can't find kittens

[homesteadingnky]

Our cat had kittens yesterday or the day before. Anyway, we didn't see her at all yesterday but she showed up this morning, much slimmer, very hungry and thirsty. She wanted attention and didn't want to leave us. We had to leave for a couple of hours and when we got back home she was gone. We've looked everywhere and can't find them.

I know this is not unusual but she normally stays right around our back porch and there doesn't seem to be that many places she could hide. Any ideas the type of place she might have her babies? It's been raining here and when she showed up she was dry. I thought she'd go to the building out back. She goes in there a lot but she's not there.

I didn't think to check and see if she had been nursed or not. I'll check that when she comes back. Also, how often will she leave her kittens?

We were going to follow her but she wouldn't leave the house she kept waiting for us to come to the door to give her attention. She stayed right there until we left and then apparently went back to them.

My daughters are freaking out! (They are crazy about their cat "Princess"!!!) I told them I'd see if any one here had any ideas that might help us.

Thanks,
Homesteading Dad

[nancy1340]

Do you live in a mobile home? If so she probably got into the insulation under your home. Or if she's in the shed look around the base on the outside and see if there is a small hole under the edge. She might have crawled under it to have her babies.

[homesteadingnky]

We live in a 1 1/2 story house and there's no way for her to get under it. *It's been over a week and still no sign. *Every day she cunningly disappers with us trying to follow her and she manages to slip off unnoticed every day. *She'll stay gone for hrs at a time and you can tell she's nursing 4-5 kittens by the amount of hair worn off around her nipples. *Boy, I wish we had a tracking collar for her. :-/ *They should be getting big enough to hear soon hopefully.

Homesteading Dad

[CountryKitty]

Got an old vehicle parked on the property? How about some haybales, between which she could squeeze? Brushpile somewhere nearby? Or maybe an abandoned groundhog den, or even a woodstack?

Mama kitty sounds like she's got great instincts...an adult may have to hide and watch while the kids are fussing over her, then follow her when the other parent takes the kids inside.

[walls0stone]

same thing happend to us yesterday. She moved them and even with me following her, she got away from me.

When she comes to the house at night, she looks thin also.

[homesteadingnky]

Well, it's been almost a month to the day since our cat had kittens and we are about ready to give up. *We had looked everywhere and couldn't find a sign anywhere. *Then, out of the blue here comes mama and 2 pretty little kittens. *That was yesterday. *Today, 4 more! *They are all beautful and needless to say my little girls are thrilled!! :) *Seems the mama cat didn't need our help at all. *She had done a wonderful job and the kittens are already attached to us. *They are so friendly and playful. *What a blessing. Now, let's see, a trip to the vet, and 1 for MIL and 2 for SIL and that leaves 3 for us. Just right! ;D

Homesteading Dad