Need advice on feral kitten found in my yard

Hello,

First of all let me say that I am NOT really a "cat person" - I far prefer dogs, but do not currently have any pets. I have never owned a cat....

I have been feeding a feral cat since last December, when I first noticed it in my yard. Winter wasn't too bad around here last year, not much snow but VERY cold. I put out food and water after noticing kitty footprints in the snow, leading under my deck. I never saw the cat, but food was being eaten immediately after being put out. I made a "shelter" of kinds, a big insulated crate, but it was never used. I'm not a cat person, but I won't see any animal in distress, and I wanted to do SOMETHING to make life a little easier for this cat.

Better weather came, and I started to see a tabby in my yard. I continued to feed, but moved the feeding place to a vantage point that I could watch, without being seen myself. This cat was TERRIFIED most of the time. It slunk up on it's belly to the food and wolfed down everything in minutes, then was gone, back under my deck. I began to make myself  visible to it, watching from inside my house, from about 10ft away, and at first it was very wary, didn't want to eat if it could see me, but hunger won out, I guess. Now it can see me plainly at at the window and doesn't seem to mind my presence, but if I move too fast INSIDE MY HOME and it can see me ...zoooom, it's gone. Like greased lightning...

About five weeks ago, it disappeared for a couple of days. When it returned I noticed that it wasn't always going immediately under the deck after eating. Sometimes, it headed for a huge Hosta in my garden, and didn't come back out. When I knew it wasn't around, I went and checked under the hosta, and sure enough, there was a tiny kitten there - just one. I didn't touch it, I backed away and left it alone. Then I got online to check out Feral Cats and how to help  them....

The kitten appeared to be only days old - I checked photo's on Alley Cat Allies. I did not disturb it, but have checked on it periodically over the past few weeks, when I was SURE Mama was gone. The kit was thriving. Quiet as a mouse, just laying under the hosta. It looks at me, trembling, and I leave it alone.

Then, I went out there last week, and it was gone. Mama was still coming around, at regular feeding times. I have been feeding her twice a day, early in the morning (6am) and again about twelve hours later, I know now that she needs more foood since she is nursing. I remove the dishes after she has eaten, because I don't want other wild animals around.

I stopped letting her see me at the window in the mornings, after putting out food. I wanted to know where the kitten had been moved to. If Mama didn't see me watching, she would go to one corner of my yard and stare at the fence, sometimes she jumped over, into my neighbours yard. If she sees me watching, she ALWAYS goes under the deck, after eating.

This morning I saw the kitten again, in the corner where Mama was staring, it's in my neighbours yard, but up against the fence that separates us. The kit is getting curious, sticking it's tiny head into my yard and looking around. At least I know now where it is.

I am more than wiillling to TNR the mother cat, she can live in my yard and I will continue to feed her and will provide shelter, but I can't possibly bring her in. She's TOTALLY feral and I do not have the time to try to socialize her, or a spare room in my home to do it in. I WON"T take her to our local Humane Society, there is nothing humane about them, she would be euthanized immediately. All other cat rescues in my city, are full.

I would however, like to keep the kitten. From all I have read, the the kitten getting to be almost at the right age to be socialized, right now it's about 5 weeks old, and I need some advice:

 - Will Mama cat bring her kitten to the feeding area? I want to know that the kitten is weaned and ready to leave Mama before I try to trap it. I have bought KMR, to be ready in case it's needed.

 - Should I put out softened "kitty food" for it to eat? Or will Mama just scarf it down, leaving nothing for the kit?

 - Will she even allow me to SEE the kit? I could go back to hiding and watching, unnoticed by Mama, but that won't help my relationship with her - she's not comfortable with me as it is, but tolerates me as long as I'm inside watching, and I don't want to break that little bit of trust.

 - Will she move on, if I take the kit? - she's all alone, there are other cats around, but she does not seem to want have anything to do with them. I would not worry after she's spayed, at least she won't get pregnant - but the thought of her living all alone in this world bothers the hell out of me. I'd be out there all winter, searching....

I'm new to this. Sorry for the long post, I wanted to give as full a background as possible.

Thanks in advance for ANY advice, especially on my specific questions. They are all questions I can't figure out for myself by checking online - and trust me, I've been checking online CONSTANTLY for the past month. I like this forum, lots of different scenarios to learn from.

I can't thank enough, all of those who care for these forgotten creatures and take the time to help others to care, too. THANK YOU.....

I don't have any advice for you, but wanted to tell you how wonderful you are to be taking care of that mama and being willing to bring in her baby. You have a heart of gold.

