Posted on 03/30/2006 7:51:54 AM PST by processing please hold
> I do thank them...
Always make sure to do so. The Black Death was a punishment on mankind... not because of scriptural misinterpretation, or immoral behavior, or just cuz God was cheesed off... it was a punishment on mankind because we didn't thank the cats for killing the rats and the fleas that rode 'em.
Pat you cat on the head, give him a treat, pick up the rat and dispose of it properly. If he gets the impression you think he's doign wrong, he just might stop killing rats. And you don't want that.
Do you suggest the same response for welfare moms with multiple kids?
In a heartbeat.
If I could just find the litter. I don't know where else to look. We got the flashlights last night and looked in every crack and crevice where they might be. I went out again this morning and looked again. She has them hidden very good.
This is her 3rd litter?
Then these kittens are probably dying from disease or they are dying due to anemia because of a flea infestation.
If this is her 3rd litter then there is more than 3 kittens and you should try and find the rest of her litter. Call animal control, they will find it for you.
The last time we called them, we trapped two kittens in the trap. The mama cat sat next to them for hours and wouldn't move. I opened the cage and released them. She loved her kittens too much for me to take them from her.
If she's feral she'll never be a pet, but if you can trap her you can probably find a shelter that will fix her for cheap. Then you can release her again. Otherwise she'll just get worn out breeding kittens that will either die or grow up to be feral as well. Nature isn't kind to feral cats.
They were still warm. If only I had gone out sooner....
You did the only thing you could do. Thank you for looking out for God's creatures.I wish we could have helped them..
What a horrible thought that they might have been murdered.
It is heartbreaking to hear her meowing. Damn.
We had a feral Himalayan female cat living in our barn for over 10 years. In that time we only had glimpses of her. About 5 years ago, about 25 feet from the barn, while working on our animals, we heard soft mewing. We looked down and there were 4 kittens crying. Well, we found the mother and one other kitten dead in the barn. What killed them, I have no idea. But managed to find homes for 2 kittens, kept 2. One left domestication for the wild and the other, Will, is still with us and is a wonderful cat. We had neutered both of them.
I have always wondered how those 4 were separated from their mother, did they leave in a group because of hunger? They were certainly terrified of us, spitting and snarling when we gathered them up. Will is very loving but is the ultimate predator. He loves going out at night. He has managed to avoid the pitfalls of the coyotes, etc. My other cat, without feral origins, is a real home boy. He is out at the most, an hour a day.
Cats are fascinating. Had you ever left food for the feral mom? If so, maybe she did feel some attachment to your household. Even though she would never 'tame up', maybe she had good feelings towards you.
I just looked, there's two more. I'll be back later. Oh Lord.
Best of luck...
Five is a pretty big litter.
I found where she had them. My husband has an old camper shell in a dilapidated shed along the fence line. I found the old clothes where she gave birth on them. No kittens. Either they all have died or she's moved them. After we buried the others she would disappear. Now, she's just laying out in the front yard. Unusual for her.
For those who suggested we catch and neuter them, we live in a rural area. Feral cats are a necessity to keep the rat population under control.
These wild cats don't starve. We stop feeding them scraps and cat food when we find mice in the house. They get hungry and start eating them again, then we start back with the food.
Clinton blames the NRA.
Yes.
Are the kittens eyes still sealed shut?
Yes.
Someone suggested that a new male might have killed them. After thinking about it, there was no wounds anywhere on any of them. They weren't deformed or anything either.
The poor thing.
We always make sure they have food to eat and especially her when we saw she was pregnant. When the rat population starts to grow we take away their cat food for a couple of days. Once we're sure they are doing their job and the rats are gone, we start with the cat food and scraps again.
This is a fascinating turn of events... thanks for sharing it. Very sad... Nature... I can't take the drama!
She had five the time before this one too. My daughter took the two females home with her and we kept the three males.
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