Please help me figure this out

Let me try to make this brief. My parents next door have been feeding strays. Over the last year, together we have trapped/fixed/released six of them. One kept eluding us, and we got lazy and hoped for the best. Now there are four stray kittens approx. 7 weeks old. We trapped them and have them in my mom's greenhouse. While they do run and hide, we are able to coax them out and handle them safely.
Here is the problem. I've sort of taken over their care and have been defleaing and getting them ready for homes. I do not have money for vet bills for four kittens and my parents feel we should just give them away. One of the kittens looks odd to me and my three daughters agree. It's forehead is very prominent and I think the eyes are funny. This does make it look very cute in pictures and people are already interested in this kitten. I don't know if they will notice a big difference when they come pick it up. My mom wants to just give her away. I am afraid that it is a potentially serious problem and I don't know what to do about it. She does act completely normal and kitten-like and eats, drinks, goes potty, meows. Please let me know what you think.

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It may be so.  Be sure you write a contract with the new owners, make a ceremony of it! even if no money changes hands as it seems awkward to you.

A trick is also, the new owners make some donation to some praiseworthy cause they do agree upon - choose themslves, anonymously, in the cats name.  or say, this kitten is called Sheila. they are the  Lincoln family, the donation in the name of Sheila C. Lincoln.

Creating a magical bond, the cat is connected with noble feelings of giving to a worthy cause.

I want also to give you a trick for quick socializing.

Take them and wrap up in a soft towel like a burrito.  Carry this kitten-burrito at your chest, talking sweetly, crooning, singing softly.  Half hour, onehour, a couple of such sessions and it should be done.  

Like the american way of breaking in a horse, but inverted and much softer.

Good luck!   *vibes*

Thanks! 

She does look a bit off kilter but it may be that she's just growing into her face. If her behavior is normal, I would simply mention that you noticed it and make sure the adopters are aware. I hope that this will push them to get her vet checked quickly. And please do ask for a donation (to the rescue/shelter of their choice). If you have a local rescue or low cost spay neuter group, please contact them. They may not be able to help you by taking the kittens but they can provide you with lots of resources, which you can pass on to the adopters.

Good luck and thanks for helping them!

Thank you!  Unfortunately, I have already advertised them free except for this one whom I am taking to the vet this morning.  I am paying for the exam but asking for whoever takes her to pay for her shot and deworm. I never really thought of asking for a donation.  Why is that better than free exactly?  I will update later!

The theory is that if people are willing to pay for a cat (even by making a donation), they are more likely to pay to take care of it.  Unfortunately, "free kittens" ads often attract people who do not want the cat for a pet.  Awful people.

That's why most rescuers try to assess potential adopters and why we try to do home studies (one of my friends does Internet background checks!).

You are better off if you know something about the adopters - a friend knows them, you work with them, etc.

Glad you are taking the baby to a vet.  This is why rescue work can be so taxing - the emotional and financial expense can be hard!

Keep us posted.  I'm curious to know if she has an issue.

Yes, I'd be curious to see if she has any issue too.
At first glance, I though 'vision problem', but she seems to see fine.
Second/third the idea of asking for a donation. It weeds out the weirdos.
You can also see if a low cost spay/neuter clinic will give you a certificate for a future spay/neuter, and present it to the person who will be adopting the cat(s).

AWWW what a darling little girl. I couldn't say one way or another about her face/eyes being abnormal. She is cute and may just be at that funny, kitten growing stage. :dk: PLEASE do not give kittens away for free. Some people looking for free kittens are not good people and also, they may treat the kitten as disposable and not for a lifetime. Best to make up a little contract, of sorts, that the people have to sign. Saying that they will spay/neuter the kitten, get all vaccines, proper medical attention, etc. There is an adoption application we have here on site and I will dig it up for you and post it here.

