Suggestions needed for rescue

skimble

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I will try to express the situation as best as I can so you can offer me your ideas.

Need to rescue a momma cat and her 3 month old kitten. Her 4 other kittens came to us right away but momma and kitten are hiding where we cannot reach them.

They are wedged under a large 24x30 metal building that is sitting on a slope. They are at the back lower end where a human will not fit. The crawl space is very small and narrows to one end where they are hiding.

They have been there all night and we fear the cold 20 degree weather for them tonight.

No way to get any warmth under there because the space is so narrow.
Trap has been set with no luck at the outer edge of the building.

I will put some food and water as far as I can for them should they not go in the trap.

Ideas we have had with no clue how to pull off:
*get something long like a pvc pipe to try and get them to move (we fear they might run into the woods next to the building)

*I have a long fishing net that might surround the crawl space to prevent them from escape (no way to attach the heavy net around the building and cannot get enough people to help hold the net)

We are in a pickle trying to think of a way to get them out.

Right now a trap is set at the edge of the metal building with stinky bait.

Any ideas? Let me know if I can clarify my wording of the situation. Thanks for any suggestions.

This is a mom and her litter that were dumped yesterday. I'd like to stick them under the metal building to spend the night.....among other things.
 

althekitty

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Oh gosh, poor things and good for you for helping them. I am sure that some others on here with more experience than me will come on soon and advise. All I can think to suggesting is warming the smelly food up a bit so it wafts over to them. leave most of the food in the trap so they can't fill up before they get to it. I don't know about poking something in there to enitce them to move as it may well just make them more frightened but I could be wrong. I would keep a good distance from the trap if you so that they feel safe enough to come out. It is more likely that they will come out when its safer = darker. I am sorry that I can't be any more help but good luck and I really hope that you can get them.
 

white cat lover

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What do you have in the trap?
What have you tried in the trap?
Do these cats seem like scared domestics or closer to feral cats?
 
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skimble

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What do you have in the trap?
sardines at the end of the day

What have you tried in the trap?
dry kitten food, canned cat food, mackrel....(no fried chicken place open)

Do these cats seem like scared domestics or closer to feral cats?
seem to be more scared domestic....

They were left behind a metal building in a box at a small town animal shelter. The 4 kittens were easily caught and ok with human contact. The momma and 1 remaining kitten are very scared. Dogs are barking and being walked all around the area.

Temps will be in the 20s tonight. The shelter had a heating pad (without auto shut-off). I pushed it as far as my arm would reach along with a little food and water. The kitten got on the heat right away so hoping momma will, too. I secured an outdoor cord under the shed out of the weather with a ground fault interrupt cord. That should be safe.

We used a long pole to slowly sweep toward them....not to touch them. All they did was to move around under the building.

I used a long fishing net to secure most of the wide spaces that they could escape. Left the trap all day with no luck. Tried to lure momma with one of her other kittens....no luck.

Plan to get KFC chicken tomorrow. At least they are warm for tonight.

Thanks for trying to help.
 

white cat lover

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I wish I could be of more help.
I'm out of suggestions, and unable to really mentally picture the building to be able to help.
 
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skimble

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Thanks anyway. It is one of those outdoor metal storage sheds that is resting upon concrete blocks. There is only a small space under the shed. The cats cannot stand up, only enough room for them to crawl.

They are safe and hopefully warm for tonight. I will keep trying and see what happens.

Thank you all for trying to help.
 

esrandall2000

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Originally Posted by Skimble

Thanks anyway. It is one of those outdoor metal storage sheds that is resting upon concrete blocks. There is only a small space under the shed. The cats cannot stand up, only enough room for them to crawl.

They are safe and hopefully warm for tonight. I will keep trying and see what happens.

Thank you all for trying to help.
THANK YOU for all that YOU are doing!!!!!!
 

althekitty

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I was wondering if you had managed to rescue them yet, bless there little hearts. I hope they were okay in the cold too.
 
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skimble

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Originally Posted by Althekitty

I was wondering if you had managed to rescue them yet, bless there little hearts. I hope they were okay in the cold too.
Got the kitten today! The momma is avoiding all our efforts. We are continuing to try to win her over. I'm thinking she is just really scared.

She is at least warm snuggled up on the heating pad and out of the wind.

Her litter of 5 kittens are ALL white with flame points and BLUE eyes.
We can hardly tell them apart. I've never seen a litter so much alike. Momma is a grey/tabby and white.

Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement.
 

althekitty

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Brilliant news! Just one more to go now, bless her, I wonder if she will come round in the end as her kittens are there. It's great news and so good of you to be so patient with them and looking after them! How old are they do you think?
 
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skimble

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Originally Posted by Althekitty

How old are they do you think?
The kittens appear to be about 10 to 12 weeks old. Maybe recently weaned. They all knead their soft beds....so cute. They go to the vet Monday to be checked. Already treating ear mites.

I will try to get pics. You have to see it to believe that they all look so very much alike.
 

krz

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God Bless you for rescueing them. I am praying you get Momma soon. What are your plans for them, especially the mom, after you can get her?
 
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skimble

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All kittens and momma (when we get her) will go to the vet and then up for adoption at the no kill shelter. Awsome people working there.

We tried several times with a few of the kittens to "encourage" momma cat out. No luck. She is just so scared.

I feel hopeful that she will come to like us VERY soon. Especially because we are the "bringer of food".


Thank you all for the kind words.
 
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