Nursing cat abandoning her kittens

Right, it’s clear she’s going to move her nest; cats don’t usually stay in the same birthing spot for long, probably in a week or two. She’s already settled herself right by the gate, even with the noise of people passing by outside... anyway, things aren't quite as bleak as you’re painting them! Actually, I’ve seen this cat around since last summer; I’ve even given her a bit of food now and then when she pops into the garden. She isn't exactly a pet, but she’s not wild either. I’ve even managed to stroke her sometimes, provided she doesn’t feel like giving me a quick swipe! ^^ There are quite a few strays in the neighbourhood, and as I said, there’s no real animal welfare support here besides a few individuals doing what they can—I live in Algiers. The neighbours feed them when they can, and I sometimes see them managed to catch a sparrow or something; basically, they aren’t starving, far from it.

So, back to the mum: she’d stopped coming to my block for a few weeks, then a couple of days ago, I took my table apart and leaned the pieces against the courtyard wall. The next day, surprise! A litter of tiny kittens sheltered underneath... and when the mum came out, she didn’t look underweight to me. I’m no expert, but compared to some other street cats who were in a really bad way, poor things... Well, I can't say for sure if she has worms or fleas, but she’s active, climbing trees, eating—she absolutely loves chicken, by the way. I’m not sure if I should stop giving her meat now. I just gave her some of my own cat’s dry food (I’m not joking when I say that stuff is really pricey; there’s only one brand available and the price is out of reach for most people). She ate it, of course, and she’s got water there, though I haven’t seen her drink yet. The bowl is clean and the water’s fresh, anyway.

Finally, no, I’ve no idea what I’m going to do with the kittens. I’ll see if any friends can take them in 3 or 4 months, and maybe post on a rescue group’s site to see if anyone’s interested. I hate the idea of kittens being separated from their siblings before they’re old enough, but I suppose I won’t have much choice. Then there’s the matter of getting the mum spayed—that's a bit of a problem as the vets don't do home visits and I’ve no idea how I’ll get her there. I guess I’ve got a month or two to figure it out. On the bright side: plenty of adorable photos to make up for the stress!

Anyway, sorry for the long ramble, I just wanted to reassure you a bit. Thanks for your reply! :)

The mum might be trying to move her kittens to a new nest; that's probably why she's moving them one by one. She’ll definitely be exhausted—between the strain of giving birth and the fact she’s likely underweight and riddled with worms and fleas, it takes a lot out of them. If it’s really hot, that’ll only make things worse. It's vital that you provide plenty of fresh water to keep her cool and help with her milk production. For food, she needs kitten-specific dry food or pouches, as they’re higher in calories. You can also give her some tinned tuna (avoid the kind in oil, or rinse it off first), but steer clear of fresh meat as flies might lay eggs on it in this heat.

Are you planning on taking the kittens in once they're older to help rehome them?

Which country are you based in?

Please understand that half a day without food for kittens this young is a very long time, and the poor things will eventually waste away and die.

No, I don't think the mother is going to come back for them; she’s probably exhausted and thin, and has likely decided she hasn’t got enough milk for more than two or three kittens.

You need to rescue these kittens; you cannot leave the poor little things to cry until they die of hunger and cold. You’ve already lost a significant amount of time by waiting this long.

Leaving them like that is quite simply inhumane.