mother and 4 kittens on the roof...
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traveller2
- Professional
- Posts: 312
- Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2011 4:35 pm
- Location: Sheffield/Hua Hin
Re: mother and 4 kittens on the roof...
Sorry to hear the news fft. You and your wife did your best. I doubt there was anything else you could have done.
wysiwyg (what you see is what you get)
Re: mother and 4 kittens on the roof...
fft100...What a story. You and your wife are to be commended. As a pet lover, thanks. I know hey were wild, but you cared. Thanks
I wouldn't have to manage my anger if people could learn to mange their stupidity!
Re: mother and 4 kittens on the roof...
You've probably figured this one out already FFT but I'll mention anyway. If the kittens are indeed gone, Mom is going to get pregnant again, especially with Dad around as you mentioned. If you continue to put food out for her now, you'll have a full repeat of more kittens in a few months. Pete 
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Re: mother and 4 kittens on the roof...
wow ! stranger and stranger. mother was around this morning, usual place on the terrace roof. gave her some food. she then set off the long way round to the back wall - again seeming keen for me to follow. got to the wall, and then she walked along it and that was that. i wasnt going over it again !
and now, this afternoon, say 4.30, on a different terrace roof, smaller, and slightly more steeply angled, we have the 4 kittens and mother...
not sure at all to make of what has happened. I am now thinking that maybe, for whatever reason, mother actually wanted me to look at the 4 kittens after she had moved them from the terrace the first time. Not normal, i would think, but cant think of any other reason. I wonder if she is actually going to ask me to look after them at some point.... hmmm......
anyway, slap up meal of fish, bread, cat biscuit, milk and water. Wonder when tke kittens will start wanting to eat / drink directly, as opposed to from mother.
and now, this afternoon, say 4.30, on a different terrace roof, smaller, and slightly more steeply angled, we have the 4 kittens and mother...
not sure at all to make of what has happened. I am now thinking that maybe, for whatever reason, mother actually wanted me to look at the 4 kittens after she had moved them from the terrace the first time. Not normal, i would think, but cant think of any other reason. I wonder if she is actually going to ask me to look after them at some point.... hmmm......
anyway, slap up meal of fish, bread, cat biscuit, milk and water. Wonder when tke kittens will start wanting to eat / drink directly, as opposed to from mother.
Re: mother and 4 kittens on the roof...
That is excellent news seems Mother really does trust you and is thankful for your help!
Re: mother and 4 kittens on the roof...
Oh, the law of unintended/unforeseen consequences !
Since the kittens and mother seemed to be installed quite happily on the extension roof (though it wouldnt have been my choice for them), i bought some kitten milk (non lactose etc) from the big vets hospital south of town, as i wasnt sure whether mum could support 4 kittens and carried on feeding mum twice a day. The kittens are getting bigger and mother is looking hungrier ! She turns up ine the same place at the same time most days looking for food. I guess in the real wild that not all 4 kittens may have survived so long.
Mother still a bit schizo about this. When i am feeding her when she is alone on a different roof, she gets closer to me but then alternates miaow/hiss/miaow/hiss ad infinitum.
On the roof where the kittens are, i got a bit casual a week ago, and put milk / water up for the kittens when mother was there. bad move. Mother came towards me and one of the kittens was right behind her. after a prolonged hissing fit, she moved incredibly quickly and scratched my hand in two places. Not a lot i could do as i was on the top rung of the ladder at the time ! I would recommend a number of hospitals to buy the cats claws as it was only when i looked that i saw blood in both places. no pain or feeling at all. far sharper than some hospitals needles ! anyway, a good wash and iodine solved it. I wasnt really worried about infection as the cat is on the roof most of the time so has probably got very little rubbish caught up in its paws/claws.
I now feed mother on a different roof, and when she is eating change the food for the kittens. Which, i am not sure if they are eating or not. very hard to see, and i suspect mother is keeping them away from it.
5 or 6 days ago, we thought that, somehow most of the kittens had got off the roof as we could only see 1. However.... That unfortunately was not the case. loud scraping noises at night, during the day and the appearance of all 4 kittens one morning confirmed our fears. they have found a small gap (and it is bloody small), at the back of the tiles and they are living in the void between the ceiling board and the tiles. we also have some decent R30 insulation in there (silver, double bubble, etc etc), and they must be below that as otherwise they would cook if on top. They also dont seem to have electrocuted themselves on the downlights.
If a lound noise happens or someone goes up the ladder, the kittens immediately dive for the gaps. They are also not often on the roof when mother is not there. instructions or natural instinct ?
This, for a variety of reasons, is not ideal. So someone went up to see if we could get the kittens out (when mother was away). 8 or 9 roof tiles were removed, and yes, they are below the insulation. Only one could be seen (the rest heard moving), and when picked up it wasnt aggressive, so still not feral. Since the others could not be accessed, it was put back, and the tiles put back. Short of taking all the tiles and insulation up, it is hard to see how to get them.
My estimate is that they need at least 1 more, probably 2 more months before they can get off the roof themselves...
2 photos attached
Since the kittens and mother seemed to be installed quite happily on the extension roof (though it wouldnt have been my choice for them), i bought some kitten milk (non lactose etc) from the big vets hospital south of town, as i wasnt sure whether mum could support 4 kittens and carried on feeding mum twice a day. The kittens are getting bigger and mother is looking hungrier ! She turns up ine the same place at the same time most days looking for food. I guess in the real wild that not all 4 kittens may have survived so long.
Mother still a bit schizo about this. When i am feeding her when she is alone on a different roof, she gets closer to me but then alternates miaow/hiss/miaow/hiss ad infinitum.