-Heather

Myferalkit said:

I am more than wiillling to TNR the mother cat, she can live in my yard and I will continue to feed her and will provide shelter, but I can't possibly bring her in. She's TOTALLY feral and I do not have the time to try to socialize her, or a spare room in my home to do it in. I WON"T take her to our local Humane Society, there is nothing humane about them, she would be euthanized immediately. All other cat rescues in my city, are full.

I would however, like to keep the kitten. From all I have read, the the kitten getting to be almost at the right age to be socialized, right now it's about 5 weeks old, and I need some advice:

 - Will Mama cat bring her kitten to the feeding area? I want to know that the kitten is weaned and ready to leave Mama before I try to trap it. I have bought KMR, to be ready in case it's needed.

 - Should I put out softened "kitty food" for it to eat? Or will Mama just scarf it down, leaving nothing for the kit?

 - Will she even allow me to SEE the kit? I could go back to hiding and watching, unnoticed by Mama, but that won't help my relationship with her - she's not comfortable with me as it is, but tolerates me as long as I'm inside watching, and I don't want to break that little bit of trust.

Click to expand...

You have right, the best plan is just to TNR her.  If she will later become less shy, you can perhaps try to foster her later on. But at this moment, it is hardly feasible.    (an experienced and dedicated fosterer could prob do it, but it is nothing for an amateur).  TNR and some help afterwards, as you plan, is more than OK.

You have also right, any normal shelter will pts her as soon as they can do it.  Any. Including some no kill shelters, as she is totally feral at this moment.  So this is no option, just another way to kill her.

So trap her as soon you can do it. (make sure you have a suitable vet waiting).

The kitten is NOT "almost right time to be socialized".  the age is 2-7 weeks. If you wait any longer, you will miss the easiest period.  You can of course foster it later too, but it will be more difficult.

What your source meaned was probably, it is not so easy either to bring up a very young kitten. So the easy way is to wait till they are 5-6 weeks...

You have surely heard about this 10-12 rule.  Yes.

But with ferales this is an exception. If we do have a fosterer or a adopting home waiting, we take them earlier. Just because it is easier to foster them.  And the risk mom moves on with her family is lesser too.    So as you know where the kitten is, you can essentially try to take it anywtime now.

Prepare its place beforehand, food, etc... and you may do it.

Although if you fail, there is big danger mom will move on...   So becuse of it it may be safer to catch mom first.

Your difficulty may be to catch it. At 5 weeks shouldnt be too difficutl to catch, but you dont want to fail. If it manages to flee, and mom perhaps already catched, it will be helpless, and easy prey for all dangers.   Use a trap here too. Or with any luck, you may success to wrap it up in a thick towel.

Keep asking!

Hold us updated!

Welcome to our Forums!

Good luck!

Thank you for your answers and encouragement....

I am willing to take the in kitten now, that's why I already have KMR on hand (would need to get bottles, if not weaned). I'm just afraid that I won't be successful catching the kitten and Mama will get angry and move it again - somewhere where I won't be able to find it.

I can't get a trap until Monday earliest for the mother, and expect to have a hard time getting her to go into it.   She is VERY, VERY scared.

I would ideally like to KNOW that the mother is going in and out of any trap I set, (to feed) before I actually capture her in it. That way, I can close the trap, with her in it right before a Vet's appointment. We have a TNR program in my city, $75 for the spay - but there is a waiting list. I don't want to catch her, then not have an appointment with the Vet until several days afterwards. If I ONLY feed from inside the trap, the mother will eventually go in...she's ALWAYS hungry.

I figure once the Mama is caught, the kit should be fairly easy. The kitten will be six weeks old at end of next week, by my calculation. If I get a chance, I will take the kitten, but if I do I think it will be even harder to catch the mom, she won't trust me AT ALL, after that.

I was hoping that Mama would bring the kitten to the feeding place - that way I could perhaps trap both together, the kitten will need Vet attention also. I also hoped that if I put out soft, baby type food, Mama would be more willing to bring baby to feed. I just don't want to lose these two cats by making things worse because of my inexperience.

If I get a good, clear chance I will take the kitten. I fully realize that I need to do it soon.

You have a very sound thinking, and good planes. 

Normally, the mom takes her kittens to the food place, when they are 5-6 weeks. But here she is so shy she barely herself comes forward... So do try with your kitten type food, but, I wouldnt count on it...

And yes, I understand why you talk about KMR for a 5-6 old - the kitten apparently lives on the moms milk, probably as it only food so far.

