Advice on Trapping Feral Kittens

Supermax1943 said:

Thank you so much. When this is all over I would like to do something to show my gratitude for what this website has done for me, is there anything I can do that would be useful/helpful????

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You know what.... YOU ARE doing it already. What you are doing for feral cats in your area is more than anyone of us can ask for and we so appreciate people like you who stick around here on TCS, posting about your efforts and experiences. Other's learn from that too and that is so very, very helpful!!!

I am relieved to hear that the injured feral cat's foot seems to be getting better. It always blows my mind at how resilient feral cats are and how they miraculously recover from injuries. Still, once in awhile we must step in to get them medical attention! THAT is not easy to do - quite a feat to accomplish but at times necessary. for your feral.

Supermax1943 said:

Poor little one all by itself out there. My heart just breaks for it.

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Keeping up the vibes and hopes that you will soon capture the last kitten. :cross: AND I know you will. You are persistent and that will pay off. :bigthumb: At least Smudge is going in and out of the house now. What a good momma. Sorry she has diarrhea - she may need deworming. :dk: Which can be done when she goes in for her spay. In the meantime, you can add people probiotics to her canned food which may help some but if it is intestinal parasites which most feral cats have, then deworming may be the way to go.

BIG :grphug: :grphug2: for all you are working towards with these cats.

For Smudge and diarrhea..that's what I figured...probably worms. Wish I could do it now, but can't take chance since she is still nursing.

The lost kitten howling it's little head off this morning...and somewhat answering my vocals to it....so it (he/she) is still alive!! I have moved the Have a Heart closer to where I heard it. 

I am thinking Smudge has abandoned it. How horribly sad. But, over all of the years that has happened before. When I first started taking care of the colony (the former caretaker died and I took over, but I had no experience and no understanding of what to do. So I just fed.......UNTIL the multiplication took over!!!!  Babies were being abandoned...and I would take them in...bottle feed etc. What a mess things were in the beginning!!!) But, abandonment has happened here, and I think that Smudge has left this one. Since I can't be positive Smudge isn't providing some care, I am going to let her go in and out, just in case. 

Please keep your fingers crossed I can catch the little one!!

As for injured guy....full weight on the leg this morning, just a tiny limp. Whew! Yes, recapturing for injury is just so hard. I have only had to do it once.

Since most times it is an abscess they manage, but this guys injury just looked different. So relieved.

Well, coming here for help is such a blessing for me, if it helps this website, then I am happy. You have been such a blessing for me, Feralvr

I will report back on any progress with little one. 

Supermax1943 said:

Please keep your fingers crossed I can catch the little one!!

As for injured guy....full weight on the leg this morning, just a tiny limp. Whew! Yes, recapturing for injury is just so hard. I have only had to do it once.
Since most times it is an abscess they manage, but this guys injury just looked different. So relieved.

Well, coming here for help is such a blessing for me, if it helps this website, then I am happy. You have been such a blessing for me, Feralvr:kisskiss:

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Great news on the injured feral cat and that he is recovering from whatever it was all on his own. :cross: that this continues!

AND finger's crossed that you update with some good news on the last kitten! :cross: :cross: :cross: :cross:


p.s. Your a blessing to cats! :high5: We do it in the name of all things good for cats because we care and are deeply compassionate knowing they desperately need help and support.

Saturday update.

Can you believe I have a Webcam that I totally forgot I had????

That is how stressed I have been. It is a wonder I can do anything.

So this morning I find Smudge has taken the babies out of their safe room!

That ends her privileges of free coming and going! Thank heaven she didn't know about the cat door at the back of the house that provides access 24 hours a day!!!!

Did get a picture of lost baby on the webcam!!! 

Looking fine..so now I can figure out how I can capture the little one.

Since I have a time imprint on the picture, I know when the little one felt safe to attempt eating there (early morning).

All of the captured little ones let me pet them for a minute last night....and injured guy, Big Guy, went running down the street this morning looking as if nothing ever happened. 

So, other than a house that looks like a bomb went off for lack of doing anything other than cat care.......I can now focus 100% on capturing little one.

Thanks so much for checking in with me....I will update tomorrow, or later tonight.

David,

Wanted you to know, I am going to try your suggested plan for one last little lost baby.

I am not sure it is large enough to trip the plate in a regular trap, and think your idea might really work.

Thanks so much for suggesting it. I will post how it goes...

The crate/rope method of trapping feral cats does work quite well if the feral cat/kittens get used to going in and out of the crate first to eat. I have used this method many a time with great success after I have the feral cats trust to eat when I am nearby.

