saved kittens from a fire!!!

[Jenn]

We live on 5 acres and have about 1 1/2 acres cleared, and the rest wooded. Slowly blackberries have been taking over, so my husband bought a new kubota tractor and has started on clearing more property. We have 3 big piles of blackberries, and wood debris and my husband decided to burn one of the piles today before a burn ban kicks in. We have a lot of stray cats on the property, and I guess one of the mommas moved her litter to the brush pile. We had a huge fire blazing when my husband, who was close by managing the hose to keep the fire from getting too big, heard meowing. He sprayed water in the fire to keep it from spreading to where the meowing was heard and I got in it with rake and loppers in hand. What a mess to try to search through. I also had all the smoke blowing my way and was coughing and tearing up. But I'm such an animal lover and no way was I going to let these kittens die. I finally found the mommy cat who was just sitting in one place, as if in shock. It took me about an hour but I finally found 4 kittens, one at a time, because they were calling out. Let me stress how difficult it was for me to try to get to them, but it was so worth it. They are about one month old and sooooo cute. Very tame and loving as well. My kids and I played with them through the afternoon and now they are in a box for momma to come and reclaim them. Too small for me to interfere. I saw momma eating (I provide food for the strays) so I know she came out ok too! What a scary ordeal but hopefully I was able to find them all and it was a happy ending!

 

[PaperMoon]

Wow!! Bless you for saving those kitties! I'm glad none of them were hurt!!

 

[Aneesa's Muse]

Thank you for saving these babies, Jenn! :heart:

I'm glad it turned out safe for all involved.. you, as well

 

[eroomlorac]

Please let us know if the Mama comes back for the kittens. Good job in saving the poor babies.

 

[rach_leigh]

Oh what a happy ending! Glad you got to save the kittens!

 

[Jenn]

Please let us know if the Mama comes back for the kittens. Good job in saving the poor babies.

I believe momma cat knows that they are on my back deck, which is where I feed all the strays, but she hasn't taken them yet. I'm sure hoping she doesn't decide to abandon them for some reason. They are in a box that they can almost get out of, and what I worry about are the raccoons and the opossums that look for any leftovers on the deck. I don't know if they would bother the kittens, and I don't think I should bring them in if there is a chance momma will take them tonight. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and see if they are taken by morning, otherwise, I'll have to figure out what to do to care for them until they are of weaning age.

 

[Jenn]

It is morning and momma hasn't reclaimed her kittens. It is going to get up to the mid eighties today and I don't know how long I should hold on to them before I consider them abandoned. They have to be hungry/thirsty and they need momma's milk. Momma won't get near me, but I think when she comes up to eat today, I'll have the kittens out of the box near the food where she can really see them. Maybe she is just still confused from the fire yesterday...?

 

[tunes]

They probably smell horrible and not at all like her kittens anymore. She may not take them back at this point.

I'm so glad you were able to get them out. What a horrible way for them to go otherwise.

 

[Jenn]

Ok, momma is in the process of taking them back one by one. Unfortunately she is taking them back to the remaining unburned brushpile. We won't burn it, just in case that is indeed where she's taken them, but the fire was so hot yesterday and the temp is supposed to get above the mid 80's today. I just hope the fire doesn't reignite. We'll keep a close eye on it today. At least momma didn't abandon them. Her babies have been crying out for her this morning so there was no way she could easily ignore them. As adorable as they are, I am glad I don't have to try and feed 4 of them for the next couple of weeks!

 

[mishellyshel]

awww........im glad she came back for them!! and at least they have you to watch over them!!

 

[starleomach]

they were very lucky you heard them

 

[Jenn]

Momma had moved 2 of the kittens back to the original spot and the other 2 were crying out for momma hysterically but momma didn't come back. I took them out to the location where I had found them and let them cry out. Momma soon poked her head out from the brush pile so I knew exactly where to place them. I put them inside the pile so momma could easily get them. So I think by now, there is a happy reunion with all kittens and momma.

 

[Olallie]

aw im glad they are all ok!

 

[chinchewy1]

Glad they are ok. You might want to see if you have any ferial spay/neuter programs in your area. A few strays lead to MANY in a very short amount of time.

 

[Jenn]

Glad they are ok. You might want to see if you have any ferial spay/neuter programs in your area. A few strays lead to MANY in a very short amount of time.

I did try a program to get them all fixed, but unless I do it in the middle of winter, the females can't be fixed when they are pregnant or nursing. I had all the males done a few years ago while the females had to wait, and neighboring males empregnated the females again before I got them caught. I gave up after a while. My population of cats always remains about the same, year after year.

 

[Mystic]

I'm so glad you were able to save those poor kitten!! I'm happy they are all doing well.

 

[Tiatrack]

I did try a program to get them all fixed, but unless I do it in the middle of winter, the females can't be fixed when they are pregnant or nursing.

Maybe there are other programs in your area? The rescue I work with spays lactating cats all the time.

 

[Jenn]

Maybe there are other programs in your area? The rescue I work with spays lactating cats all the time.

That's news to me since I was told otherwise...I'll have to look into that, thanks!

 

[BooBoo*TheKiddo*]

aww bless you for saving those little ones and mommy.

and I'm glad she claimed them

 

[addictedtochins]

I did try a program to get them all fixed, but unless I do it in the middle of winter, the females can't be fixed when they are pregnant or nursing.

I have had a pregnant female fixed early in her pregnancy. Yes the kittens are lost but you don't need any more cats anyway. It does cost a little extra. We have a program that allows you to spay or neuter for just $20. The rest is paid by a grant from Bob Barker (The Price is Right)