Hopefully, you knew this was coming. Momma cat had gotten pretty fat and she has been furtively preparing a place she feels safe to set up roost. Now there are several very small, almost rat-looking creatures rooting around her. So what do you do with these things?
First of all, you leave them where they are if at all possible. Momma has picked the place for a reason, and she feels they are safe there. In most instances, she is right. On occasion, they will need to be moved for their own safety (for instance: inside if they were outside births, or overwhelming hot area). If you must move them, use a cloth or towel to pick them up and try not to handle them anymore than absolutely necessary. This will limit the transfer of human smells onto them, which Momma cat may not like very much. You do not want her to reject them just after birth and this can happen if she decides they smell 'too human' and therefore aren't hers any longer.
Kittens Cats
They must be in a somewhat confined space or they can possibly 'scoot' away and die. For the first week or so a small box that is large enough for Momma to lay out in with kittens should be sufficient. It should have at least a 6" edge that keeps the kittens from getting out. The box also should contain some lightweight blanket for babies to burrow/snuggle into. If Momma is not leaving them to eat/drink, you may need to set these things up next to the box so they are convenient for her. She needs to keep her strength up while feeding so many babies. You will find she is usually very content to stay with her babies and will spend time cleaning them, feeding them and sleeping with them. Female cats are very maternal especially if they have been true 'house cats' for awhile.
The father cat, on the other hand, may only view the offspring as somewhat interesting little creatures. While he might be curious about them and sniff around, there will not be a great deal of 'nurturing' from him. This is very natural in felines and is not a cause for concern. Do keep an eye on him and be sure he is not expressing any hostility towards them, as can occasionally happen. If this occurs, simply be sure to keep him 'off-limits' from where the babies are. Do not punish him, however, he simply doesn't understand these bizarre 'things' are his doing.
As their human, your primary goals should be keeping them in a warm climate (not too hot, or cold), keeping their space clean and the Mom fed and happy. Always have them accessible to Momma cat, and allow them time alone. For the first few weeks, it is best to simply observe them (they can be extremely entertaining) and not handle them constantly.
Around the 2nd week, they will begin to open their eyes and shortly after that will be able to "mew" although it will be a very small sound. Another few days and the babies will begin trying to stand up a bit more testing their little legs. These first few weeks are really critical and you should notice that their fur begins to come in, so they look more like kittens than rats. Momma will be constantly cleaning, particularly their bottoms so that their digestive system begins functioning properly. You should pay attention to whether the babies begin to urinate and defecate on their own, if this does not start then a trip to the vet is in order. They will begin to get a little 'chubby' and start becoming the cute little kittens you envisioned.
Be aware if there is any particular kitten that the others are not allowing to nurse well. This can occasionally happen if a kitten is not as 'aggressive' as the siblings about nursing. Should this happen, try to provide Momma some time alone with that particular baby so it can acquire the same amount of 'feeding'. You can do this with a separate box next to main one, so Momma can keep them all in sight and once the weaker (runt) has been satisfied, she can then feed the rest.
By the end of the first month they will be clumsily walking and 'climbing' on Momma alot. At that point, depending on how many of the babies there are you may want to increase their 'box' area and add just a couple of small toys for their entertainment. Most of the time, they will entertain each other well enough along with Momma when she is with them.
During the second month, you can begin introducing them to their own 'food' and fresh water so they can learn to eat and drink on their own. This will not replace 'nursing' but is an addition to it, as Momma will continue to provide them with much-needed nutrients they can only get from her. Ideally, the babies should spend at a minimum the first 12 weeks with Mom. After the 3 month mark, they should be well on their way to independence and able to adjust to a new owner if you are not planning on keeping them. Most cats will begin to refuse to nurse the babies any longer by the 4th or 5th month and will bat or hiss at them to get the point across.
You must be diligent about where the kittens can roam to in your home. They will discover the smallest places and some of those can present danger to them, such as behind appliances or under furniture. If they can get their head in it, they can get through it so be careful of what they can gain access to around the house. As they grow, their world will expand much like a child's and they are eager to discover it all.
If you follow these simple guidelines, then your new house cats can begin their life feeling secure with a safe and healthy beginning for a very long life. They will provide endless entertainment as they play and begin to bond with the remaining household members in their world.
Your House Cat Has Had Kittens - Now What?
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