Baby feral cat just found!

[lilbit]

My lil daughter and I just found a baby kitten in the garage...eyes are still not open and the umbilical cord is still there. The mommy cat came back...and damn near killed the lil fella when we tried to give it back....we fed it some water...and yogurt...made it poop...but NOW WHAT?

We'd like to give it back to it's mommy...I don't know how to raise a lil kitty...not yet anyhow.

PLEASE HELP!

[MissDolittle]

Hi lilbit!

Can you describe how exactly the momma cat behaved that made you think she's trying to kill the baby? And is it your cat or a stray/wild cat?

It needs to be fed KMR (Kitten Milk Replacer), no water, no yogurt, not as a newborn. It needs definitely colostrum, the stuff that's only in mother milk...at least one suckle would be so important for it's lil immune system.

[lilbit]

I want this lil kitty to be back with the mommy...I'm gonna mess this up...and I'm scared to death.
The mommy cat is wild...in my garage with three other lil kittens. This one I found before the whole litter was spotted...(cause my garage is a mess).
When I went to give the kitty back...the mommy was freakin out about me even being there. When I tried to get just close enogh..the cat took a crazy whack at me...and the kitty. I know she's just afraid I'm gonna hurt her...
Will the mommy cat take back this baby...or what?
The baby stands a better...WAY...better chance with her.
I just don't want the baby killed because I was soo stooopid.

[lilbit]

I just put the baby back into the..I don't know what it's called...nest? The mommy seems more mellow now....think the baby will be okay through the night?
I put food out...and water for the mommy cat....and some extra blankets by the nest.

[MissDolittle]

You did the right thing! The mom was just scared the first time you approached her. Make sure she has some good high protein catfood available. The best thing you can do is stay away, since the cat is wild and will only be scared.

[lilbit]

I just checked on 'em...and the baby was kinda pushed away from her....does this mean she doesn't want the baby?
And should I take the baby back under my...gulp...care?

[Saviah Wildlife]

The mom will not kill the kitten because of you touching it, so don't think that. If the mom does kill the kitten there is a reason (in nature). Do NOT think it was your fault!

Like Ms. D said, make sure the mom has dry KITTEN food, she needs the high protein diet. Put a bowl near them but don't disturb them. Mom needs kitten food because she is nursing. It is not for the babies (yet).

Please keep us updated, maybe if you can post some pics?

[Saviah Wildlife]

I just checked on 'em...and the baby was kinda pushed away from her....does this mean she doesn't want the baby?
And should I take the baby back under my...gulp...care?
Not yet. Keep an eye on them, see if she ever lets the baby nurse. That's vital.

If you want to prepare for the worst, as in taking the kitten into your care make sure to get the formula Ms. D talked about.

Good luck!

[lilbit]

This IS crazy! I'm not even a cat person...now I'm praying for this lil kitty!

[Saviah Wildlife]

Ha! That can happen!

Anyway like I said in the other posts, please keep us updated

[lilbit]

It's gonna be a long night....I'll keep you posted...just don't want to mess this up.

Thank you all for the quick and informed answers....I'm trying my best...

[MissDolittle]

The thing is, the more you go in there and disturb her, the more nervous and stressed out she gets, which can lead to her running away and leaving you with the entire litter.

I suggest you just leave her alone after you put food and water down for her.

[Saviah Wildlife]

Okay agreed on that, but how about keep an eye from afar on that baby until they determine if mom is nursing?

[MissDolittle]

Put yourself into the cat's shoes. She's scared and she's nervous because nursing makes her vulnerable. Even the slightest noise will distract her. So why even make noise? Leave alone going in there every few minutes and checking on them. Momma knows what's right, especially feral ones.

[lilbit]

I agree with both of you...so I just put the garage door down...leaving a lil room for momma to get out...and gonna leave 'em alone for the night. The momma just looks tired. I have three kids and can relate. The last update? Well...the baby was snuggled up to her mom...and I felt I have done all I could do...without causing any more harm.
Thank you both for your caring advice....until tomorrow...good night....sleep tight.

