Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m going to attempt my first trapping experience. I want to trap a female (pregnant) feral, with two ?10-week old? kittens.
I live in a populated neighborhood of single homes.
My neighbor provided the “junk†pile for her to birth her kittens, and she continues to use that “nest†to “hide†her babies when she puts them to bed.
We have a block wall all around our house. Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve provided a ramp-like set up so the kittens can get into my yard to eat and play – and, I think sleep ??
Mommy has a schedule. During the day, she will sleep somewhere on our covered patio – mostly in front of the patio door on a cushioned chair. At an appointed time, she wakes up, goes to the side of the house that is adjacent to the neighborâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s yard with the junk pile and nest. She walks up my ramp, jumps up on the wall, looks over the area, when she sees itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s safe she calls to her babies, and then goes down into the junk to bring the babies out for ?breakfast, lunch, or dinner?.
On my covered patio, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve provided 3 different places for food bowls. One dry food bowl sits in front of our large patio sliding door. I put out canned food at 7:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. right there also.
Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve also put out our large dog carrier, (that we transport our three cats in) put a cardboard box inside with shredded paper for a “safe place†on our patio for them to sleep - it's at the other end of the patio. Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve also set up beds on top of a picnic table that consist of old throw rugs in boxes. The table is also at the other end of the patio. I think they use the dog carrier, but Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m having trouble seeing them go in and actually stay there. Mostly, I think mommy takes them back to their nest when itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s bedtime, though.
The neighborâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s yard is full of dangers. Like two dogs, and the activity around the junk pile when the neighbor brings in, or takes out the trash barrels – I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t know when heâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ll decide to start throwing junk away – well, thatâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s another whole story.
The cats have settled in my yard, and seem to regard it as a safe place to eat, play, and nap.
When I open the patio door, they hear it, the kittens run for a safe place (Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve set up many places for them to run and hid to) (one kitten is now looking at me through the window as I type – Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m not looking back so I wonâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t frighten him off – now, the other one is peering in – oh, they are SO cute – but Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m not looking!!) Where was I, oh …. When I open the patio door to put out the canned food sometimes mommy is right there – and I usually can tell if the kittens are close by because she gives me a warning as Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m putting out the food, otherwise she just sits under the patio chair and waits for me to go back inside.
As soon as the door closes, one of the braver kittens joins his mommy to eat the meat, then the other one comes.
Now, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve said all that to ask these questions.
Where do I put the trap?
How do I stop providing food when there are hungry kittens that need food?
If I am successful in trapping mommy, and for post op care, what do you think about putting her on the patio to recover so her babies will stay around her? (I've been told to keep her in the trap. My trap has two doors so I'll be able to put in a divider, then put food and water in, or ?litter?.)
( When I trap her, before taking her to the Vets, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ll probably put her in the garage, the house will be too warm, besides, I do have 3 inside cats that have only received their first set of shots – another story – so, I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t want to put them in danger by bringing her inside with them.)
If the kittens are in the nest at the neighbors, will they possibly come to eat on their own, or will they try to stay in that dangerous yard, or worse go looking for her in other dangerous places?
I realize their safety is totally out of my control, but – well, I am concerned. Their safety has been what has prolonged me from trapping her earlier before she came in season again, I waited too long – I figure sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s about 4 weeks pregnant now. (I think the kittens are males and about 10 weeks old?.)
The Animal Samaritans say her being pregnant is no problem – but will her recovery be longer? They provide a free feral TNR program. They will not keep her over night.
Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve been told to keep her in the trap and Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ll be able to release her the next day after her surgery. I drop her off at 8 a.m., then pick her up at 4 p.m. – the post surgery care gives me great concern, too – wish I had a mentor here for “hands on†help. If I had, I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t think mommy would have gotten pregnant the first time, I am just groping in the dark as to what to do, and I do not want her to have problems, or her babies to become harmed, this is why Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m dragging my heels on doing the right thing for her and the babies.
So, if you could, please help me with ideas on the questions that Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m most concerned about, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m going to prepare the trap and attempt to trap her next week. Thanks, ahead of time, for any suggestions, or knowledge that you can share. gh
I live in a populated neighborhood of single homes.
