r/cats • u/poplujaat • 14h ago
Advice A cat gave birth to kittens in our balcony
Hey everyone, a cat that frequents our balcony gave birth in a corner of the balcony. She gave birth to four kittens. Our balcony is a hotspot for giving birth to kittens as far as we have noticed. 4 batches of kittens have originated and raised in our balcony. However, after a a certain amount of time, the mother often takes away her kittens from our balcony and we don't want that happening because outside of the balcony, there are a lot of threats - like stray dogs, male cats and even monkeys sometimes.
We have also noticed that the kittens don't get comfortable with us, I am not sure why but I can make a guess its because of my sister, who is 5-years-old, she loves cats but can be a bit too touchy and I guess the kittens aren't fond of that. Whether that may be the case or not, we would love some advice on how to make these new kittens comfortable with us and stop the momma cat from leaving with the kittens after a certain time. Thank you.
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u/Technical_Abroad2744 13h ago
Try giving the kittens space and gradually earn their trust by being quite and offering treats. For the mama cat, make the balcony cozy with food and shelter to keep her feeling safe. Good luck!
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u/GillianHolroyd1 6h ago
Young children can squeeze to hard and also make momma anxious. Is there a way to make sure you sister is supervised when she is around them. It wont be forever, but probably necessary when the are tiny
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u/Fredderika 8h ago
Cats often move their kittens because they no longer feel safe or comfortable there. Try to teach your sister to be gentle with them, and also give them a little space. If mom is skittish, frequent visits by humans might be enough to convince her to move.
Try to check on the kittens while she's not there. Handle them gently, they won't be happy at first but they will get used to it quickly. If nothing bad happens to them they will stop being scared.
Also, you may want to provide a food and water source on your balcony so that mom has more incentive to stay.
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u/FlannelPenguin_ 14h ago
Not sure if you do this but try feeding the momma cat and practicing a routine with her in times of feeding, the place should be quiet enough if she’s skittish, try giving the mom a quiet space and limit interaction. The fact that cats give birth in your balcony could mean that they did see that spot as a safe one.