need some advice

Hi everyone, a cute little kitty has found it's way into my yard, he seems to look around 3 months old. I did notice momma not to far away, She hides in the bushes next door. I would love to grab him and bring him in, take to the vet and find a good home for him.

I would love to keep him, but my hubby says that our house is full enough, 3 cats 1 dog.

I have a place to keep him away from my other cats. I just wanted to know if it is smart to just scoop him up when I get the chance. Do you think momma will come out of the bushes? I want this to go as smooth as possible.

He had been coming over to visit me for about 2 weeks now they don't seem to leave the yard next door at all, but I know its only a matter of time before he starts to wander and I don't want anything to happen to him.

If the momma cat stays around I might try to TNR her. I have done this before with success, so I am hoping that I can do it again.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

How wonderful of you to try to take care of the kitten! If it was me, I would definitely scoop it up in order to start socializing it. And don't forget, if it's a female, she can start having kittens of her own in 3 or 4 months.

Im happy and approving of your plan.

With scoop him up you mean you are hoping you can just grab him as he is near? Possibly. Take a grab in his neck there behind... Just like his mom would do.
Why it is perhaps possible is, as he is this of the siblings who is most socially forward, a candidate for fostering.

I hope the mom wont rush out of the bushes to defend. Especielly as she has also seen you around, and "knows" you are friendly and really, her childs best chance. Cat moms do understand which human is going in for kill, and which human is perhaps a savior.

You are the safe food source, so probably she wont leave your place either.
So you can surely trap her soon after, and spay her.

Otherwise, some type of trap, also for kittens, is the usual recommendation. Better a trap than try to chase them and take them by violence.
If desperate , they are both quick and astonishing strong! Even if he perhaps wont actively bite or scratch, they will scratch by the selve process of climbing out. And just catched, they are often desperate and may be extremely defensive aggressive. Of course, after some hours, when they understand nobody is mean nor threating them, they do cool down. But this is perhaps another story.

Although I did heard about a case of a very experienced swedish rescuer, AnneR, who was after a semiferal in a Stockholm suburb. One day, as she happened to be there, also this semiferal happened to be there (possibly some neighbour took her). AnneR took the chance and grabbed her, althoug AnneR, the rescuer, had no carrier with her. What to do? Anner took the scared semiferale under her jumper, and off they went on the underground, packed with people, through the whole Stockholm...
The story ended well, they were both extremely lucky. This being the exception to the rule. Thick clothes and gloves are the rescuers recommended friend, even using a human trap.
But exceptions do happens, and many stories do end happily!


Good luck!

I guess you have been chosen by this little kitten . I just wonder how old it is. If you are leaving food out, is the kitten eating all on it's own? If so, I would definitely try to get that kitten inside to safety and socialization. Since you have had experience trapping in the past, then you are all set to go . I think, though, I would start leaving food out each day at a regular set time. I would just worry if you trap mom cat and there are more kittens, they will be in danger without her to fend for them. So, I would wait and watch daily for a few days first before trapping mom to make sure there are no other kittens. Let us know how things are going

Originally Posted by Feralvr

I guess you have been chosen by this little kitten

. I just wonder how old it is. If you are leaving food out, is the kitten eating all on it's own? If so, I would definitely try to get that kitten inside to safety and socialization. Since you have had experience trapping in the past, then you are all set to go

. I think, though, I would start leaving food out each day at a regular set time. I would just worry if you trap mom cat and there are more kittens, they will be in danger without her to fend for them. So, I would wait and watch daily for a few days first before trapping mom to make sure there are no other kittens. Let us know how things are going

Click to expand...

What a wonderful thing you plan to do!

Like Stefan says, I'd be worried about trying to pick him up without some kind of carrier or using a trap. Those little paws can turn into windmills with sharp claws pretty quickly.

If the kitty is 3 months old, it's about the time mom would (usually) be "sending" them out on their own, so regarding trapping her to have her spayed, I wouldn't worry too much about there being other kitties (other than wanting to TNR them too!).

Keep us posted, and good luck!

Hi everyone, Just wanted to thank all of you for your help and encouragement. Since I last posted I was able to locate a home for the little kitten. They can't come to get it until the weekend of the 10th, so I still plan on bringing it in and taking it to the vet for a check up.

I have not seen any other kittens around, I am sure that if there was some I would have seen them playing in the yard next door or at least coming out to eat.

The little one is getting a little more friendly with me, so I don't think it will be a problem grabbing him. I just need to get things set up for him in a place away from my other 3 cats.

Love to hear this news! And the kitten already has a home! Just fantastic!! If the kitten is becoming more and more friendly and you are able to start petting, then you might just be able to scruff the little boy/girl and drop into a crate. Of course, that would be the easy way and I hope it works out like that. Good luck and keep updating

Hi everyone, I need a little more help! I was able to grab kitty this morning. As I told you before I have 3 other cats and I don't have an extra room to put him in all day. I have a crate that I set up for him and I can also take him out for a few hours at a time to play and run around in the spare bathroom that we do need and use. He is crying a lot and I guess that would be expected, He is also going crazy in the crate, crying and trying to climb out of it. can you tell me how long this might go on for? I don't want him to get hurt and I am not sure if my other cats hear him crying if that would upset them. Any advice would be helpful.

I am trying to do the right thing by this little one but I don't want to stress him or my other cats out. I know that it's only been a few hours I am sure that he will settle down at some point. I hope!

Having him in a crate / dog cage part of the time, as you dont have spare rooms, is a good solution.
Having a kitten whole time i a crate would be to overdo it, but as you can now and then run off himself - excellent.

Try with soft music. Preferably classical harp music, but almost any, soft calming music is good.
Cats have good hearing, so you can have it rather quite.


Good luck!

Aw the poor little sweetie. Do you have a little hide out for the kitten in the big crate? You can take the door off a small cat carrier and put a comfy bed inside and place that in the crate. Can you handle and cuddle the kitten? Spend time with the kitten and make him feel safe. Leave on some quiet classical music. He is scared right now, but will settle down in a day or so. Do not worry, he will adjust. Give him lots of attention and offer small amounts of canned kitten food and leave a dry kitten food down for him. Try to play with him for short periods with a wand toy and leave small toys in the crate for him too. You can also leave one of your worn t-shirts with your smell on it in his hiding crate. This is a total shock for him at the moment, but once he learns that you love him, he will settle.

Hi Just wanted to thank all of you for your help and advice. Things are going pretty good for the little one. He used the litter box and he is eating really well. He has seemed to settle down already. I have been playing with him a lot. He follows me around and still cries a little bit, but not as much as yesterday. I think he will adjust just fine. will let you know in a few days.

again thank you

It is amazing how in just twenty four hours the progress that can be made. He is a happy little camper now . Very good news!!!