[MissDolittle]

Yeeaaaaaaaah, kudos to you lilbit!! That's good news. You had enough excitement for today too, I bet lol.

[Saviah Wildlife]

Yes great news, especially if the baby was snuggled up with its mom!

I was just worried mom might have killed it for whatever reason.

[lilbit]

Just went to visit the kitties...and...there...off to the side...the lil baby was dead.
I'm a mess.

[lilbit]

There are still three more lil kitties...and I'll not disturb them....

Life goes on....and I'm all the more blessed for seeing the process of life.

Thank you for your help.....

I'm an animal girlee...so I'm sure there will be more questions in the future.....

[MissDolittle]

This place is not only for questions and emergencies. If you had, have, or want to have animals, just share :).

[Nadine]

Hi Lilbit,
Please try not to be too upset about the kitten dying. Oftentimes, feral cats are malnurished and may have other health issues which makes it difficult for them to give birth to healthy offspring. Sometimes, a kitten or two or even an entire litter will have health problems and the mother cat senses this. If a mother cat has an unhealthy kitten she will usually push that one away so she can give her healthier kittens the food and attention they need. Please don't feel like you may have been negligent or didn't do the right thing. Sounds to me like you did everything you could possibly have done to help the kitten survive. If it's any consolation to you, we've been in your situation many times; sometimes the kittens made it and sometimes they didn't.
Please take care and try not to worry.

Nadine

[Saviah Wildlife]

I'm so sorry about the baby! I had a feeling about that but I felt better when you said it was cuddled with the mom.

Well you have the others so far too, keep an eye but don't disturb. Thanks for trying to help the baby, don't beat yourself over its death.

[lilbit]

Thank you...
My four year old buried the baby under a giant tree. She was so sad...and so was I. I read the information on this site and explained to my daughter the process of life...and death.
My daughter had a ruff time trying to understand why a mommy wouldn't want her baby....and I had a harder time trying to explain this.

After tears and complicated answers...my lil one touched my shoulder and said..." It was an accident. It's not anybody's fault".

In an odd way...she consoled me more than I did her.

Life goes on...and aren't we all so blessed to be a part of the world and it's loving creatures?

Thank you.

[Saviah Wildlife]

We can only speculate on the ways of nature and as I thought originally the mom might have been trying to kill the baby due to many possible reasons. One of which was that the baby wasn't well there was something seriously wrong. We see it as cruel but we cannot really know, not in all cases.

My children are with me with every animal I deal with, they actively help with near anything I have to do. Whether it be pets, an injured bird or mammal of some sort.

We do nature hiking and admire wildlife from afar, answering questions about their life, diet etc.

When I get my license they will be active in assisting with the wildlife too. They understand about possibilities of death, pain & suffering, etc.

[MissDolittle]

The runt of the litter comes to mind...

I'm sorry lilbit. Give your 4 year old a hug from me, she sounds like an amazing girl with an amazing mom :).

Let me share with you how I handle the death situation, because I am dealing with that a lot here. This might sound a little bit tough, but it works for me.

The first thing I have to do is to get off my high horse and tell my EGO that it is NOT God. That all I can do is the foot work, the results are not up to me.

Even if it appears that I made the wrong decision, regretting it is first of all totally useless, because it doesn't make it undone, and second of all, how do I know if it was really wrong? In your situation the kitten was probably spared a life full of struggling and illness if you would have saved it.

Maybe this approach works for you too. It sure helped me to stop taking responsibility where I don't have to nor need to which as a result stopped the beating myself up syndrome too.

[Nadine]

my lil one touched my shoulder and said..." It was an accident. It's not anybody's fault".
Out of the mouths of babes.

Be strong.

Nadine

[SnyperKat]

I'm sorry to hear about the kitten, lilbit. It's always sad to see a baby that didn't make it, even though nature always has its reasons. But, at least you can make the momma comfortable, and ensure that her other kittens can grow strong. :) I know that would make me feel better.

Your daughter sounds so wise. Children never fail to give us the best wisdom.