what do I need to know when considering taking in a feral kitten?

Most of the ferals haven't been around much lately except for the little black one, we call midnight. She's getting quite tame-even sitting on my daughter's lap just now. They want to take her in. I'm wondering what I'd need to know in order to make an informed decision. Midnight isn't the only kitten in the litter either-just the only tame one. We're still working on the rest of the litter, and I refuse to let one in without the rest of the litter being ready to come in and be re-homed as well.(unless of course they were to stop coming round)

I am a little confused by your refusal to help one unless you can help all.  All of the kittens need to be caught and fixed, even if it's one at a time.  They also need to be vaccinated and then you can decide whether they would make good house cats.  If they do not tame enough to come inside, at least they are fixed and can't reproduce.

Depending on how old they are, they may all tame very easily.  If so, so you plan to keep them all or perhaps find homes for them?

If not, and you let them back out, you can continue to feed them and offer them shelter.  And, again, they will be fixed and you won't have to deal with this issue again.

No matter what you decide, you need to make sure the kitten(s) have a vet check-up before meeting your resident cat, to make sure they are healthy.  They will need a room of their own for at least a while.  Introductions should take place slowly, so all of them have time to adjust to the idea of living together.  They will also need normal health related care (de-worming, treatment for fleas and ticks, etc.).

Sometimes it's hard to make these decisions and approach these situations pro-actively.  But waiting to see if they continue to come around leaves them out there on their own and at risk for all sorts of dangers.

my thought was that if I bring the one inside, the others will stop coming around(they already only come round every few days now)

Midnight is not yet tame enough to handle my youngest, who will obviously want to pet her as well-so I'm giving her time to come along. 

The kittens don't go near roads, as they have a large back-yard territory between my place and my friendly neighbor(who is also keeping an eye on them) and they're fed daily. I do intend to try and catch and re-home them-I just don't have money to vet a whole litter. From everything I'm being told they don't have a chance in the shelters unless they're handle-able, so that's been my first and foremost plan. I can do that much for them. I could possibly come up with money to vet one.I'd have to do things one or two at a time until they were done, not all in one appointment.  

Oh, I see.  I was thinking that the competition between all the kittens as they grow may be causing some to leave the area.  Cats are so territorial that one or two may be dominating the area.  That may be why the others have started disappearing.

Is there a low-cost clinic you can access?  I have to drive 35 miles one way to ours, so I usually take four or five cats at once.  It costs $45 for the spay or neuter and their first vaccinations.  So even when I take 3 cats, that's less than one spay at the regular vet's prices.

Maybe that would work for you to be able to get them all fixed.  If they can't be tamed and are fed, they will breed and you will be going through this a lot more in the future.

Ondine said:

Oh, I see.  I was thinking that the competition between all the kittens as they grow may be causing some to leave the area.  Cats are so territorial that one or two may be dominating the area.  That may be why the others have started disappearing.

Is there a low-cost clinic you can access?  I have to drive 35 miles one way to ours, so I usually take four or five cats at once.  It costs $45 for the spay or neuter and their first vaccinations.  So even when I take 3 cats, that's less than one spay at the regular vet's prices.

Maybe that would work for you to be able to get them all fixed.  If they can't be tamed and are fed, they will breed and you will be going through this a lot more in the future.

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I didn't know about the competition...that would explain why Midnight sticks around-she's the runt and food is guaranteed here. I just got hold of a rescue agency. They're full now, but told me to keep socializing them, because it will make them easier to catch. there was a pretty pregnant calico at feeding this morning, and they want to try and get her at the very least even if they can't fit the kittens. They told me that our region's animal control would take them if I could take them in-then they call all of the shelters in the area and give them first pick. (so that might be an option) 

I'm also encouraged, because the lady seemed positive about the idea of helping me take in Midnight

Oh, that's wonderful news!  It always helps to have local support.  Hope all goes well, then ...