I Saw....

[Tambrey]

4 little black babies today

The black feral mamma has brought them from hiding and they were at our house earlier today....we were getting ready to leave and saw these 4 little sets of blue eyes and black ears peeking at us from behind a box on the front porch....hahaha

Then they ran off when we spoke to them and we saw four little black tails and butts......ROFL.....

I did go out when I got back home....tried to get a closer peek at them....two were sleeping and one was running about and one was lounging up in the cubby hole of an old coffee table we have out there...when one of the sleeping ones woke up, it had a bit of snotty eyes So I need to try to get closer and keep an eye on it if she keeps them around for me to watch...I did not see them this evening so she probably led them back to wherever she has kept them.....
but earlier today, all four sets of eyes looking at us were clear...I know it was not just sleepy snot though...unless that one just does not have its eyes all the way open yet?...I don't know....but I need to try to catch it and get it checked if at all possible....

The raccoon will NOT come up onto that part of the porch...there is no food there anyways....it is the enclosed area with a small tear in the screen and the ferals usually do lounge about in there and watch it from that distance...I think it knows its boundaries if they are still hiding there somewhere...

[Auntie Debbie]

Can you catch the whole group? If one has goopy eyes, it probably won't be long before the others get it too, andd they all should be treated....and then, mama....she'll need to be spayed. Does she look healthy?
Looking forward to updates on the little stinkers!

[Traci]

Yeah, it would be great if you could catch all babes and mom and get them checked, even a little prophylactic antibiotics might help if even one of them has an URI. Best to take them all together with mom, so she doesn't abandon them or think something is up with one or more. Also check their bedding and make sure it isn't moldy straw or damp/moist bedding of any sort.

[Tambrey]

I saw them again today....the first time since the last time I mentioned them...they all look good...the one still has icky eyes, just a little bit...but not as bad and it was just as playful as the others and fat and healthy looking...from what I could see...

They are all very curious and rambunctious...they were on our front porch where we have moved a bunch of stuff from the basement to sort through...of course....and I could not get too close or they would ruin and hide under chairs or a coffee table out there...I sat for about an hour with some dry kibble I put down and just waggled my finger nearby and talked to them...one got close enough to sniff my fingertip, then hiss and back away sidways all puffed up...like it would really scare me...hahaha...they all came to give the kibble a try and make funny faces while gnawing at it...but I never attempted to pet or pick up at this point...just let them be curious for now...gain their trust...

Their mom on the other hand needs a good deworming, I believe....if I can get near her....she is thin and I saw her going bathroom under a bush on the side of the yard...just like butterscotch pudding (sorry if TMI)....is there a dewormer to put in food if I am not able to catch her and get a pill down her throat? Better something than nothing at all?!

Any time she noticed me too near her babies or that my hand was moving closer...she came and rallied them together and took them off under the porch, where I cannot get to....she is not trusting at all yet....

I did get some pictures with the zoom...but did not get them uploaded tonight...maybe tomorrow night!

[Auntie Debbie]

How old would you say they are? Any chance at all you can catchc them? Sounds like they're probably old enough to be weaned and really won't need mama at this point. Wish you could catch them all and have mama wormed and spayed

[Traci]

While dewormers from the vet are generally safe, it is NOT wise to give them until an exam has determined overall health status. Plus, you can't ensure the intended cat is going to get the intended meds in the intended food.

If you have a have-a-heart trap, spend a day near the porch and see if blocking off the entries will encourage momma to go inside the trap. (please, monitor it closely, frequently, and if you've been having cold, rainy dreary weather like we have, be especially diligent in monitoring). Only thing is, it would be best if you can get both mom and babies together, to the vet. In the meantime, be sure you're feeding mom kitten food.

Maybe frequently entice momma with tuna or white chicken, maybe if she knows you're providing her something special, she might warm up to you in order for you to catch her.

[E's]

We had a theory about feral cats... especially out in the country. During the Depression hoboes devised an extensive alphabet of signs telling later tramps which houses were friendly, etc.... we had the theory that cats are like that too: putting magic signs that say, "This house is cat friendly!" or "Nice people, but bad dogs!" Anyway, seriously, this mama cat probably knows all about your establishment, Tambrey... so you have a good chance. I hope you are able to do as Traci suggests: try to get the whole crew to the vet together for check and meds.. leave the spying till later... but as you know with ferals, sometimes that will make the mama just abandon the whole litter. It's a crap shoot - but if anybody can do it right, it's you. Good luck!

[Tina B and crew]

I hope you are able to catch them and get them taken care of Tambrey...Good luck...can't wait to see pics!

[Tambrey]

We have not been able to get close enough to touch these four....we watch them from the distance and I will zoom in with the camera lens to see them closer and eyes are all clear....they rough and tumble and play...and are all growing, so that is good...one thing we did notice this afternoon when the sun was shining on them though...they are not totally black as we thought...they are very DARK gray/black tabbies, you can see the striping on their legs and we saw a faint M on one forehead...mom is totally shiny black with golden eyes, so dad must be the yellow tabby that hangs around here, as there are no gray tabbies....

however....

This evening...Ghost was at a place at the garage where a board has come off...we know that Hissy Spitty comes and goes through there...we do not use the garage, except to toss things into for storage....it really needs to just get burned down one day....anyways....

Hissy was giving warning growls and meows at Ghost and he was shaking when I went to get him....hubby grabbed the flashlight and was on his hands and knees searching all around in case one of her kittens was out and about and Ghost had gotten it cornered somewhere.....we had yet to see hers at this point in time....

Hubby went into the garage, climbing carefully over a couple of chests etc and saw TWO little tortuiseshell calicos staring at him....with no where to run....he just had a small flashlight so he put it between his teeth...grabbed one by the scruff and handed it to me and grabbed the other one!!!!

Since these two have basically been quarantined from any other cats....and it looks like Hissy has been a very good mama....they are plump and healthy and bright eyed....and oh so adorable....one was a little hissy spitty just like her mama....the other one just curled right into my chest and started to knead and curl her paws....

I sooo wanted to bring them inside...but....we took them back into the safety of the garage and put them back where we found them....Hissy will keep them safe there....when they get a bit older we will try to find homes for them....at least we know where they are now and how many she has and have handled them and showed her they are okay....so we can start working with hers at least...

We'll get them to the vet as soon as we can, but to be honest, I am not too concerned with them, right now...they seemed very healthy....

[Auntie Debbie]

As long as they got a good dose of mama's milk and are still doing so, and are kept in a dry place, they should do okay. Just keep an eye on them and getthem to a vet if their eyes and/or noses start getting goopy. A simple round of antibiotics twice a day for a week should take care of that. Good luck with them and we're looking forward to pics of themm too!