feral kittens?!?

12 years ago

Discovered over weekend that I have a family of feral kittens living under my low deck! Incredibly cute... but HISS like mountain lions. Thinking about 4 weeks old... not terribly wobbly and able to climb up on low deck. They absolutely disappear at the slightest noise.

Had a major DUH moment! About 5-6 weeks ago... saw 2-3 "stray" cats in yard over a few week period. Very pretty calico, FLUFFY gray & white, and smallish all-black. Since discoveriing the kittens, the calico has been around more... mamma... DUH!! Other 2... not around... "baby daddies"... DUH!!

So far have seen 4 differrent kittens... all look "healthy" for ferals. The calico mama... no collar, but bet it has a home... not skinny or scruffy looking.

Animal shelter advised NOT to try to grab up kittens... WAY too fast for that. Neighbor gave me have-a-heart trap to use... reluctant, cuz don't wanna find a racoon, possum or SKUNK in it! Figure any of them would be lured by bait of cat food or tuna. Township says they'll send an animal control person around "as soon as they can"... not holding breath.

Know I'd be SOOO tempted to keep one... especially if as pretty as the calico I've seen. Have a 3 yo shelter cat who rescued me... know when kittens are around cuz she get very noisy!

Weather is supposed to be rainy next few days... maybe even t-storms tonight. I really don't want to encourage them but hate the thought of them sleeping under deck with rain dripping on them. Against better judgement, put lid to spare litter box out on deck... little bowl of dry food for mama and water... maybe temporary shelter.

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Comments (13)

annzgw
12 years ago
I doubt mama has a home or she would have been comfortable to hang around you and bring the kittens with her.
Since ferals aren't always skinny or scruffy and can look like well-fed house cats, she could easily be a feral that is finding food somewhere.
Have you seen her lately? Maybe the kittens are coming out because she's not around and they're getting hungry.

Now is the time to get your hands on the kittens and get them socialized. I'd start sitting in the area where they're emerging from the deck and would entice them with some canned cat foot or tuna. Let them learn you're not a bad thing!
Is your animal control a no-kill shelter? If not, you may want to start calling some rescue groups. Kittens are much easier for them to place in homes and they can give you advice on the best way to catch them.
eahamel
12 years ago
Go ahead and use the trap. If you get a critter, just turn it loose. They're old enough to leave their mother, and will become tame pretty quickly at this age. If you put the trap out during the day with canned cat food in it, you're much less likely to get a skunk or coon. Will the shelter take the kittens? I don't think putting some shelter for them or food and water is encouraging them. They seem to be living there anyway. If you can trap the mama cat, maybe the shelter will spay her. She needs to be spayed!!!
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Some of the homeopathic methods work great...if they're not too far gone. :( Cinnamon, aka "The Dread Pirate Lampshade" had to have surgery immediately after upper respiratory distress and conjunctivitis progressed too rapidly to help her. She went from a little goopy eyes to "Omg, the cat's eyeball just POPPED all over me!!!" in a matter of days. :'( My inability to look my children in the eyes and tell them that the kitten they already gave their hearts to was going to die because Mom couldn't afford the vet bill saved her life. O_o I only get to be their hero for a short while. That time is priceless to me. In a shiny happy rainbow pony kind of world, "Take them to the vet or shelter!!", as so many like to stand on their soapbox and lecture about...but Lampshade alone cost about $1200 to save. Vets aren't free. Even the cat rescues aren't accepting cats anymore because there are just too many! So people have taken to dumping their strays at my Mom's, who lives in the country. They're ALL sick now. Every litter has worms, Upper respiratory infections, conjunctivitis and FLEAS! :( Saying "Not your responsibility" is great...if you aren't the one looking a sick pathetic baby kitten in the eyes as it says "Mew!" and rips your heart out with it's cuddly little kitty voodoo!! O_o And YOU can try "reasoning" with my children...My animal activist, syringe feeds baby birds that fall out of the nest EVERY spring, animal loving children that bring in any and every animal that needs help! ("I CAN'T save the baby bunny! It's got no HEAD!!!") Good luck with that. Lol There's nothing wrong with helping the ones you can with cheap homeopathic methods. It's better than turning a blind eye and doing nothing. There's nowhere for them to go. Apple Cider Vinegar in the water, FOOD GRADE Diacatamous Earth in the food and rubbed into their fur, Lysine treats to boost immunity...Antibiotics and Terramycin ointment when you see goopy eyes (See also Fish Mox) because that's an upper respiratory infection and if it spreads...you get cases like our poor little lampshade. Then it's either $1000 vet bill or dead kitty. :( One may be something that you can live with...but these things are highly contagious, it's never just one. Lost around 8 kittens a week ago and can see signs of illness in them all. :( Those sick kitties can spread illness to the other animals and people, too.
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It is great you can pick them up, and that you were able to get them to the vet. The rest will come with patience.. They were not socialized, so it will take a little more time to get them more "people friendly", but you will get there. Try other people to sit quietly in the room with them, have someone else bring them food (a feeding hand soon becomes a friend)... I volunteer at our local shelter, and I know they will eventually be more trusting of others, even if they go into hiding when you have company (some of my cats still do that). I hear what you say about the bonding between the 2... I probably would not separate them either (against my good judgement).. As I said before, by now, Tiger would have been exposed anyway, so why adding stress? Stress always weakens the cat response to recovery... How old are they? I certainly would not let them out. Provide toys, play with them... Can they access windows to look out and watch birds (they usually love that)? Hopefully they will forget the outside eventually. As your vet may have told you, the Tiger would have to be re-tested in 6 months for FeLV, as a first negative result is not totally certain. Hope it is not too hard to medicate Hello Kitty! Thanks again for being so good to these 2!! and keep us posted, of course! Anne-Marie
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anoriginal
12 years ago
Mama was under deck with kittens yesterday when I got home with 2 of the kittens... at least that's all I could see through the cracks. Last night's (and today's) weather isn not the best... rain... luckily not POURING. I put the lid to a spare litter box out on deck as a make-shift shelter... saw 3rd of 4 kittens walking inside before it got dark last night.

