don't know what to do..need help!

it has been a while i have been here and i am back with story that i need some help.
i work for car dealership, there has been a stray and feral cat hanging here for about a year and everyone including myself put some food for her.
few weeks ago we noticed the same cat had 3 kittens, there are about 6 week old.. had no clue. they are hiding under one of our cars in the lot. they are scared of everything and the kittens go inside the engine when we get close to them. it is hot 100+ degrees here in houston!
i have put fresh water and plenty of food for them every day and emailed everyone that if anyone interested to adopt a kitten, no luck.. called few local no kill organization to help rescue the kittens but so far they are full and busy and even if they trap them they can't keep them!!
i am concern about them in this heat, the car they are hiding can be sold and they have to move to the next car etc..etc.. i am not as worried about the mom as i am about the kittens.
i know we have to get the mom fixed but putting trap and not knowing who goes in there first!! if we catch mom then what happens to kittens for a day or two while mom gets fixed.
it has been stressful and this hot temprature and drought has not help the situation .
don't know what to do.

catdaddy, I don't know where in Houston you are, but here's a google search of low-cost spay/neuter in the city: http://www.google.com/search?client=...hannel=suggest

I'd find out how much it's going to cost to spay/neuter the four cats (3 kittens and mom) and take up a collection among the people that care about them so they can be fixed. Given the kitties are 6 weeks old, I'd continue to feed them for three weeks, then work on trapping all them (including mom) and getting them fixed. The kitties should be completely weaned by then, and large enough to be sterilized. Then you don't need to worry about who goes in the trap first. Just release them where you trapped them, following the instructions of the clinic where they're sterilized. (When we get males in in the morning, they're usually ready to be released that evening. Females we're able to leave in boarding for no charge overnight: some people leave them in the trap with a light blanket covering most of it to help keep them calm, giving them food and water in the trap... but whatever the clinic recommends is what I'd do).

If you or the people caring for them can't take them home to foster them and work to get them adopted out, the next best thing is at least preventing them from being able to procreate.

Just put food out at a regular time, keep cool water available - and with the schedule, just move the food into the trap when you're ready.

I know you're worried about the heat... but as mom hasn't moved them yet despite everything, all you can really do is provide cool or cold water, and hope for the best.

As others at the dealership care for the mom... maybe the dealership would be willing to let you put up posters with a notice about kittens available for adoption?

thanks, i have got a hold of rescue organization that they will try to get few traps tomorrow and help me with it. it has to be done at nite because it is so hot during the day and they won't come out so it has to be done at nite when it gets dark. we close at 9pm but we still can come in with traps and put the food in there just don't know how long we have to wait for them to get in the trap!!

Well, it'll help a LOT to start putting wet cat food out at the time you want to trap. Get the cats used to eating where you want to trap them, when you want to trap them - but it should be something not completely different than where they're eating now. In fact, as close to where they are eating now would help. But get them on the schedule until you can do the trapping. That should help shorten the length of time you have to wait for them to go into the trap.

When we trap multiple cats, we often have to do it on more than one night.

But so glad you found someone to help with at least that! Or are they going to foster/adopt out the kittens too???? (Seems almost like too much to hope for LOL. It is around here. ).

Hi Catdaddy!!!! And a BIG huge thank you for your willingness and kindness to rescue and save these kittens..... You are doing a wonderful thing for them. Just last Spring... we were at a car dealership and I saw two black kittens run out from one of the car engines too. Why is it that these feral cats like car dealerships, is beyond me. Because they said, the dealership, that they have always had feral cats about the lot of cars. Anyway, I contacted Feral Fixers in my area and we organized a whole weekend and trapped a total of three adult cats and six kittens . It was quite an effort and with the help and assistance of the dealership who allowed us to place traps about the lots . We trapped them all in two days. They were literally starving . So the tuna/sardines were too tempting and in they went. They were relocated to two different barns in our county after their TNRs. If they had stayed in that car lot, death would have won over, at least with the kittens. Anyway, it can be done!!!!!!!!!! And I am sending MEGA MEGA vibes to you and your major effort here

the oraganization that was suppose to help cancelled the tonites appointment.. thay all are busy and come up with excuses, no one likes to hear me talking about the cats not even at work.. kind of ignoring me!! i am on my own now.. i feed them and water for now till somehow i can get some help trap the momcat to be spayed..

temp this weekend 108 degrees and no rain!!! good lord!!

Oh WOW! I'm so sorry about the cancellation... and mega for (you and) the kitties!

well the rescue team came last nite and put 4-5 traps around cars where they were hanging out and no luck with any of them getting trapped!!
now they moved to another car since that location is now does not look safe!
it is going to be challenged to catch them, probably have to hang around parking lot all nite and see if we get lucky but it is tough to do so!!

