Question on when to trap

kalynnda13

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Hi, Everyone.

I have 3 strays/ferals coming by at night to eat. One (Stubby Tail, male) has been caught, neutered, doctored up, and released.

I've been a bit concerned about one I call Fluffy, who is a long hair. Based on the nighttime video I have, I suspect that his/her coat is matted or has other issues.

Now my concern about trapping Fluffy: Up until a bit over a week ago, Fluffy was regular - coming to eat between 9 and 10:30 PM. Now he/she either comes later (after I've gone to bed and turned off the video) or is not coming most nights. I have seen him/her twice in the last 9 days. My concern is that if Fluffy is female, she may have had kittens. I did check the video I have, but I can't really say if Fluffy is a she (his/her tail was always down) or pregnant. One dynamic that makes me suspect Fluffy is female is the few times Fluffy and Stubby Tail have been at the feeding area at the same time, Stubby deferred to Fluffy.

IF Fluffy has kittens, I'm worried they would be too young for her to be gone ~36 hours (trapped in the late evening, fixed the next AM, then picked up/released the following AM). At what age could I expect them to be OK for her to be gone that long? Also, if Fluffy is lactating...I know she could be fixed, but I'm guessing it would be better to wait until she is starting to wean the kittens. Is that a good assumption?

If Fluffy has kittens, when would they be old enough that she might bring them by? 6 weeks? Earlier? Later?

Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated.  Barring any other information, I think I'll wait a few more weeks to try to trap Fluffy, just to be safe.
 

if i fit i sit

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we had 2 female cats give birth in our house ( not inside but in the yard) and the mother cat doesn't really leave her kittens at all for about a week if not more (ours didn't even leave to drink or eat, we gave them the food and water to where they were), so maybe Fluffy has already given birth that's why u haven't seen her?  
if you provide a place that is well sheltered from wind and other hazards, as in closed from 3 sides she might bring them earlier, or if she hasn't given birth yet, she might give birth in that place u prepare. 

i don't know alot about when to spay, but its best to wait until she weans them just in case, unless she keeps lactating after spaying, then i think u can spay her when the kittens are able to eat normal food along with the mom's milk. 

hope i helped a little bit.
 

ondine

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When the kittens are 5 - 6 weeks old, she will probably bring them to the feeding area.  You can then feel comfortable trapping her.  But do it quickly because by then, she may very well be pregnant again.  At that age, the kittens can be taken from her for socializing, if you can.  This is not ideal, as they really should be with mom until 12 weeks.  But with feral cats, mom will teach them to be afraid of humans and they won't be as easy to socialize.  Its a tough call.  If you can socialize them and find them homes, they will be so much better off.

I would wait four to five weeks and see if kittens pop up, then trap and spay her ASAP, even if you don't see them.  Good luck and thank you for caring for these kitties.

One thing you can do for Fluffy is have her groomed when she's under the anesthesia for the spaying.  They can determine how badly her coat is matted.  If she is at all tame, she'll be better off in an enclosure or a home (if possible) because living outside is going to wreak havoc with her coat.
 
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