On the roof where the kittens are, i got a bit casual a week ago, and put milk / water up for the kittens when mother was there. bad move. Mother came towards me and one of the kittens was right behind her. after a prolonged hissing fit, she moved incredibly quickly and scratched my hand in two places. Not a lot i could do as i was on the top rung of the ladder at the time ! I would recommend a number of hospitals to buy the cats claws as it was only when i looked that i saw blood in both places. no pain or feeling at all. far sharper than some hospitals needles ! anyway, a good wash and iodine solved it. I wasnt really worried about infection as the cat is on the roof most of the time so has probably got very little rubbish caught up in its paws/claws.
I now feed mother on a different roof, and when she is eating change the food for the kittens. Which, i am not sure if they are eating or not. very hard to see, and i suspect mother is keeping them away from it.
5 or 6 days ago, we thought that, somehow most of the kittens had got off the roof as we could only see 1. However.... That unfortunately was not the case. loud scraping noises at night, during the day and the appearance of all 4 kittens one morning confirmed our fears. they have found a small gap (and it is bloody small), at the back of the tiles and they are living in the void between the ceiling board and the tiles. we also have some decent R30 insulation in there (silver, double bubble, etc etc), and they must be below that as otherwise they would cook if on top. They also dont seem to have electrocuted themselves on the downlights.
If a lound noise happens or someone goes up the ladder, the kittens immediately dive for the gaps. They are also not often on the roof when mother is not there. instructions or natural instinct ?
This, for a variety of reasons, is not ideal. So someone went up to see if we could get the kittens out (when mother was away). 8 or 9 roof tiles were removed, and yes, they are below the insulation. Only one could be seen (the rest heard moving), and when picked up it wasnt aggressive, so still not feral. Since the others could not be accessed, it was put back, and the tiles put back. Short of taking all the tiles and insulation up, it is hard to see how to get them.
My estimate is that they need at least 1 more, probably 2 more months before they can get off the roof themselves...
2 photos attached
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Re: mother and 4 kittens on the roof...
Anyone like upto 4 kittens ?
Due to soiling of the ceiling tiles, we were forced to take up the roof and insulation this morning, and extract the 4 kittens. Mother not happy. havnt captured mother yet, so think we need to get kittens out of area. They are 3-4 weeks old and not clear if they can feed themselves. Used a syringe this morning. I am not sure what there survival rate would be if dumped in a market.
Doctor at the Vet hospital tells me that they dont put animals to sleep. I did mention that that was a better option than starvation/being eaten, but was told it was different here than in Europe (i knew already - but was hoping for an option).
Due to soiling of the ceiling tiles, we were forced to take up the roof and insulation this morning, and extract the 4 kittens. Mother not happy. havnt captured mother yet, so think we need to get kittens out of area. They are 3-4 weeks old and not clear if they can feed themselves. Used a syringe this morning. I am not sure what there survival rate would be if dumped in a market.
Doctor at the Vet hospital tells me that they dont put animals to sleep. I did mention that that was a better option than starvation/being eaten, but was told it was different here than in Europe (i knew already - but was hoping for an option).
Re: mother and 4 kittens on the roof...
quick update.
After they went to live somewhere else (pump house nearby), 3 of the kittens disappeared a few weeks later - not sure where or how - and the mother and remaining kitten hung around on our roof, under the aircons, outside the bathroom windows etc and 4 or 5 times came in the house for a look around. Still unable to touch the kitten.
About 4 weeks ago, mother (obviously pregnant again - but unfortunately impossible to catch) lost all interest in the kitten. indeed, very aggressive towards it. scratching, hissing etc esp, when feeding or when kitten followed it. Kitten instantly became incredibly soft towards me. sat on feet, purring, rolling over, all with no claws or teeth. after a week, also playing with my 2 young children and in the house a lot. Let me take it down to the vets to be neutered and have its jabs. I am very surprised at the transformation. Obviously never became that wild/feral and was just looking for an excuse to move in.
Going to be a big bugger. Just like its dad who still comes around occasionally and takes son out for a night on the tiles or in the field or whereever... always back home before breakfast though !
Had a chat with mother the other day. She became very soft for a few minutes - though very very nervous. looks like a problem with her third eye (the covering membrane inside). I think she has given birth again, but i dont know where - not on our roof this time.
After they went to live somewhere else (pump house nearby), 3 of the kittens disappeared a few weeks later - not sure where or how - and the mother and remaining kitten hung around on our roof, under the aircons, outside the bathroom windows etc and 4 or 5 times came in the house for a look around. Still unable to touch the kitten.
About 4 weeks ago, mother (obviously pregnant again - but unfortunately impossible to catch) lost all interest in the kitten. indeed, very aggressive towards it. scratching, hissing etc esp, when feeding or when kitten followed it. Kitten instantly became incredibly soft towards me. sat on feet, purring, rolling over, all with no claws or teeth. after a week, also playing with my 2 young children and in the house a lot. Let me take it down to the vets to be neutered and have its jabs. I am very surprised at the transformation. Obviously never became that wild/feral and was just looking for an excuse to move in.
Going to be a big bugger. Just like its dad who still comes around occasionally and takes son out for a night on the tiles or in the field or whereever... always back home before breakfast though !
Had a chat with mother the other day. She became very soft for a few minutes - though very very nervous. looks like a problem with her third eye (the covering membrane inside). I think she has given birth again, but i dont know where - not on our roof this time.
Re: mother and 4 kittens on the roof...
It sounds as if you have been adopted by the kitten!
Re: mother and 4 kittens on the roof...
yes ! Fell asleep next to me while watching the olympics earlier. Still purring. Will have to kick it out for the night soon.