Have a thick towel on with you, and gloves.... Let them perhaps be there nearby.

  If an occasion suddenly arieses.

Catching the mom...  Dont wait for the moment just before the vet appointment. It will stress you too much, and taking too much of a chance.

You can do it calmly at least 24 hours before too.  She being a shy ferale, is used to hide somewhere a whole day if necessary. Put a towel above the trap with her inside, so she will feel it nice and cozy in there...    And this way, you dont have only just one hour to trap her on, you have at least 24 hours.

Besides, they are often verry aggressive and adrenaline sky high in the moment of catching. So it is even quite good they have several hours to cool down, before they come to the vet.

If you must wait for a trap, to learn her to be comfortable with it, you may perhaps begin with something aliking a trap. A carrier perhaps... and put food in there...

One thing more. Many traps have bottom of wire.  Not so nice for them and their feet. Try to lay something on this bottom. Perhaps a cardboard.

Good luck!

Thank you for your sound advice, StefanZ.

I think Mama has moved the kitten again...she has not gone into the corner where the kitten was, since Friday morning. We had a really bad thunderstorm here Thusday night, she went over the fence on Friday morning and hasn't gone back to that area since then, that I have seen.

I've started hiding again to watch where she goes after eating, always under the deck, but now using a different access point.

I think the kitten is now with her, under my deck. Perhaps she was worried because the kitten was showing itself too much - she has better control of the kit, if it's right there with her.The feeding area is close to the point she is now using to go back under the deck. Twice, she has stopped eating in mid bite and rushed under the deck - whether startled by some noise or because the kit was coming out, I don't know.

I have to say, I was surprised that the kitten WASN'T with her at all times - where she had hidden it, it was always within her sight - it just was not actually "living" with her. (?)

I haven't seen the kitten since late Thursday afternoon. I did not go looking for it, it just showed itself through the fence, for only a moment. I'm now practically living in the room where I can see without being seen and hoping, hoping to see the kit again. I'm scared something happened to the kit during the storm. Mama continues to show up, right on time for feedings. She seems more nervous (if that's possible), and glances over towards the deck all the time while eating.

I'm certainly not going to go under the deck to check, not sure if I could if get under there even if I wanted to - it's close to the ground and I'd have to crawl on my stomach - not a good thing, if Mama Cat decides to attack. My deck is 20'x20' - she could be anywhere under there!!

I'll keep watching, will put out some smelly well pulverized food, in hopes that the kitten will be brought out. Other than that, all I can do is go on with the plan I have to TNR Mama and PRAY the kitten is OK. I will set the trap tomorrow, to use for feeding for now, so she gets used to it.

How I wish now that I had taken the kitten, the first time I saw it - but it was SO tiny and I thought I was doing the right thing leaving it for Mama to care for, until a little older. It WASN'T an orphan with Mama right there...hindsight is always 20/20, right? Darn it.

I'm always optimistic though, and determined to see this through to the end. If the kitten is anywhere around, I will find it.....

How I wish now that I had taken the kitten, the first time I saw it - but it was SO tiny and I thought I was doing the right thing leaving it for Mama to care for, until a little older. It WASN'T an orphan with Mama right there...hindsight is always 20/20, right? Darn it.

Click to expand...

Dont accuse yourself. It is always at best intelligent guesses.  And frankly, there is seldom a clear cut best way. Several different way are feasible, as long as you have a plan behind it.

Good luck!

Well...it's been a while since I posted...here's an update.

I had to deal with a family emergency and was unable to attempt to trap either Mama cat or her kitten until last Tuesday. I was SO worried, because the kitten was getting older and would be harder to socialize - IF I could catch it.

I continued to feed Mama, between running to the hospital for my own mother, but could not spend as much time watching Mama cat, and still had no idea where the kitten was, until Monday last week. My emergency over, I was able concentrate again on the cats. They were both living under my deck. The kitten was fine...Mama bringing it out to eat, as soon as I had left after putting down food.

I rented a trap and caught Mama almost at once. She's now fixed, slept in my shed for a couple of days, WOULD NOT let me go near her - hissing, fighting and FREAKING whenever I went to check on her, I left her alone with her food. She is now back living under my deck and seems none the worse for her ordeal. The vet said she's as healthy as can be expected for a feral - no major diseases. The kitten was easy to catch and she was also checked out - but she has not been fixed yet, I can't afford it right now, but will as soon as I can.

