I forgot my place @2DogsFarm . We have been “cat-less” for a while
This morning I got two of the outside feral cats banging their little paws imperiously on my front door because I was late with their breakfast. Oh a thousand apologies your highnesses
Cats. Honestly. Even the feral ones.
We put some new square bales in the loft where Barn Kitty and Silo reside. I hadn’t seen BK in a few days although the food was being eaten. They have several places they hide between last years remaining bales.
I wanted to use up what I have left, so I started taking from “their stack” and to my horror I found a surprise when I removed one at the end by the wall…
Silo has 4 siblings! Look to be about a week old.
She came at me and I quickly put the bale covering her and the 4 kittens back. I went down to the house and got the cage and a pair of gloves. I was surprised that I could just take hold of her and put her in the cage. Then I added her babies.
Vet said to wait to spay her till they are weaned. I want to socialize them so I can find new homes when the time is ready, so we made a large enclosed wire pen , covered the top in chicken wire and it is a completely " red neck" contraption but my daughter and I used what we had. It is large and open and so far she is still in it!!
1 calico.
2 orange & white ( you can only see 1 in the pics).
1 gray & white.
Not what I had planned for my day and I am a bit overwhelmed , but so happy I caught her
Oh no. She has been a busy girl. She def needs to be spayed. Her little babies are sure cute. But no more, Miss Kitty! I am glad you were able to grab her with no incident.
Is Little Silo still around?
That’s a calico/tabby that is called a Calliby.
Hopefully you can contain her until you can get her fixed.
Glad you were able to catch her!! Any chance of mom and babies hanging out in a bathroom for a few weeks? Mama cats tend to keep babies well fed and clean as long as they themselves are in good health. Somewhere temperature regulated and bug free goes a long way towards helping mom out. It also helps kittens adjust to inside sounds, smells, etc.
These kittens will be a snap to socialize and after containing mama cat and getting her spayed, she will likely be quite the social butterfly. I definitely would not let her out again until spayed. If you’re willing to house and provide initial care, a local rescue may be willing to partner and help with some of the vetting to soften the blow. They can be spayed/neutered at 8 weeks. Charging a fee to recoup sterilization surgery and initial vaccines is a nice way to ensure a family is ready for the commitment that is a kitten and ensures that the kittens do not become part of the cycle of our massive overpopulation issue.
So cute!! Glad they were easily caught. Will make socializing much easier.
Great job!
You have now joined the COTH OhEmGee! Kittens!!! Clique
Channel @moonlitoaksranch & be glad your count topped out at 5 (including Silo).
That little caliby is sooooooo key-oot!
Any chance you’re in the Midwest?
My barn has no resident barncat, just drivebys
Awesome! Some of ours go home next weekend, so we’ll have less cuteness available. Glad someone is coming in for the next shift!
Great job! Good luck with the babies!
@moonlitoaksranch and @beowulf can testify to the insatiable appetite that COTH has for kitten updates.
I hadn’t seen him all week and was worried. This morning I found him sitting on top of momma’s cage.
He found a way into their pen and now he can’t get out! He sure tried when I first went in . So now I can socialize him ( i hope ) and get him fixed too.
Can’t believe my luck and he is so pretty
Never heard of that color and it is rather striking. Might need to keep it NOT !!
So far she is in to stay and has settled down. She runs right up to me when I am trying to get into the pen to feed , water and do litter. Hissing, spitting, growling and swatting at me
When should I start to handle the kittens? I am totally out of my element here.
I wish but we are crowded as it is with 5 people and 3 dogs in a 1200 sq foot home.
She is in the hay loft where she normally resides ( and where the kittens were born) it is fairly cool and has real good ventilation.
She is caring for them just fine and looks to be in good shape herself. I feed her well.
I will just try to get my hands on them and spend time in there several times a day.
It is 6 with Silo. You can’t see Orange Kitten #2.
Yes-- I am in the Midwest . The Calliby will be ready and waiting for you!!
ETA: You know they would be happier and settle in better if you took 2
Enabler!
How far are you from NW IN?
asking for a friend…
Tell your " friend" I am 6 hours from Burns Harbor, IN.
I just googled what towns were considered NW IN.
Too far for a road trip when there are kittens galore close to home.
But I hope Silo’s stepsibs find homes in pairs
I understand that.
I hope they find new, good homes too.
Cuties, for sure!
You can socialize them starting now, as long as Mama is good with it. Pick them up, love on them, and keep it up.
You may have to use something to separate her from kittens when you want to socialize.
I have friends who do cat rescue and they took two mommies off my property (one with 9 kittens on board and the other with 2 ginormous babies) and while the moms were not happy to be handled (growling, etc) if they used something to keep mom from attacking - a small piece of cardboard or a really yummy treat - they could get the kittens out. And once moms saw that babies were being returned and okay, they settled down.