The Feral Had Kittens in My Yard!

coolcat · Apr 6, 2011

my goodness is totally a mission for save they!..

for can get the whole family together!

ldg · Apr 6, 2011

Oh my! She may actually NOT have much experience with this! I hope there's some good news one way or another.

Continued for mom and her babies, and

to you for caring and helping.

I'm wondering if you're going to wind up hand-rearing some kitties for at least a little while.

libby74 · Apr 6, 2011

The good news is that all 3 kittens are together---after I took the first one out of the cabinet and put it in the leaves. Still not a good spot for her to be; she has minimal shelter from a folded step-ladder. I'm hoping she'll take the babies into that cabinet; the cushion I put in there is one she's slept on, so maybe she'll get the idea.

Still no call from the animal warden; I had to go to the hospital to see Dave's step-Dad, so was gone for a bit. I know that if we could trap the Mama it would all be good---I could take her to the shelter myself. Unfortunately, I don't have a trap. I'm wondering about putting a crate out there and trying to entice her with some canned food. Maybe I could shut the door real quick while she's eating

It's late enough in the day now that I'm sure the animal warden won't be coming. I'll call them again first thing tomorrow, and in the meantime I'm going to see if I can find someone with a trap.

Wish me luck.

ldg · Apr 6, 2011

Mega good luck!

libby74 · Apr 6, 2011

Dave and I have decided we're going to try to trap her in a carrier tomorrow morning; I need his help because I can't lift it if there's a cat in it.

Do you think that if we can get the babies inside she'll go in with them? Or should we just try to get her in with some food? The babies could obviously go in a shoebox or something, they don't have to be with their Mama to ride across town. And if we got her in without them, there's no way I'd open it again to put them in there. I don't like the idea of losing an arm

Willowy · Apr 6, 2011

I'm betting she isn't totally feral; probably a dumped pet who's just scared. A true feral wouldn't have brought her babies so close to your house, IMO. Try feeding her in a carrier with a rope tied to the door--when she's in the carrier, pull the rope tight to hold the door closed, and then sneak out and close the door securely (this is how I caught my trap-wise mama cat, who is truly feral). Once she's calmed down (she might thrash around for a few minutes), you can give her her kittens. But I wouldn't try to trap her with the kittens in the carrier; she might hurt them in panic.

ldg · Apr 6, 2011

I've used the rope & crate method before, it's probably your best shot.

I agree - don't try to put the babies with her, and don't use them as "bait," they'd probably wind up hurt or dead. However it is imperative they be kept warm. Take a tube sock, dump (uncooked) rice in it - loose, not hard packed - and after tying it off with string, microwave it for a minute. Put that with the babies to keep them warm.

libby74 · Apr 6, 2011

OH-----rats! I was just outside and the Mama was walking around the yard, so I got the carrier, put it where she'd made her 2nd nest, and put the babies in it with their pile of leaves. The carrier door is open, naturally, and I don't intend to try to close it until tomorrow afternoon. The shelter opens at 12:30 so I thought that's when we'd give it a try.

Did I just mess up big-time?

Of course, we're not a 1 carrier family; I could always try to get her to go after food in the other carrier. I'm afraid she won't go for it because she's so skittish. If she sees me at all, waiting, she won't come near.

At least they're in a carrier with a nice soft towel in the bottom and a bed of leaves to sleep on and have a 'roof' over their heads. That alone makes me feel better.

Help! I need more advice!!!

cutekittenkat · Apr 6, 2011

Yes, trapping the mother is probably the best idea at this point. She is obviously a little confused and worried about her kittens, but like you said, they aren't safe. Also, Mom really needs to be spayed- she could be pregnant again already

If you can't get her tonight, call your local shelter in the morning- they usually lend out traps to catch strays. Once you catch her, let her calm down, and get the kittens to a warm spot.
Good luck!

ldg · Apr 6, 2011

Right now it's probably best to just leave her. She may well move the nest again now. I would keep an eye on the situation just to make sure she isn't scared of the crate and that prevents her from going back to them... but see how things play out and decide tomorrow how to approach the situation.

feralvr · Apr 6, 2011

Ok, that is fine with the crate. Fill it with the leaves and put the babies inside for now and just leave her be for the time being.