My neighbor provided the “junk†pile for her to birth her kittens, and she continues to use that “nest†to “hide†her babies when she puts them to bed.
We have a block wall all around our house. Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve provided a ramp-like set up so the kittens can get into my yard to eat and play – and, I think sleep ??
Mommy has a schedule. During the day, she will sleep somewhere on our covered patio – mostly in front of the patio door on a cushioned chair. At an appointed time, she wakes up, goes to the side of the house that is adjacent to the neighborâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s yard with the junk pile and nest. She walks up my ramp, jumps up on the wall, looks over the area, when she sees itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s safe she calls to her babies, and then goes down into the junk to bring the babies out for ?breakfast, lunch, or dinner?.
On my covered patio, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve provided 3 different places for food bowls. One dry food bowl sits in front of our large patio sliding door. I put out canned food at 7:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. right there also.
Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve also put out our large dog carrier, (that we transport our three cats in) put a cardboard box inside with shredded paper for a “safe place†on our patio for them to sleep - it's at the other end of the patio. Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve also set up beds on top of a picnic table that consist of old throw rugs in boxes. The table is also at the other end of the patio. I think they use the dog carrier, but Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m having trouble seeing them go in and actually stay there. Mostly, I think mommy takes them back to their nest when itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s bedtime, though.
The neighborâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s yard is full of dangers. Like two dogs, and the activity around the junk pile when the neighbor brings in, or takes out the trash barrels – I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t know when heâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ll decide to start throwing junk away – well, thatâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s another whole story.
The cats have settled in my yard, and seem to regard it as a safe place to eat, play, and nap.
When I open the patio door, they hear it, the kittens run for a safe place (Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve set up many places for them to run and hid to) (one kitten is now looking at me through the window as I type – Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m not looking back so I wonâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t frighten him off – now, the other one is peering in – oh, they are SO cute – but Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m not looking!!) Where was I, oh …. When I open the patio door to put out the canned food sometimes mommy is right there – and I usually can tell if the kittens are close by because she gives me a warning as Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m putting out the food, otherwise she just sits under the patio chair and waits for me to go back inside.
As soon as the door closes, one of the braver kittens joins his mommy to eat the meat, then the other one comes.
Now, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve said all that to ask these questions.
Where do I put the trap?
How do I stop providing food when there are hungry kittens that need food?
If I am successful in trapping mommy, and for post op care, what do you think about putting her on the patio to recover so her babies will stay around her? (I've been told to keep her in the trap. My trap has two doors so I'll be able to put in a divider, then put food and water in, or ?litter?.)
( When I trap her, before taking her to the Vets, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ll probably put her in the garage, the house will be too warm, besides, I do have 3 inside cats that have only received their first set of shots – another story – so, I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t want to put them in danger by bringing her inside with them.)
If the kittens are in the nest at the neighbors, will they possibly come to eat on their own, or will they try to stay in that dangerous yard, or worse go looking for her in other dangerous places?
I realize their safety is totally out of my control, but – well, I am concerned. Their safety has been what has prolonged me from trapping her earlier before she came in season again, I waited too long – I figure sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s about 4 weeks pregnant now. (I think the kittens are males and about 10 weeks old?.)
The Animal Samaritans say her being pregnant is no problem – but will her recovery be longer? They provide a free feral TNR program. They will not keep her over night.
Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve been told to keep her in the trap and Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ll be able to release her the next day after her surgery. I drop her off at 8 a.m., then pick her up at 4 p.m. – the post surgery care gives me great concern, too – wish I had a mentor here for “hands on†help. If I had, I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t think mommy would have gotten pregnant the first time, I am just groping in the dark as to what to do, and I do not want her to have problems, or her babies to become harmed, this is why Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m dragging my heels on doing the right thing for her and the babies.
So, if you could, please help me with ideas on the questions that Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m most concerned about, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m going to prepare the trap and attempt to trap her next week. Thanks, ahead of time, for any suggestions, or knowledge that you can share. gh