Simply set out a carrier and prop the door open for a day or two and only feed inside of the carrier so the kitten gets used to eating inside of the crate. You also tie a rope to the carrier door, close to the latch area and run it through the sides of the crate. The rope is usually about 20 feet long so you can sit quietly and watch and wait. During the day or two getting the cats used to eating inside the crate, I would sit about 20 feet away so they get used to my presence. This method takes a long time with a truly feral cat because most won't eat or go into a carrier while you are anywhere in sight. This method takes a bit more patience and time on the caretaker's part getting the cats to trust you enough to eat while you are near.

OH - I DO hope you catch the little kitten soon so he/she can reunite with the others!!! Wouldn't that be great if Smudge would just lead the kitten inside and PUT the kitten inside of the room with his siblings!! Wishful thinking !!! Keep us posted and sending vibes for a successful capture SOON!!! :cross:

Oh yes, wouldn't that be great...but I think she is just confused. Today, she wanted to badly to take the 3 little ones with her for an outside romp.

But, even though I keep explaining it to her , (to go bring the outside one in) she just doesn't get it.

I think she has completely abandoned the outside one.

Got a picture of the lost one in the little carrier last night!! So, we are headed in right direction.

Good point about me sitting nearby for little one to get comfortable.

I've spent many an hour sitting by drop traps, so it won't be anything new to do it now.

Yesterday evening at feeding, little one was howling. 

I got within 2 or 3 feet of her, and instead of doing what I know to do.........wait comely and try to encourage the kitten to get closer....I tried to grab it! . I know better, what on earth is going on in my head these days. The whole reason I trapped was to avoid exactly what is going on now...a little one lost and alone.

And I know perfectly well not to try and grab a baby as it only makes matter worse.

And, forgetting the Webcam camera???? Jeeeezzzz I could have taken pictures of the family and then I would have known there were 4 babies, not three!

I have a poster that tells me to "Make mistakes, make the world's biggest mistake, make the mistake no one has ever made before"...I'm thinking I should take the poster down.

So, on to another 12 hour day. 

Wish I didn't feel so badly about all my mistakes.

I will check in again tonight or tomorrow. Or, of course, should heaven grant me a "burning bush" and drop the baby in my hands!!!!!

Thanks so much for staying with me on this. It helps so much. Wish I could give you a hug.

So, it is 2:00 a.m. and I am really down in the dumps.

Somehow Smudge got one of the 3 inside kittens outside, unless she took it out of the safe room and it is in the house somewhere...., but I am pretty sure not.

Don't have the vaguest idea how it happened. I was home all day and close to the safe room. Monitored her coming and going, if she went out I closed the door to safe room, or shut her in if she wanted to see kittens.

I sat outside for over an hour tonight and then kept checking on little capture cage every 1/2 hour or so, but no lost kitten, or other kitten.

It was comforting to note that all of the other cats coming and going near where the little carrier is, payed no attention to me, or even noticed me. I am well hidden which is good and about 20 ft. away.

The only hope I have is that Smudge took one to where the lost one has been, and that is why there is no sign of the lost kitten tonight. I was just sure I was going to catch it tonight.

If she just took it outside and dropped it somewhere....well, I am just not going to think about that right now.

I will update as soon as any news.

So, I figured out how she got the kitten out...it was before I realized she was trying to get them all out.

The other one is out, for sure. The only helpful thing is that hopefully Smudge has them together.

I will check the webcam in a minute, but felt I needed to just sit and write for a minute.

My plan now is to wait and see what happens outside. I'm not going to let Smudge get to the indoor ones, hopefully encouraging her to concentrate on the outside ones.

And then, i will just have to begin again.

At least now I have the Wildlife Webcam camera to help me.

Tired and discouraged, but have to let go. No point in trying to trap now and create the same situation all over again.

Maybe it is for the best. Maybe this will all turn out better than I could have hoped.....for this very controlling woman you can just imagine how hard that is to even think.........

Supermax1943 said:

I have a poster that tells me to "Make mistakes, make the world's biggest mistake, make the mistake no one has ever made before"...I'm thinking I should take the poster down.

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We are only HUMAN!!! And HUMANS make mistakes and sometimes the same ones but in a different sort of a way. I do think the very first thing you need to do is what you already said above; Don't let Smudge back in with the kittens or have free access as she will just take them away. Keep the two you have indoors completely confined to that room as long as they are eating and drinking and using the box. The only other option you have is to keep Smudge locked up in the room with those two kittens and set the traps for the two that are now outside. The drop trap even because weren't you feeding them under the drop trap? The kittens will surely go there looking for food. Thankfully they are almost 7 weeks now and should be eating the canned food you put out. The kittens will not disappear either, they will stay where they were born/raised by their mom so you should be able to trap them.