The rope attached to the door and through the side is an excellent plan, but not with the babies inside as it would be too jarring for them. I trapped a cat that way a couple of years ago when I didn't have a trap. The rope was about fifteen feet long and when the cat went in the crate to eat, I pulled that rope so fast and tight. You have to keep that rope tight till the crate reaches you and latch it shut. Wear gloves!!!! You must be quick with the rope. And this might take a few days, maybe not. It is true, if she was totally feral, she would not have brought the babies near you. She knows you are trying to help her!!!!!! That is a good thing. Yes, the best thing now is to trap her and put her in a room in your house with her babies with all of the necessities and then go to plan B. Plan A is to get her trapped!!! What is Plan B?????? YIKES

Let's get through Plan A first

.

Since the babies are in the crate at the moment, could you just borrow a trap from a rescue??? Then you could trap mom that way. And then bring the crate inside with the babies. Are you sure there are only three and she didn't leave one somewhere else in the yard?

feralvr · Apr 6, 2011

Has mom cat been with the kittens in the crate yet? If not, they need warmth very quickly. Do you have a heating pad? You can set the crate on the heating pad and put some warm blankets in the crate surrounding them. My concern now is that mom cat might be spooked and not care for the little ones properly and it is still vey cold here in Illinois still. I would go out and pick up some kitten milk replacer just to be prepared.

hissy · Apr 6, 2011

Is this carrier still outside? If so, you need to bring it indoors or the kittens will die. They have to be warm and if mom isn't around to transfer her body warmth to them, they will start to shut down. If your intention is to separate her from them and hand rear them, she will be in trouble as well. She will go into mourning and her milk will harden and it would be such a shame. The babies need to be indoor, to find out how warm check out my website www.kitten-rescue.com

This is what I would do. I would move the wheelbarrow and some leaves (or get some straw and hay) up to the porch and set it up with the kittens in a carrier nearby with warmth in the box, heating pad (don't put them directly on the heat) hot water bottle, heat warmers- something to give them heat. Cover them with a warm blanket (she will hear their cries and may come up on the porch) then shut the porch door by going around the house and taking her by surprise BUT you can't do this for more than two hours because the kittens need to eat. You can go on my website and find out how to feed them as well. They shouldn't be separated and if you mess with any nest of an outdoor Queen they will move the kittens so you can't find them. You have to outsmart her and keep the family together they should NOT be separated.

Honestly, you should have never even messed with this family until the kittens were ready to leave mom.

libby74 · Apr 6, 2011

hissy;304994. Honestly said:
I didn't bother the kittens until the Mama moved them onto a corner of my patio; then I had no choice but to find some form of shelter for them. I didn't think a pile of leaves under a step-ladder would do much good when we're supposed to have rain the next 4 days.

The kittens are in the carrier, and Mom-cat is in there with them. She's had a can of food, gone about the yard to do her business, and is back with her babies.
Tomorrow I will do my best to find a trap, even if I have to go out and buy one. I'm not about to separate them; they will all be going to the shelter together.

Feralvr, I do think you'r right; she's probably not so much 'feral' as she is 'scared to death'. The fact that she brought the kittens within 10 feet of my back door must mean she trusts me just a little.

I'll let you know how things go tomorrow.

carolpetunia · Apr 7, 2011

Oh, I'm so glad she's back taking care of her babies! That's wonderful. And we all know you're doing your very best for this little family, sweetie.

Would it be impossible for you to keep them together in your house for awhile, until those tiny babies are older and stronger?

libby74 · Apr 7, 2011

I don't have any where to put the carrier, and with my back problems it's all I can do to take care of my 6 every day. And I no desire to rear these kittens myself or separate them from their Mom-cat. The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that she had a litter last summer under the neighbor's shed. When I'd be in the back yard, I'd hear little mewing noises, but when I followed them to the source they would stop. There were never any kittens around, so obviously something happened to them. I'm not about to let her lose another litter if I can help it, and if that means trapping her and taking all of them to the shelter that's what I'll do.

