About Dear Tabbi Expertise My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too.
Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again.
Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
Education/Credentials ***********
Awards and Honors * One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
Question Feral mama had kittens July 5 -- I'm sure, she was very pregnant & then showed up not pregnant the next day. She hangs around for about one to two hours at a time (I always feed her) and then dissappears. I can't find the kittens. Would she leave newborn kittens for that long, an hour or more? Won't they die without her there? They could only be one or two days old. I'm very concerned she abandoned them but I can't find a next anywhere.
Answer Susanne,
Don't worry too much. A feral will leave her kittens, especially to go search for food, for a long time as long as she knows they are safe. She also won't go to the kittens if she knows you are watching her.
If the kittens are ok and if she trust you enough, or thinks she can't take care of them but you will, she will bring the kittens to you (make a bed in a box somewhere close that is 'safe' just in case). If she wants you to know where they are she will 'tell' you. She will do that by walking away the turning around meowing, walk and turn around and meow until you follow her.
PS: a mother nursing kittens needs about 4 times the amount of food she is normally fed to make up for what the babies take out of them. Make sure she has fresh water available too.
