Jude 2

Okay. My cat had kittens in our garage this a.m. The best I can tell is there are 3 or 4. She is in a box on a quilt and has them pretty well covered. My question is concerning weather. The forecast is for 25 degree lows tomorrow night and Wednesday night. Can mother cat protect the kittens through this cold blast or should I move them inside to warmer temperatures?

Thanks,
pa

Yes, move them inside. It is hard enough on a healthy animal in those temps. One who has just had kittens would be hard pressed to keep herself alive, much less care for the kits. Try to find a spot away from people as much as possible, she will need to feel that it's safe for her and the kittens.


TW

Move them in.

That's what all that fur if for.

Tell you what do, get them all in one sack.... ...wait never mind the last time I suggested that I got in trouble here.

scooter wrote:That's what all that fur if for.

Tell you what do, get them all in one sack.... ...wait never mind the last time I suggested that I got in trouble here.

You did? I suggested similar over at Acts once, and man, did I ever rile a few folks. Folks is too city-fied now-a-days.

I am not going to say to jsut move them in. it depends on how you feel about having animals in your house. If I was one that had a pet cat, and it was an outside cat, I would leave it outside. With that said, I might provide some way to help alleviate extremes in climate. maybe a heater, or a heating pad or old heating blanket-tent, or something like that.

Yes, there are ways to help without bringing them in (depends on if the cat is strictly outdoor or indoor/outdoor) even something as simple as a lightbulb burning in/close to the box will give off enough heat that they should be fine. If you can cover the box and put a light in (with enough clearance not to start a fire of course) that will keep it warm.

Ditto Pastor Bill and Rambo

I vote on bringing them in. As TW said, put them off in a place by themselves. But warm.
If I remember mothers go through an ordeal giving births. These baby kittens fur is not enough warm covering for their wee bodies.
She will do all that she can to protect them but sometimes mothers need some help.
Animals rely on people and we need to be there for them.

Before there were houses with heaters cats did just fine. The mother will move them if she thinks it is dangerous.

We always had outdoor pets. My dad put a 100 watt light bulb in the houses or near the animal. It gives off sufficent heat.

Not to mention.. some cats will TEAR YOU UP if you touch her litter and move them if she doesn't want you to.

Leave 'em outside.... Then go watch the Lion King.... It's called the circle of life baby...

The only good cat is a...

Never mind...



BTW: You call that a cold blast? We got down to 15 below - REAL temp with 40 below wind-chills.

Alright!!! *Stepping up on his soap box*

A major part of having pets is being responsable for them and their welfare. Before there were houses with heat people lived in caves, do you want to return to the cave, I don't. Putting a 100 watt bulb in a cardboard box is asking for a fire. Yes, animals have fur, and the species have survived over the years, but how many have died from exposure? It is not really about whether it's 25 degrees or fifteen degrees below zero, it's about what the animal is acclimated to. If your going to have pets, be responsable for them.


TW

*Steps down from his soap box, and walks away mumbling; "Don't make me have to come to your house and straighten you out about your animals!"*

TW wrote:Alright!!! *Stepping up on his soap box*

A major part of having pets is being responsable for them and their welfare. Before there were houses with heat people lived in caves, do you want to return to the cave, I don't. Putting a 100 watt bulb in a cardboard box is asking for a fire. Yes, animals have fur, and the species have survived over the years, but how many have died from exposure? It is not really about whether it's 25 degrees or fifteen degrees below zero, it's about what the animal is acclimated to. If your going to have pets, be responsable for them.


TW

*Steps down from his soap box, and walks away mumbling; "Don't make me have to come to your house and straighten you out about your animals!"*

TW,

I agree, but what the animal is acclimated to is still the issue. For an outside cat, that is acclimated to the outdoors, you could stress it worse by bringing it indoors (unfamiliar surroundings, confined spaces, etc).

And yes putting the lightbulb in a cardboard box can be hazardous if you are not careful about placement and stability, but it can be done, and is a fairly common method of providing heat to outdoor animals in dog houses and other shelters.

I am all for taking care of your pets, but bringing it indoors is not always the best thing either.

All of you who think it's okay to leave them outside could sleep out there with them and help keep them warm.