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kittydad

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Well, I have noticed for several weeks that a very scared frightened kitty has been seen by myself and others in the building hanging around my apartment. I am trying to bring this little one in to give it safety and feed it as it does look a bit "lean", but otherwise healthy from what I can see.
The closest I have gotten to this little cat is about 5 ft. This morning the cat was coming to eat some of the food I put out for it, and stopped looked at me around the corner of the building and then sugar saw it, and pounced. Needless to say, the little cat bolted. This little one is so cute. Mostly white, with grey patches. It appears to be about 6 months old too. With the amount that it has been around my place, people in the building think it is my cat. One person even asked if one of my cats had gotten loose.
If I am fortunate to bring this little one in before the weather really changes, then I will begin the socialization process. It will be in the bathroom, with a litter box (i have an extra), food and water, and will live there for the first little while, till it can be vet checked. The only concern I have right now, is rabies that this little one may have. I have not seen any evidence of this as yet, but that is one concern I will have till it gets to the vet. Another will be the potential spraying, and it will be spayed as fast as possible (another reason for the bathroom, it has a fan to help rid of the smell of spraying). Here's hoping that I am successful in the near future. I am doing it as I am concerned about this little one getting hit by cars, either on the road, or in the parking lot of my building. Hoping this is the right place for this, but if not, please accept my apologies.
 

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Originally Posted by kittydad

Well, I have noticed for several weeks that a very scared frightened kitty has been seen by myself and others in the building hanging around my apartment. I am trying to bring this little one in to give it safety and feed it as it does look a bit "lean", but otherwise healthy from what I can see.
The closest I have gotten to this little cat is about 5 ft. This morning the cat was coming to eat some of the food I put out for it, and stopped looked at me around the corner of the building and then sugar saw it, and pounced. Needless to say, the little cat bolted. This little one is so cute. Mostly white, with grey patches. It appears to be about 6 months old too. With the amount that it has been around my place, people in the building think it is my cat. One person even asked if one of my cats had gotten loose.
If I am fortunate to bring this little one in before the weather really changes, then I will begin the socialization process. It will be in the bathroom, with a litter box (i have an extra), food and water, and will live there for the first little while, till it can be vet checked. The only concern I have right now, is rabies that this little one may have. I have not seen any evidence of this as yet, but that is one concern I will have till it gets to the vet. Another will be the potential spraying, and it will be spayed as fast as possible (another reason for the bathroom, it has a fan to help rid of the smell of spraying). Here's hoping that I am successful in the near future. I am doing it as I am concerned about this little one getting hit by cars, either on the road, or in the parking lot of my building. Hoping this is the right place for this, but if not, please accept my apologies.
Hi there...thanks for caring for this little kitten. May I recommend something. Since this kitten is scared and may bolt if you place it in your bathroom....I would highly recommend you trap the kitten and take it immediately to be seen by a vet and spayed or neutered. The vet can also at that time provide it with a rabies vaccination and distemper shot. The reason to go about it this way is 1. to allow the vet to sedate the kitten while it is in the trap 2. to ensure that the kitten is actually healthy before you bring it into your home 3. to reduce the possibility of spreading something to your existing cats.

Below is a link to a very useful PDF on socializing feral kittens:

http://www.alleycat.org/resources_care.html#10

Good Luck

Katie
 
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kittydad

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Well, was thinking of trapping the kitten (thinking it is, but is only a guess), and then putting it immediately into a travel container to transport. I would be keeping the cats seperated till I was sure of the current health status. I would definately get the cat to the vet ASAP and the sedation is a good idea. But due to the safety concerns I have for this little one, I am thinking time may be my biggest opponent. Not to mention the longer this little one is out there, the more chance of it getting picked up by Animal Care and Control. But that would not be a bad thing either (to my knowledge). Thanks for your help katie, I will definately look at it. You guys rockkkkkkkk.
 

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Originally Posted by kittydad

Well, was thinking of trapping the kitten (thinking it is, but is only a guess), and then putting it immediately into a travel container to transport. I would be keeping the cats seperated till I was sure of the current health status. I would definately get the cat to the vet ASAP and the sedation is a good idea. But due to the safety concerns I have for this little one, I am thinking time may be my biggest opponent. Not to mention the longer this little one is out there, the more chance of it getting picked up by Animal Care and Control. But that would not be a bad thing either (to my knowledge). Thanks for your help katie, I will definately look at it. You guys rockkkkkkkk.
Oh...definately trap him or her ASAP. It's not terrible if the kitten has to live in a trap overnight. AC&Cs are notorious unfortunately for trapping and killing ferals only because they typically do not have resources to work on taming feral kittens. Is there a TNR organization that you can work with? Alley Cat Allies has a list of TNR groups by state:

http://www.alleycat.org/orgs.html

BTW....use "stinky" bait in the trap..the stinkier, the more tempting. Many trappers I know swear by warm, deboned, deskinned KFC chicken. Also, put newspaper in the bottom of the trap so that the kitten won't know when it steps over the trip plate. This also helps if the kitten has an "accident" in the trap.

