope she had a rest between trips!

( at sashh's disappeared kittens)

Original poster

SquidgyMummy · 11/04/2014 17:06

hi Nyborg funnily enough I did stroke mumcat first as she was having some food when i came in. The kittens were climbing all over each other so I gave them a little stroke and they didn't mewl at all, so I was able to stroke them quite a lot.

I think I will try and keep 3yo DS away from them for a few days as mumcat will probably find him the biggest threat.

I wasn't able to find catmilk or kitten food (apart from the biscuit things) today. will have to try another supermarket. Will also look out for goats milk

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 11/04/2014 17:16

The most important thing is plenty of food & water just like any lactating female.

ThePearShapedToad · 11/04/2014 17:18

May I add- once you've done all the important stuff which far more experienced cat owners / breeders will be able to advise you on,

SNUGGLE THEM!!!

jealous

TheOneWithTheNicestSmile · 11/04/2014 17:32

You might do better for kitten supplies on the internet, squidgy

\link{http://m.zooplus.fr\zooplus} are excellent in the uk - massive range of products, good prices & quite quick delivery (link is to the French site)

TheOneWithTheNicestSmile · 11/04/2014 17:36

\link{http://m.zooplus.fr/shop/chats/croquettes_boites_jouet_accessoires_chaton/lait_chaton\kitten milk}

\link{http://m.zooplus.fr/shop/chats/croquettes_boites_jouet_accessoires_chaton/patee_boite_chaton\kitten wet food}

hellymelly · 11/04/2014 17:47

She is a very pretty cat. Keeping one and having two go together sounds ideal, I had brother cats, rescued from a shed. The finder kept the Mum and one kitten and I took in the other two when I saw them in my vet's waiting room with a big sign on their crate saying "we need a home". They were very close all their lives and loved each other. When one died the other was distraught for quite a while. .

Corygal · 11/04/2014 17:53

There's cute, there's ultra-cute and there's kittens! Many many congratulations on your new larger family.

Cuddle them a bit every day and feed the mum up thoroughly. I am terribly jealous of your wonderful good fortune.

Original poster

SquidgyMummy · 11/04/2014 18:48

Thanks for the zooplus link - I am learning something everyday - formula for kittens.
(Some of the wet cat food costs as much as foie gras!)

Funnily enough ours look like these on page 2. I am going to have difficulty giving them up!

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 11/04/2014 18:53

I'm going to tell you something else you don't know but most of us do.......

You now have 4 cats. It will be fine.

AlpacaYourThings · 11/04/2014 18:55

Adorable, OP.

I don't have any helpful advice though

Original poster

SquidgyMummy · 11/04/2014 21:07

don't Fluffy i did wonder how friends of ours ended up with 5
DP will have kittens of his very own.

He says one of the kittens looks like the rapist (mangy tomcat who was hanging around a couple of months ago) He can't imagine our pussycat would have sullied herself willingly...

However, we started off only babysitting mumcat and she grew on us.
But really we don't have room for 4 in the house. unless we put them in the barn; and they will keep the moles / mice down

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 11/04/2014 21:12

You see? You're already rehearsing excuses!

Fluffycloudland77 · 11/04/2014 21:20

Give it a few weeks to sink in.

Just be glad she didn't have 6.

Original poster

SquidgyMummy · 13/04/2014 19:49

Kittens are 4 days old now.
Mumcat has been going off for a wander, when the kittens are fed and asleep, so I think she feels quite secure with where they are.

This evening when I brought her her food I feel like a jailer I picked up one of the kittens I hadn't handled before. s/he didn't mewl at all, so I took it off for a cuddle...!

Our cat has just had kittens - now what?

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 13/04/2014 19:55

If she's confident and happy with you handling the kits that's all to the good - lots of frequent handling will get them used to humans and reduce the likelihood of their becoming feral.

By the way, if she's already going off on a wander, the odds are that she'll be pregnant again as soon as, the little hussy. (In fact you should shortly be having toms actually hanging around looking hopeful.) Book that spaying directly - for about a month hence when the kits are weaned.

TheOneWithTheNicestSmile · 13/04/2014 22:19

Look at that orange nose! It's a baby tiger

Cozie, can the mum get pregnant again this soon after birth, while still lactating?

cozietoesie · 13/04/2014 22:33

It's possible, yes.

I recall when Cheeky had very young 'uns that she was permanently hanging out with the local ne'er do well big blighter of a tom. I thought it was very gentlemanly and sweet of him to guard her and her kits. (I was young.)

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