I just checked on them; Mom-cat was still in the carrier. I took her food and fresh water and she's eating about 3 feet from the kittens. I need to put a tarp over tha carrier before the rain starts, because I can't do anything about trapping her until Dave's home from work and I have help--later this afternoon

feralvr · Apr 7, 2011

Originally Posted by libby74

I don't have any where to put the carrier, and with my back problems it's all I can do to take care of my 6 every day. And I no desire to rear these kittens myself or separate them from their Mom-cat. The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that she had a litter last summer under the neighbor's shed. When I'd be in the back yard, I'd hear little mewing noises, but when I followed them to the source they would stop. There were never any kittens around, so obviously something happened to them. I'm not about to let her lose another litter if I can help it, and if that means trapping her and taking all of them to the shelter that's what I'll do.

I just checked on them; Mom-cat was still in the carrier. I took her food and fresh water and she's eating about 3 feet from the kittens. I need to put a tarp over tha carrier before the rain starts, because I can't do anything about trapping her until Dave's home from work and I have help--later this afternoon

Good Morning

I am so relieved to hear that mom is caring for them in the carrier. Have you been able to get a look in the crate to see if babies are alright? Can you get a heating pad under the carrier on the ground and just set the carrier on top of the heating pad? Just for the time being to keep extra warmth, it won't be alot through the plastic bottom, but it will help. You know....... Are you able to approach the carrier with mom in it without her running away?? Then you could just close the door. Of course, this would be too easy, right!!! And probably in our wildest dreams might not come true, but it is just a thought.

If you get the heating pad under the carrier, then I would drap a tarp over the back of the carrier. I am so happy mom cat was there with them and she is eating too. Hope you get that call today. Please update when you can

libby74 · Apr 7, 2011

Just came in from checking on them; Mom-cat won't let me near the carrier while she's in there with them, and if they're nursing I receive a good growling. She came out to eat again while I was out there; all 3 babies present and accounted for. While she was eating I managed to scoot the carrier just a little closer to the back door, tied a rope to the door and led it back into the house. She checked everything out after I'd done that, then went back to eating.
I think now it's either try to pull the door shut once she's back in the carrier, or sneak up from the other side and push it closed with a 2x4. I'm sure we'll only get one shot at it, so it needs to be the right choice. I think we're going to give it a shot when Dave takes his lunch break. The shelter doesn't open until 12:30 and I don't want to leave her trapped in the carrier any longer than necessary. And I couldn't lift the carrier with her and the kids in it, anyway.

Can you get a heating pad under the carrier on the ground and just set the carrier on top of the heating pad? Just for the time being to keep extra warmth,

Actually, I can't do that; as I said, I can't pick up the carrier. It does have a towel in the bottom and that nest of leaves, and I've thrown a couple of towels on top to hopefully insulate it a little. With a little luck they won't be in there much longer.

Dave called me at 7 to tell me he'd run off a stray on his way to work this morning. I had just come in from running off the same stray. And that is my main concern for this little family; I need to get them safe before something happens to them. Mom-cat just looks at me sometimes, then rubs against a patio chair; it's as if she wants some loving, but she just doesn't trust me enough. Makes me sad; I've never seen a cat this skittish before. I mean, it's been almost a year since she's been hanging around and she hasn't had a head skritch in all that time, or just a human touch.

ldg · Apr 7, 2011

Oh such a relief to hear she decided the carrier was OK and has been caring for the babies!

Great news about the rope, at least that's now an option!

I take it you've already talked to the shelter and they're able to take her and the babies?

Sending more !!!!!!!!!!

libby74 · Apr 7, 2011

The shelter doesn't open for a couple of hours yet. I've checked their website, and this is what it says:

"We are mandated by the state to take surrendered animals for $25 within city limits."

I told Dave that and he said he'd be happy to give them $100 to take care of 4 cats! (I'm hoping it's $25 for all of them, but we'll see). If for some reason they absolutely can't (and trust me, I can be very convincing) I'll take them to the county shelter instead. I think I said before, my vet is actually in charge of that facility and even tho' these aren't "county cats" I know he'd take them if I asked. The difference would be at the county shelter they might not be kept very long, at the humane society shelter everything will be done to adopt them out eventually. They also work with the local PetCo, and this little family would be adopted out in a heartbeat.

The Feral Had Kittens in My Yard!

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