Katie
 
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kittydad

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Well till I saw your response to my post katie, I had something a bit different in mind to assist in "trapping" this little one. Part of the idea was to immediately put the little one into a carrier cage till I was able to get to a vet. Due to not knowing the health status of this potential addition, I was going to put it into the bathroom, with the fan on to keep it away from my other 2 cats. It is one room that I can control the entry easy enough and keep everyone safe.
But i have been feeding this little one, and it is eating the whole dish of food in a couple of days. might try the stinky bait idea to get her there a bit longer though, to assist.
 

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Originally Posted by TNR1

OMany trappers I know swear by warm, deboned, deskinned KFC chicken.
That would be the original recipe, not extra crispy. Break off very small chunks of the meat to leave a trail into the trap and put a number of chunks inside the trap on the far side of the trip plate so that they need to pause to nibble.
 

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Originally Posted by kittydad

Well till I saw your response to my post katie, I had something a bit different in mind to assist in "trapping" this little one. Part of the idea was to immediately put the little one into a carrier cage till I was able to get to a vet. Due to not knowing the health status of this potential addition, I was going to put it into the bathroom, with the fan on to keep it away from my other 2 cats. It is one room that I can control the entry easy enough and keep everyone safe.
But i have been feeding this little one, and it is eating the whole dish of food in a couple of days. might try the stinky bait idea to get her there a bit longer though, to assist.
You mean transfer the kitten from the trap into say a collapsible dog crate?? That may work....you just HAVE to do it when the door in your bathroom is closed. And in that case, I would plan to transport the kitten in the crate to the vet. My concern was that you were going to bring the kitten home and let the kitten out in your bathroom (without confining it in the crate) which would allow it the possibility of escape. Just to make you feel a bit better, the incidence of rabies in cats is very low and the incidence of FIV/FELV is around 2%...but I wouldn't handle the kitten until it has been vet checked. If it's under 6 months...it probably won't spray.

Katie
 

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Originally Posted by Momofmany

That would be the original recipe, not extra crispy. Break off very small chunks of the meat to leave a trail into the trap and put a number of chunks inside the trap on the far side of the trip plate so that they need to pause to nibble.
Oh..Very good point!! I totally forgot about the original versus extra krispy aspect.

Katie
 
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kittydad

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thinking I have a trip to KFC in my near future. Too bad I didnt do this 2 weeks ago when I had a bit of left overs from them. Will look into things ASAP though.
 

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Originally Posted by kittydad

thinking I have a trip to KFC in my near future. Too bad I didnt do this 2 weeks ago when I had a bit of left overs from them. Will look into things ASAP though.
Please let us know how it goes...I'm sending you good trapping vibes. Also, I know this may sound a bit mean but I would suggest that you don't feed the kitten the day before you plan to trap it...that way it will be good and hungry for the KFC.


Katie
 
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kittydad

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Originally Posted by TNR1

You mean transfer the kitten from the trap into say a collapsible dog crate?? That may work....you just HAVE to do it when the door in your bathroom is closed. And in that case, I would plan to transport the kitten in the crate to the vet. My concern was that you were going to bring the kitten home and let the kitten out in your bathroom (without confining it in the crate) which would allow it the possibility of escape. Just to make you feel a bit better, the incidence of rabies in cats is very low and the incidence of FIV/FELV is around 2%...but I wouldn't handle the kitten until it has been vet checked. If it's under 6 months...it probably won't spray.

Katie
Well I wont go into the method of how I was going to trap the little one. Your ideas are much better than the one I had, I will say that. My plan was to put the little one into a transport carrier very fast after securing the cat outside, and bringing it in that way to the bathroom directly. I have 3 sizes of carriers available to me, and was going to use the largest on I have. The contact of all was still going to be minimal till a vet is consulted though. I am guessing the age of this little one, based on appearance, but I am no authority on it, and the little one may be older or younger than I an guessing. Will attempt to get a pic of the little one as soon as I can, so you guys can help determine the age with me.
Believe me, the last thing I want for this little one is more stress for it. Or at least use the least amount of stress as possible, but still be effective. I feel for this little one though.
 
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kittydad

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Originally Posted by TNR1

Please let us know how it goes...I'm sending you good trapping vibes. Also, I know this may sound a bit mean but I would suggest that you don't feed the kitten the day before you plan to trap it...that way it will be good and hungry for the KFC.


Katie
Well the feeding was part of the "bait". lol. But the method I was going to use was very time consuming, but would give me a chance to read a few books. lol
 

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Originally Posted by kittydad

Well I wont go into the method of how I was going to trap the little one. Your ideas are much better than the one I had, I will say that. My plan was to put the little one into a transport carrier very fast after securing the cat outside, and bringing it in that way to the bathroom directly. I have 3 sizes of carriers available to me, and was going to use the largest on I have. The contact of all was still going to be minimal till a vet is consulted though. I am guessing the age of this little one, based on appearance, but I am no authority on it, and the little one may be older or younger than I an guessing. Will attempt to get a pic of the little one as soon as I can, so you guys can help determine the age with me.
Believe me, the last thing I want for this little one is more stress for it. Or at least use the least amount of stress as possible, but still be effective. I feel for this little one though.
You should be able to borrow a humane trap from your local humane society or sometimes vet offices have them. Some places may require a deposit that is refundable once you return the trap. It's actually quite humane and ensures the safety of both yourself and the kitten.

