Advice needed please!

I'm doing my best to care for 6 wild cats, 2 of which are very little kittens!Mom drooped them off here cause she knew I would feed them and theirstaying under the deck in the backyard. They only come out a very short distancefrom the hole under the deck. SO I have 2 feeding places, one in front forthe adults and now one in back for the kittens! The kittens get playing and continually knock over the dish of hard food.I could get them a feeder but am afraid that spot will be imprinted on themand I'll have to maintain 2 feeding stations! I'm disabled and probablywon't be able to keep up with 2 stations! I can't just not feed them untilthey find the one in the front! I guess I just answered my own question!Also, it seems the kittens might have a chance at being domesticated!Of all the wild cats (all family of the kittens) they are the only ones whomight allow me to touch them sooner or later! Their very curious nowand the little black one keeps coming closer and closer softly crying at meeach time I feed them. None of the rest will let me get closer then about3 feet!What to do??? Should I try and get them to let me handle them, or leavewell enough alone and let them stay wild?! Sometimes the right thing todo isn't very clear!

If you can get them I would bring them inside and socialize them so they can be house cats. It will be a much better safer life for them if you can. The sooner you can catch them the better, but you are already working on trust by you feeding them.

TOF:  Thank you so much for caring for these kittens.  Mommy trusts you!

I would keep on feeding them, just one feeding station is sufficient:  they will come to the food if they're hungry enough!

In so far as the kittens, would you want to keep them furever?  Do you know someone who might?  If yes, then I would try to handle them.

Here is an article about caring for feral and another one by Alley Cat Allies . 

Finally, are you in a position to try to trap any of the cats and get them spay/neutered?  There are some low cost s/n clinics around--where do you live?  Kittens can start having kittens as early as four to five months--their first heat.

Just agreeing with my collegues above!

Tx for helping these little brethren of ours!

Welcome to our Forums!

Good luck!

CatNamedPanda said:

If you can get them I would bring them inside and socialize them so they can be house cats. It will be a much better safer life for them if you can. The sooner you can catch them the better, but you are already working on trust by you feeding them.

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Thanks so much for responding! I wish I was sure they would be happier in a house!The rest of the kittens family LOVE their freedom and wildness! I just went to the grocerystore (a real chore) and one of the adults I've been feeding is smashed in the middleof the road! I'm a little depressed at the moment! In a house sure does seem safer!

Ritz said:

TOF:  Thank you so much for caring for these kittens.  Mommy trusts you!

I would keep on feeding them, just one feeding station is sufficient:  they will come to the food if they're hungry enough!

In so far as the kittens, would you want to keep them furever?  Do you know someone who might?  If yes, then I would try to handle them.

Here is an article about caring for feral and another one by Alley Cat Allies . 

Finally, are you in a position to try to trap any of the cats and get them spay/neutered?  There are some low cost s/n clinics around--where do you live?  Kittens can start having kittens as early as four to five months--their first heat.

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Thanks very much! At the moment the little ones don't know there's food in front and rarely travelmore than a few feet from their hole! I'm afraid they'll starve before finding it! I was up most of thenight worrying about them! It was 16 degrees here last night with a wind chill at 5 degrees! They seem fine though! I put an insulated pair of overhauls down for them at least to get off the cold ground!I can't keep them (inside anyway) we have one already that after years is still scared of everyone (except me)and a dog! The dog chases the cats whenever he see them! Can't seem to brake him of that!I have no income at all and can't really afford running around looking for traps to borrow or pay for neuteringIt's all I can do at the moment to just keep them fed!!

StefanZ said:

Just agreeing with my collegues above!

Tx for helping these little brethren of ours!

Welcome to our Forums!

Good luck!

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Thanks! I just can't not help them!

It sounds like you do need some help.  As do the cats and kittens.  Is there a shelter nearby that could get you in touch with an organization that could possibly help you with getting the cats spayed and neutered?   That would be ideal.  I am so sorry you saw one of the cats on the road,   getting them altered may keep them close by and wandering less.

I would agree with bringing in the kittens,  socializing them and trying to fine them a good home,  but please try and get everyone spayed/neutered.  I hope there are groups in your area that will help you out.

KRZ said:

It sounds like you do need some help.  As do the cats and kittens.  Is there a shelter nearby that could get you in touch with an organization that could possibly help you with getting the cats spayed and neutered?   That would be ideal.  I am so sorry you saw one of the cats on the road,   getting them altered may keep them close by and wandering less.

I would agree with bringing in the kittens,  socializing them and trying to fine them a good home,  but please try and get everyone spayed/neutered.  I hope there are groups in your area that will help you out.

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Thanks! I looked into it when I first found this site and while researching how to care for them! There's nothing close here that I could find!I guess I'm down to 3 cats now! One was run over last night and 2 females have disappeared for the last 5 or 6 days! It's hard to put so muchinto saving and caring for them and they just disappear! I'm very depressed!

TheOldFart said:

 It's hard to put so muchinto saving and caring for them and they just disappear! I'm very depressed!

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Yeah, that is a major reason why to try to have them as inside kitties. MUCH safer inside.  

Although if they "just disappear" there is always some hope someone adopted them spontaneously. Which is of course very OK.