Another DUH moment! Set the trap during the DAY!! Raccoons, possums, SKUNKS... not around then!!
thatchairlady
Original Author
12 years ago
My township animal control guy stopped by and set up 2 traps. Both are covered so if it rains again, not a major issue. Said he'd stop by around 8-9 tomorrow morning to check and then again some time in the afternoon. Told him pretty sure ONE kitten wouldn't have enough weight to set the thing off, but if that can of food draws them all in... maybe mission accomplished?!?
schoolhouse_gw
12 years ago
Do you think the kittens are weaned then? If not, what happens if the kittens are caught and not the mother? It's a hard call as to what to do. Good luck. If rescued, hope kittens and mama fair well at the shelter and find good homes.
thatchairlady
Original Author
12 years ago
Mama is IN trap on deck... as of about a half hour ago. Sounded like a RHINO out there! But she settled down after 10 minutes or so. Animal guy assured me she might not be happy, but would be fine till he stops by tomorrow morning. Told me to do nothing if I see kittens out... looking for her?!? A total guess that kittens might be 4-5 weeks old?? They seem totally mobile and really fast... though I'm sure still pretty vulnerable.
msdos
12 years ago
So you can't find the momma or kittens now?
thatchairlady
Original Author
12 years ago
NO! Mama is in have-a-heart trap on deck. Animal guy said kittens might try to get to her. I don't know??
annzgw
12 years ago
My guess is the kittens are still nursing since the mom is still coming and going. What did the animal control person say to do with the mom? Is it still raining, is she in a protected area, and is the trap partially covered?
Personally, I would slowly approach her just to see if she acts really wild of if she accepts your presence.
Did you ask him what they will do with the mom and kittens?

I hate the idea of her being caged so long, so check her now and then to make sure she doesn't injure herself.
laurief_gw
12 years ago
If I were you, I would move the second trap so that it is alongside the first trap with no space between them. Adjust the covers to that they do not extend down between the traps (so that momcat can see and be seen from the other trap) but completely covers the tops of both traps. The kittens will likely enter the other trap during the night to try to get close to mom.
thatchairlady
Original Author
12 years ago
Took quick peek at mama this morning. She seems fine but is DEFINITELY NOT HAPPY!! Cat (and kittens, when caught) will go to county animal shelter. AC guy said he'd stop by to check around 8 this morning and do whatever needs to be done to lure out kittens... low side of deck is pretty much right on the ground and "high" side is too low for a person to crawl under. Will just have to wait and see!?!
woodnative
12 years ago
That is a shame. The kittens can not nurse or eat since yesterday since mom is in the trap. The shelter will euthanize the mom and maybe the kittens too as they are probably overloaded with kittens this time of year and they need to be socialized and maybe weaned too. It is a shame the mother could not be spayed and released, and the kittens caught and socialized/fostereed and adopted. the mother cat must be really stressed both being in the trap and not being able to get to her nearby kittens.
laurief_gw
12 years ago
I agree. The queen is undoubtedly extremely stressed not being able to get to her kittens, and she's also probably in pain with full teats. The kittens won't last long without food, warmth, and protection. I hope the animal control officer was able to successfully capture the kittens and remove them and the queen to a safe environment together.

Please give us an update ASAP.

feral kittens?!?

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