Katie
 
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kittydad

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Originally Posted by TNR1

You should be able to borrow a humane trap from your local humane society or sometimes vet offices have them. Some places may require a deposit that is refundable once you return the trap. It's actually quite humane and ensures the safety of both yourself and the kitten.

Katie
Will look into that with a vet down the road I use on monday. Seeing as I take sugar and spice to them, as well as had the vet see suzie before she passed, I might get lucky. Your ideas are much more humane than the one I had. I was thinking crude because I wanted to help it so very much and was thinking irrationally and on my feet. Only had certain things available to me, but my intentions were to minimize the tramatic effects on this little one.
But will look into the ideas of trapping it differently. My only concern is that if I go to the humane society and get the trap, they might call AC&C and notify them, then it is a race, that I want to avoid.
 

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Originally Posted by kittydad

Well the feeding was part of the "bait". lol. But the method I was going to use was very time consuming, but would give me a chance to read a few books. lol
Oh..you still may be reading a few books....some ferals are a bit trap saavy and sometimes it isn't always successful the first time. MomofMany is a WONDERFUL resource who can tell you about the joys of setting traps and waiting for the cats to take the bait.

BTW....if you do borrow a trap....make sure you clean it before you set it out. You hope the humane society cleans them or has the person who borrows the trap clean it, but it's best to have a trap with no other cat scent.

Katie
 

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Originally Posted by kittydad

Will look into that with a vet down the road I use on monday. Seeing as I take sugar and spice to them, as well as had the vet see suzie before she passed, I might get lucky. Your ideas are much more humane than the one I had. I was thinking crude because I wanted to help it so very much and was thinking irrationally and on my feet. Only had certain things available to me, but my intentions were to minimize the tramatic effects on this little one.
But will look into the ideas of trapping it differently. My only concern is that if I go to the humane society and get the trap, they might call AC&C and notify them, then it is a race, that I want to avoid.
You are right to be cautious....check with your vet first.

Katie
 

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You never tell them what or where you are going to trap. If they get nosey, just tell them your cat got loose outside and you are trying to capture it. They don't need to know what you are doing.

And frankly, before I bought my own trap, I used to lease one from the county animal control. They typically thanked me for doing my part to control pet overpopulation. Most are on your side more than you realize.

And I agree with Katie - withhold food the day before you trap to get him/her good and hungry. If you happen to have the trap for more than a day and can get away with this, sometimes it works in your favor to secure the trap door open with a wire and feed inside the trap for a few days before you actually set the trip. They get comfortable with the trap and are easier to catch when the time comes.

If you are trapping close to your apartment building, place the trap in a spot that is somewhat hidden from prying eyes - behind a bush or something. But first feed the cat in that place for a while. I just grab a good book and sit as far away as possible on trapping day. When I trapped at my old house, I'd set the trap on the front porch, go inside and pass the time on TCS!!
 
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kittydad

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Originally Posted by TNR1

Oh..you still may be reading a few books....some ferals are a bit trap saavy and sometimes it isn't always successful the first time. MomofMany is a WONDERFUL resource who can tell you about the joys of setting traps and waiting for the cats to take the bait.

BTW....if you do borrow a trap....make sure you clean it before you set it out. You hope the humane society cleans them or has the person who borrows the trap clean it, but it's best to have a trap with no other cat scent.

Katie
Seeing as I work in health, I understand that point. I would clean the trap with a bleach solution, and let it air dry. That should work fine, I would think. You and momofmany have given me things to consider, thank you very much. And I find myself thinking of a name for this new little one. This is my first chance to name a cat, and am so excited. I am easily amused at times.
 
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kittydad

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Originally Posted by Momofmany

You never tell them what or where you are going to trap. If they get nosey, just tell them your cat got loose outside and you are trying to capture it. They don't need to know what you are doing.

And frankly, before I bought my own trap, I used to lease one from the county animal control. They typically thanked me for doing my part to control pet overpopulation. Most are on your side more than you realize.

And I agree with Katie - withhold food the day before you trap to get him/her good and hungry. If you happen to have the trap for more than a day and can get away with this, sometimes it works in your favor to secure the trap door open with a wire and feed inside the trap for a few days before you actually set the trip. They get comfortable with the trap and are easier to catch when the time comes.
Well there are other concerns for not getting my own trap at this time. One being a city by-law prohibiting more than 3 domestic animals in one dwelling. But I can see the logic of using the trap for a few days if possible, but we will see. Thing is, I am too honest in what I am doing for my own good sometimes, and I was turned down from adopting a dog cause of one statement I made, even after I told them that I would put it in for training. Sheesh, sometimes I cant win, so AC&C has shaken me a bit.
 

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PM me if you have questions or problems during the process. I don't always get back to check threads often enough and might miss your posts.

Oh yeah, and sending TRAP THAT KITTY vibes your way!
 
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