IMO, I think the best option and best possible scenario for these kittens future is to find them a good rescue, foster network, TNR organization foster, humane society and/or vets. I am certain one of those suggested contacts will be able to help you with these kittens. Unfortunately, there will be more kittens until all of the cats are fixed. You are doing you best and I thank you for helping the stray cats. Best to line up an organization to assist you with all of the cats and anymore kittens that will be born. If you just give them away for free, they will most likely be left outdoors to just continue this cycle of reproducing stray/feral kittens. :shame: Please find a rescue that has experience and will take on the responsibility of finding homes for the kittens. :cross:

A sample adoption contract: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/212035/adoption-contract

Thanks everyone!  Back from the vet and her prognosis is not good...water on the brain and her skull is not completely fused.  However, the vet is surprised that she is otherwise quite healthy.  We can hope for a year or two if we can manage any neuro symptoms, etc with meds.  So it looks like I will be keeping her...I just can't give her away with a prognosis like that and she is the most loveable thing.

The mother of this cat is the only one that we did not trap and spay, as she was difficult to trap and unfortunately we gave up.  Big mistake.  We are in the process of trying again. We have two traps set and keep recatching the ones already fixed.

I can totally see the point of money/donation and now that I have money invested in this one, Daisy, I wish I had asked.  At first I thought I would surrender them to a rescue but the no kills are full now and I am afraid of what would happen to Daisy...her short little life in a shelter.  No way.  Fortunately, I know two of the people who are interested in the kittens and can easily follow up.  I could also keep them a few more weeks and take them to the low cost mobile spay/neuter clinic first.  Or, I suppose I could ask for a donation explaining that one of the kittens needs special care and I will be keeping her.

My vet also does not recommend getting her fixed in her condition because she might not survive surgery.  Another reason I want to keep her to make sure she doesn't end up pregnant.

So sorry to hear about the kitty.  Your instincts were right.  With you as her caregiver, she will have a good life, even if it's shorted than it could have been.  Bless you for helping!

About momma cat - if you can borrow a drop trap, you may be able to get her.  It is basically a box which is propped up on a stick that is tied to a long piece of twine or thin rope.  You sit away from the trap with the other end of the rope.  Once the cat you want is under it, you pull the rope  and the trap falls over the cat.  Its a little bit of work to get the cat into a carrier from the trap and you will need another person to help you.

You can also rig a regular humane trap in a similar way by putting a bottle filled with rocks under the door.  The twine is wrapped around the bottle a couple of times to secure it.  Once the cat you want goes into the trap, pull the rope and the door drops down.  This is actually easier afterwards because there's no need to transfer the cat.

Good luck.

Very sorry to hear about Daisy's condition. Thank goodness you took her to the vet. It is very loving of you to keep, care and love her for whatever time she may have.

Please do make sure that the people you are planning on giving the kittens too sign some sort of agreement, to make it official in a way. Make it clear to them that first and foremost the kitten must be neutered. Kittens can be neutered after they weigh 2 pounds. Your doing a great job overall and I commend your efforts to help control the cat population.

Does the momma cat come around to eat in your presence? Meaning, with you about 20 to 30 feet away? If so, then I would suggest the drop trap as well, but I have never had any luck with it. Somehow the cat gets away while trying to get it into the carrier, even with a helper. I have had better luck with feeding the cat inside of a carrier for a week or two on schedule. Tie a rope to the door and string it through the side of the carrier/crate. I keep the crate door propped open with a large stone until the cats are comfortable eating inside the crates. On trap day and after you put a small amount of irresistible food in the carrier- sardine - then pull the rope and the door will shut quickly. Reel in the crate towards you and then (with a gloved hand - just in case), latch the carrier door. Off to the vet you go. This has worked for me many, many times over the years with barn feral cats. In fact, there was a time I had multiple crates with the doors propped open and only fed cats inside the crates. This made it very, very easy for me to get a feral cat to the vet if need be. Just another thought!!

It is more of a challenge when you are trying to catch one that has evaded the trap for so long as you may very well trap a cat that does not need trapping. Trapping by drop trap or the crate method takes much more time because you have to wait/watch. Feeding on a schedule, same time, once daily will help make these methods of trapping go much more quickly. on trapping momma very, very soon.