I figured she was about 9 weeks old when I caught her, and the Vet said I'm probably right. So I brought her into my home - fully expecting a feral who would need LOTS of socializing. But, surprise, surprise - except for the first night when she cried and cried - she has been nothing but adorable. She settled right in, has TOTALLY taken over my home and last night as I lay on the couch watching a movie, she crawled up on my chest and licked my nose and my eyelashes!!. Her Mama has taken excellent care of her and trained her well, she uses the litter box with no problems and is eating well.

Mama still looks and calls for her, and it is breaking my heart to listen to her and watch her searching, but this evening she seems a little calmer, maybe the loss of her kitten is finally lessening...I sure hope so, I feel so cruel for taking away the only thing she had in this world.

I want to extend a huge "THANK YOU" (from myself and "Mojo") to StefanZ for all of the advice and encouragement he gave me...everything worked out well in the end and this dog lover is now totally smitten with a cat.

Thank you, Stefan... and all of you who care for these forgotten animals. Love to you all....

Are you going to try to tame up mama too? It can be done.

I'm going to give it my best effort, but shes VERY scared - still slinks up to the food on her belly - and I've been feeding her twice a day for the past few months. I tried sitting outside after putting down food, quietly reading about 10 feet away from where she eats, but no go...she's waited me out every time.

BUT...she looks at me, watching from the window, and licks her lips after eating as if to say "Thanks". I will continue to try to earn her trust and will provide shelter and food as long as it's needed. I would love to tame her...baby steps. You say it CAN be done, have you done it? If so, I could use any advice you can give. The vet said she's only a little over a year old herself which isn't too bad, age wise, to attempt it.

However; I have a really small house, no basement, only one bedroom, one tiny bathroom, so nowhere to isolate her to work with her. I hope to be able to gain her trust outside and realize that food will probably be the way to do it.

Here's a photo of her...not very clear because it's taken through my bedroom window and the screen is in the way, but she's looking at me, after eating and I suppose that's a start in the right direction...she won't allow me anywhere near her, though.

CONGRATULATIONS on getting mama spayed and capturing her kitten. What a CUTE CUTE little girl too. Do not worry about mom missing her kitten. She will be just fine. Best to keep that little one safely inside. Seems you are now a caretaker as well to mama cat as she will most definitely be staying in your yard. You might make great progress with her as time goes on. She may become more and more trusting of you and might decide that she wants a closer relationship with you. At least she will no longer become pregnant because of your efforts . And the little kitten - :heart2: She sounds absolutely adorable and very loving and appreciative of her new life with you. Easy to become SMITTEN, isn't it. :lol3:

Thank you for your words of encouragement, Feralvr.....

I've been SO upset about Mama and her crying - although it is now far less than it was a couple of days ago.  I can only HOPE that Mama will come around and start to trust me eventually - hope springs eternal, right? - I can't quite believe how these two cats have taken over my life.

Mojo (the kit), is wonderful - loving and friendly - even with any of my friends who stop by -  Yes...it's EASY to become totally smitten...

God, how I wish more people would care about feral cats. I went to buy food yesterday, at my local (big name) pet store...the sales clerk at the checkout pointed out to me that they had "better" cat food than I was buying - I was buying what I could afford - and I told him that the feral cat in my yard didn't really care about "better" food - FOOD was all that mattered.

He told me that he he would NEVER feed a cat he didn't know. Needless to say, I won't be buying from that store anymore...

.

Thank you.

Aw Hun.... :lol3: Yep! You will meet all kinds of ignoramus people out there . Now that you are a converted cat person, you will be their protector on all levels, even against rude store clerks!!! And, it doesn't matter what you feed mama cat, she will appreciate anything you can afford. Store clerks like that give me pause, then I just start in on educating them all about feral cat's More than they bargained for!!!!!

Mama will be feeling better and better as the days go on. She was probably going into heat also right before her spay and the crying could also be her hormones raging. She might surprise you and become quite friendly as time goes by. Her kitten, Mojo, is so sweet..... Maybe Mama will follow suit :cross:

"Converted cat person"...I love it....beats "The crazy cat lady" - which is what everyone is now calling me...

My sister and my son are the cat people in my family, my sister has three, my son two - all rescues. And here's another point I need advice on - declaw or not?

My sisters cats have always been declawed. She insists that it should be done, especially since I do not plan on letting Mojo go outside.She tells me when Mojo starts shredding my furniture, I will wish I had done it. She said she tried scratching posts, and they didn't work...the cats always go for her furniture.

My son on the other hand, is emphatic that I don't do it, (in fact it was a condition of the adoption when he got his, which he had no problem agreeing to).He says "How would YOU like it if someone chopped your fingers off at the first knuckle?"  His cats don't use the scratching post either, but he has (semi) trained them NOT to use the furniture, by spritzing them with water when they start. If he's not home, he attaches towels to the edge of the couch that they go for, with huge diaper safety pins and says that helps.

