Expert: Jessica - 7/6/2009

Question
One of out outside cats just had her kittens underneath one of the cars that no one drives, that just sits in the yard. I'm wondering, will they be fine there, or will the other cats try to kill them? The mother isn't the most friendly cat, if she knows you, you can pet her, but not pick her up. Before we took her in she was just a stray. She's letting us near the kittens, but I don't want to move them if I don't have to.

Answer
Hi Amy.  If she will have to stay outdoors, the babies should be just about as safe there as they will be anywhere else.  At least they will be kept out of the view of birds of prey, and larger predators won't be able to reach them.  Most cats will leave them alone, but there is the potential that tom cats, especially those who are not the father, will kill them.  Some smaller predators like racoons, opposums and skunks will also eat kittens if they find them.

If it would be possible to lure her into a garage, if you have one, with some tasty food, or a live trap if you don't have a garage, and then you could bring her into a spare room if available, this would be best.  Some animal shelters or animal officers will lend you a trap.  Be sure to explain you're trying to trap your own cat who's scared, not a feral cat or wild animal.  Then you could reunite the kittens with her, and keep them all there until the kittens can be weaned.  

Once the kittens are old enough to place in homes, you can let mom back outside.  It would be great if she could be spayed first.  For a list of low-cost or free spay clinics, visit:

www.spayusa.org
www.neuterspay.org
http://www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html