'tis the time of year when a young cat's thoughts turn to...well, you know...
If you suspect that one of the cats in your neighborhood is pregnant and/or just gave birth, you have several options.
Most importantly, kits should not be taken away from their mother until 5 weeks of age at the very least - otherwise they stand very little chance of survival. Of equal importance is that there is no such thing as a shelter that will pick up kittens...that has little to do with them being overwhelmed, it is unfortunately just reality - the only "shelter" on SI is Animal Care and Control, and they are a city-contracted KILL shelter, so that's not a good option for them anyway - not to mention that if the mother is feral, she would be euthanized at the shelter as un-adoptable. Visit our Kitten Info page for helpful guides to everything from newborns, to development, to socialization, and our TNR/Rescue Resources page for a link to a pretty extensive list of NYC Rescues that might or might not be able to take the kits once they've been weaned.
If the cat is pregnant:
While there is no way to know for sure how far along a pregnant cat is just by looking at her, there are some basic guidelines - the feline gestation period is approximately 58-63 days, or two months. If the cat is visibly pregnant, she is likely at least halfway through the gestation period. Beyond that, there is no way to tell how soon she may birth without the input of a licensed veterinarian. If a cat in your colony is visibly pregnant, we recommend that you attend an in-person workshop or complete the online TNR-certification course ASAP - then contact us as soon as you have been certified.* It is much more likely we might be able to assist you if are certified. We simply do not have the time, budget, or volunteer base to assist those who cannot participate in any way in the process. If you are disabled, or for some other valid reason cannot complete a workshop in the immediate future, and the cat in question is very pregnant, please contact us...we will do our best to find a volunteer to help, but cannot make any promises, particularly on short notice. (Our hands-on assistance program applies to SI residents only - if you live in another borough, please contact Neighborhood Cats for assistance).
* for the safety of both you and the cat, unless you are a rescuer experienced in dealing with feral cats, we strongly recommend against attempting to capture the mother in order to let her give birth inside.
If the cat has already given birth:
Most importantly, DO NOT remove or handle the kittens. Many people mistakenly think they are "rescuing" newborn kittens by taking them inside - this is the farthest thing from the truth - (click HERE for a comprehensive fact sheet on newborn kits). Kittens must remain with their mother until at least 5 weeks of age. Otherwise they stand very little chance of survival. Mother cats are also very sensitive to the smell of their offspring, and the smell of a human on their young may cause them to abandon or move the kittens, which could not only endanger their lives (the last thing you want on your hands is orphaned kittens), but may also prevent you from knowing their whereabouts and so being able to capture them at the appropriate time, either for socialization and placement, or for Spay/Neuter and return to the colony.
There is no such thing as a shelter that will "pick up" kittens...and the only actual "shelter" on SI is Animal Care and Control - this is the city-contracted shelter, and is an open admission shelter that DOES kill (commonly referred to as "euthanasia") animals for a variety of reasons, including lack of space, or even mild illness. The shelter is the worst option for any animal, but especially young kittens. CACC (Center for Animal Care and Control) cannot put kits up for adoption until 8 wks old, and doesn't have enough foster homes - the sad truth is that if kits are under 5 wks old, they will probably die without their mother. if they are between 5 and 8 wks old, they will likely get sick and be killed for illness, and if they are older than 8 wks, they are most often already feral (un-socialized to humans) and their chances of being adoptable are pretty slim. Ferals (cats and kittens) are un-adoptable, and are mandated by NYS to be held only 72 hours at CACC, then killed. Bringing any feral cat or kitten to the shelter is essentially handing them a death sentence.
If a cat gives birth outside, the best course of action is not to interfere, but to monitor the situation as closely as possible.
Then you have two choices:
1. Take the kits in between 5 and 8 wks of age, thoroughly socialize them , and place them in adoptive homes, or with a Rescue (click HERE for info on No-Kill adoption centers and a list of independent Rescues that might be able to take the kits once they've been weaned). TNR the mother so you won't be dealing with more kittens in a few weeks. Females can get pregnant again almost immediately after giving birth.
2. Wait until the kittens are at least 8 weeks old...TNR kittens and mom.
Few Rescues accept kittens over 8-10 weeks of age that were born outside or to a feral mother, as kittens born outside grow increasingly difficult to socialize the older they get - so the optimum window is really that 5-8 wk period.
Most Rescues will also require that you get the mother fixed if they are to accept kits from you (they too obviously want to make sure you're not dealing with another litter a couple months down the road).
For those who wonder whether the mom will just "go away" and take her kits with her as long as they don't feed her...the answer is not necessarily...a cat will not stay nor leave just because you do or do not feed her - the only difference it will make is that the better she eats, the healthier the kits will be, and the more likely a rescue will be able to successfully place them once they are socialized.
If you have further questions regarding kittens in your area, please feel free to contact us.
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