Mojo is already going for my couches...I stop her by getting down to her level and hissing at her and telling her NO. Don't have a water bottle yet, forgot to pick one up, but can get one from the dollar store easily enough. I read somewhere that a mother cat will hiss and growl at her kits to stop bad behavior - I can't growl but I sure can hiss. Did you get your cats declawed? Is there any benefit? (I don't really see how there could be benefits) or is it simply done by cat owners to save their furniture? I can't afford new furniture.....but don't really want to declaw.

Mojo has only scratched at ME once, when I first picked her up.

Do not declaw (and I'm putting that nicely--other posters will say that MUCH more strongly).  Your son is correct:  how would you like it if your knuckles were cut off?

The only 'benefit' is to the vet who makes money off of the procedure (and possible subsequent vet visits because of the behavioral and medical problems declawing can cause).

Hissing and NO will work, also get a scratching post, preferably one with different textures.  They are relatively inexpensive and sometimes you can find them in thrift stores.

http://cats.about.com/od/declawing/tp/reasonsnot.htm

Thank you.

I checked the link you provided - "a guillotine like cutter" and "10 amputations" were all I needed to read....My kitty will keep her claws. 

And your kitty will thank you with even more head butts and purring

No head butts yet...purring started Saturday night. She snuggles up close while I'm watching TV, purring like crazy. She doesn't climb on my lap very often, just lies close to me on the couch, while I stroke her. She's such a good kitty....

Myferalkit said:

God, how I wish more people would care about feral cats. I went to buy food yesterday, at my local (big name) pet store...the sales clerk at the checkout pointed out to me that they had "better" cat food than I was buying - I was buying what I could afford - and I told him that the feral cat in my yard didn't really care about "better" food - FOOD was all that mattered.

He told me that he he would NEVER feed a cat he didn't know. Needless to say, I won't be buying from that store anymore...

.

Click to expand...

He was certainly insensitive and over eager, but he was not necessarily wrong.

The fact is, we dont recomment we neither to feed unknown cats.

What we do, we do have a lot of exceptions!

So, dont feed a cat whom you think do have a home, but is just taking a leisure walk. Giving them food, may be a way to make them homeless... You may give some treats, if you really must give them something.

Although, if you think the cat is a home cat, but freshly got astray or just got dumped, do help immediately if you can and want. Such a freshly astray cat is virtually defenceless. The first month is the most critical with the highest death ratio. It goes slower later = somewhat less dangerous.

So, help as you can (preferably take in) and parallelly seek after the owner.

If you are sure the cat is homeless or ferale.  It is a good doing to give the hungry food, but it is important to have a plan with it, esp if they are not neutered. The plan may be TNR. Or trying to socialize them, and adopting them, yourself or by finding them adoptions homes.

We are really NOT encouraging to "just" feeding strays around...  Perhaps occasionally, say in bad weather for the sake of sheer surviving,. but not on regular basis.

One reason is, if you dont plan to TNR, you are perhaps stopping them from finding a place where they would be TNR:ed or adopted.

Another reason is, if they get good food, they will tend to be more and more, both by multiplying and by adding.

But if the coming homeless is already neutered, and it is OK for you she lives by your place as your outside kitty - oh yes, by all means, provide her food and shelter, and please accept our blessings and thanks in the name of Cat.

Something like that.

About the food - if the outside kitty is a decent hunter, the fact is they do manage excellently on cheap cat food.

Otherwise, his remarks other cats foods are even better was probably correct, and good he tries to tell this to customers. But such advices must of course be given with sensibility, he must feel the situation, and if he is really asked.

"Here he did step right into the poo", like the Swedish proverb says.  

Good luck!

I see your point StefanZ - but the way he salesclerk said what he said, left me with no room to believe that he would help an obviously feral cat, even in the dead of winter. I thought him very narrow minded for someone who works in a pet store.

You are right about why he pointed out that they have "better" food...I immediately  thought he was trying to "up sell" me, no doubt a part of his job. I was not buying top brand cat food, nor was I buying the cheapest food they had....I check for nutritional value and buy the best I can afford.

Had it not been for the fact that it was 5:50pm and the store closed at 6pm, I would have basically told him what you just said - don't feed a cat that looks like it probably has a home, but PLEASE, if a cat looks like it's starving and is in need of help, FEED IT!!

He did "step right in the poo" for sure....