BIG BREAKING NEWS!!! Spooky Sr. is NOT Spooky Jr's dad. Spooky is a MAMA!!!! More kittens!!!!

[Siwsan]

I just went out to check the squash garden and saw Spooky acting kind of funny. Then I looked close and saw NURSING KITTENS!!! So, unless there are twin black/brown cats hanging around, DAMN!!!!

Admittedly, I've never seen 'beneath the tail' of Spooky because I've only recently gotten semi close, but just assumed, because Spooky Jr has the identical coat that, well, Spooky was the dad.

I am SHOCKED, GOBSMACKED, THRILLED, SHOCKED (did I already say that??) And almost in tears!!

Not the best photo, but if she's going to den in my garden, I'll have a really easy time getting ahold of these babies, when they are old enough.

Have I mentioned how SHOCKED, GOBSMACKED, THRILLED, and SHOCKED I am????

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[gab13by13]

1. This will continue,

I have 3 outdoor cats and was able to get 2 of them neutered, males. The 3rd one I can only get within 10 feet of him/her.

[Siwsan]

3. I'm rapidly trying to come up with some sort of temporary shelter

Then I can work on something more sturdy.

[dewsgirl]

2. I'm happy the groundhog didn't hurt them yesterday,

I never knew that about them, I've always thought they were adorable. Of course we don't have groundhogs in FL. my knowledge of them is limited.
Beautiful kitties.

[Siwsan]

4. These are inside of the garden fence so they are VERY safe

Whew! I've seen 2 - one gray and one grey and white like a calico

[femmedem]

5. Is Spooky Mama totally feral?

You might want to consider trapping her and the kittens and bringing them into a small closed room like a bathroom. I've successfully done that with strays by picking up the kittens first, putting them in a crate, and closing the crate door when the mama went in after the kittens.

With a more feral mama, I was able to catch 5-week old kittens easily by just picking them up, then catching the mama in a have a heart trap and bringing her into a small room to finish raising her kittens until they had homes and she was ready to be spayed. This gave me time to socialize the kittens while it was still easy.

Whatever you choose to do, congratulations, and I look forward to seeing lots more kitten photos!

[Siwsan]

9. She is. She just ran when I took the shelter into the garden

Which might make getting the kittens easier. I'm just afraid they are far too young to be separated, right now.

[Tree-Hugger]

13. She just had them?

These are brand new kittens fresh out of the oven? You have several weeks until it's okay to separate them.

[femmedem]

16. Yeah, I wouldn't separate them yet.

But trapping the mama and keeping her inside until the kittens are ready for their forever homes is still potentially doable. The one I trapped stayed inside until after she was spayed. She learned to trust me somewhat as she watched me handle her kittens. The next winter she walked of her own free will into our kitchen and she hasn't been outside since. Now she isn't a lap cat, but she head bumps me and comes up onto the bed for treats.

[secondwind]

6. Time to neuter these kitties, or you will have your hands full!

[GPV]

7. We had a mother/daughter daughter pair that both had litters and took turns nursing all 8

while the other hunted. It was very cool!

[SheltieLover]

8. Wow!

Congrats on new fur babies but best catch & neuter / spay or you'll soo be over run!

Beautiful kitty!

I'll bet the kittens are gorgeous!

Ty for helping them.

[Siwsan]

10. Fortunately, since they are in a fenced in area, I should be able to get them

I just don't know when the best time to do this is, age wise, for the kittens.

[SheltieLover]

12. Not sure...

[2naSalit]

15. Weaning time...

For most kittens is a little after they are able to start curling their tails. Notice when they try to walk around at first, they keep their little tails straight and use them for balance while learning to walk. I call that the "pencil tail" phase. By the time they start bending their tails, you can safely take them from their mom for a short spell and feed them if needed. They aren't agile enough to get away from you at that point but not needing their mom every couple hours.

I once had a place with a few barn cats and that's how I dealt with their capture and relocation.

[NoMoreRepugs]

11. 14 years ago we relocated to Orlando from Ft Lauderdale.

Lady next door had 4 ferals living in her backyard. Within 3 years the colony had expanded geometrically. I ended up trapping and having 35 healthy ferals neutered/spayed.

Do the right thing and trap and neuter NOW.

[Niagara]

14. OMG! Surprise foster Mama, Siwsan! -

I'm not sure what your plans if you are going to keep one or two of these precious kittens. I have no idea on what Sophie would have to say about an addition or two.



After reading this today, I would call the local SPCA (or if you have a specific rescue organization in your area that can help you). Let them know that you're already fostering them outside and you need help with TNR ASAP since now you have two separate feral mommies. The older kitties need to be socialized and it won't be long before they reach sexual maturity. Any organization shouldn't charge you for ferals, but I'm sure they can always use donations. Good luck!

[Siwsan]

18. I think there is a place in Flint I can call

I'm going to HOPEFULLY be able to figure out where Spooky moved the other two.

[niyad]

17. Oh wow. Great news. She is a beauty. Good luck with them.