This is really a difficult situation and I am sending my biggest ever vibes that you can get them all trapped. I am glad the rescue organization came through for you . I don't want to recommend doing this, but you might have to only feed in those traps for a day or so. The kittens will most likely go right in, but I am hoping they are heavy enough to trip the plate . I know this is so stressful on you, but take a deep breath because you really are doing everything right and doing everything you possibly can. Just make sure you put out alot of water. Just ignore the other's comments about the cat's and their rolling eyes. Just keep doing what you are doing, IT IS the right thing to do. I am disappointed to hear that the other's are so uncaring about those cats . You could really use some support with this.

the rescue team tried the trapping friday nite, they stay in the dealer from 9pm to 6am and no luck, they tried saturday nite and no luck, the mom cat and the kittens now are moving in the different location of parking lot. we have not put food out( except water) since friday but they don't want to go to the traps for food!! frustrating!! i guess they are eating insect and bugs to survive!!!
they are coming back tonite to do it one more time.. i am losing hope!!

i am not an expert but maybe instead of the wet food maybe they should put the dry food i am giving them for a long time inside the trap. i don't want to tell the rescue crew and make them upset but maybe that would work!! every time i make a suggestion they tell me they know what they are doing so i kinda left it alone!!

AW I am sorry they are not listening to your suggestions.... . Can you go and get some Kentucky Fried Chicken? Do you have that restaurant near you? I would just bring something extra like that. Sardines or KFC are very tempting to even the most feral cats. Are they covering the traps to make them appear safer? Maybe locate them as close or under a car/truck as you can. Some very educated/experienced feral trappers on the site also suggest using those large empty dog food bags and slide the trap inside of the bag, smells inviting and looks dark and comforting to enter. I know you probably can't get a hold of a few of those large dog food bags right now, but it is a tip for down the road. HEY!!! Maybe the rescue has dogs???? Maybe they could bring some empty bags from their dog shelter kennel? Although, you say, they are taking too kindly to your suggestions ..... Sending off MEGA MEGA vibes that some of the cats go in. Don't give up hope yet!!! You are trying your darndest to rescue these cats.

great ideas.. i might bring some chicken myself but otherwise i am not going to bring up any other ideas because i am not sure if they are doing or not and sure don't want to turn them away!!

Right. I agree, best just to let them do it their way and hope for the best. But they might not be offended if you toss some KFC into the back of the traps . Continuing the vibes

No luck last nite again... Put tuna and chicken!! The momcat goes in back of dealership where is a big grass field and some trees, she is probably hunting over there since she sees no more food put out for her in the front! Their nature make things tough for us to help them have a good life. The dealership is huge place 25 acers with big grass field in side and in the back!!

Well.. Just little while ago I was informed by one of the sales people that he was trying to move a car and two of the kittens were inside the engi
e and and they ran off to the grass field, one ok and the other hurt bad!! Went look for the kitten and can't find her.. I don't know how bAd it is. I am very upset and can not do anything for these poor kittens!

OMG - this has got to be just a terrible nightmare for you by now. I am so sorry for all of your efforts and complete worry over these cats. Listen, I know you are trying your hardest to save them and I feel so bad about just hearing about this situation, but you can ONLY do so much. I guess at this point the rescue is giving up ..... Can they let you borrow a couple of traps so you can just keep trying? ARGH!!! this is just a very hard situation for these cats. I am thinking that before anyone starts up a car on that lot they should pound a bit on the hood to scare them off, if they would even be willing to do that ..... Again, I am just so upset and wish I could help, and I would if I could... . That poor kitten, I just hope it doesn't suffer too long. There is nothing you can do, but I thank you for your efforts on this. This world is a better place for the cats with people like you in it. Please keep updating.

No one at work give a damn... From upper management to sales staff, it is all about themselves!!! My neighbor has trap and I will bring it on Thursday and try it.. I think the rescue team made things worse with not leaving food out for them, they are scattered now looking for food , they use to be all in one location.. I am not going to think about too much it us driving me crazy.. I do what I can do!
It is hard to do anything in 102 degrees temp outside!!!

Take a deep breath!!! I do know how this can make you just crazy with worry. There is not anything more you can do. So just tell yourself that and try not to worry yourself so. I would start over, put food and water out again to establish a routine. I sure hope this doesn't cause a problem for you in regards to your job. I am so sorry to hear that there are no other cat lovers at work. If all else fails, you are feeding them and watering them. At this point, what else can you do.