I am also concerned now that Smudge could very well be pregnant again. It would be a very good idea, and one that I would do, is to get her in for her spay asap. The sooner the better and the kittens don't really need her anymore and if you are not able to confine her indoors then she will become pregnant soon. The vets can do a spay/abort IF she is pregnant and I know this is so hard but I think of all of the kittens already here and needing homes and there are not enough of those to go around as you already know. Plus, Smudge, if pregnant, is very early.

I know this is stressful, believe me, my heart goes out to you but it is what we DO!! Our passion for the cats that leads me past my own emotions in doing what I know is best for them.

SENDING MEGA GINORMOUS VIBES that you can capture the two kittens very, very, very soon. Then we will all breathe a huge sigh of relief along side you. :grphug: KEEP ON doing what you are doing and don't beat yourself up over the mishaps because that part does happen when dealing with and fighting for these feral cats. There is no perfect or right/wrong way - as long as the end goal is to spay/neuter. How we get there doesn't really matter - as long as we get there!!!

Thanks, as always. It has been such a help to have you chime in on the insanity here!

We are on the same wave length re: Smudge. Since the outdoor ones will need her the most, I'm going to keep her away from the indoor ones completely.

They are doing just fine, and so far, not at all upset that they haven't seen Smudge for 13 hours.

The area where I have the outside ones eating won't accommodate the large drop trap, So I am leaving the little carrier with rope closure in the same area and feeding there. Would you believe that last night I set up the Camera, and forgot to switch it to "motion", so I got zip, no pictures.

But food was eaten, and carrier is so small, the big cats can't reach in to eat. So it must be the little kids who ate there.

Camera now on so later today I can see what is going on, and if the two little ones are together.

Smudge has not been around at all today, so I'm guessing, hoping she is with the two outdoor kittens. I pray.

I have a call into the vet to see what she feels about spaying Smudge since she is so thin, and sick with bad diarrhea. I can't really afford to have the vet do the spay...but think I will have to figure out a way, cause I don't think she should go into the spay mill at the SPCA....but, I am on it.....

Last worry is that the field next to me where the kittens are might be mowed anytime now. They do it in the Spring....so I am going to make a call today to see if they can hold off until I get this situation fixed.

Whew!!!!

How smart is little Smudge? The two little outside ones are now together, and both ate at the same time inside the little carrier.

Smudge has not been inside at all today, she, I think, has made the same decision as I made: that the two inside ones are safe and in good shape, so she is needed outside. It will be interesting to see if she comes inside tonight. She stayed in last night, but made no fuss about the door to the safe room being shut to her.

So, on to Chapter Two.  The vet and I will talk tomorrow afternoon and I got the people in charge of clearing the lot to stay away until I have the kittens situation fixed. 

I need to know from you, is it okay if I keep communicating on this long saga. Does it take too much of your time, or too much time away from newbies who, I know, also need your help? If you need to move on, I understand. I have taken so much of your time. It is such a help to have you to talk with, but if you need to move on, please let me know.

In the meantime your advice would be so welcome on the next step. Since the two little ones are eating out of the same little carrier, I think it might be smart to attempt to get them. I don't know how much longer they can both fit in there to eat. Certainly a few more days. I can also put out a little bigger carrier. What do you think? Too risky? Wait a few days?  If I could get both of them, then I would have everyone inside. Once I have all  the kids...getting Smudge should be easy, and I think with all of them in here she would go to them.

You can imagine how skittish I am to do anything. And I am thinking I could do nothing. Just get Smudge fixed, and wait and trap the two little ones later, although I think it is dangerous out there. Please give me your thoughts, and also let me know if you would prefer I work this out by myself.

Supermax1943 said:

Last worry is that the field next to me where the kittens are might be mowed anytime now. They do it in the Spring....so I am going to make a call today to see if they can hold off until I get this situation fixed.

Whew!!!!

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First, I saw this and started Then I read post below.....

p.s. Still - even Smudge being so thin with diarrhea - she needs help and good to know you are on it. Even if she becomes pregnant, and she may, that could possibly do her in more than getting her spayed. She sounds weak too. She may need confinement for a few weeks before her spay - indoors, if possible.

Supermax1943 said:

How smart is little Smudge? The two little outside ones are now together, and both ate at the same time inside the little carrier.



You can imagine how skittish I am to do anything. And I am thinking I could do nothing. Just get Smudge fixed, and wait and trap the two little ones later, although I think it is dangerous out there. Please give me your thoughts, and also let me know if you would prefer I work this out by myself.

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That the kittens were inside the carrier!! You may have to sit vigil now by that carrier. Don't change it out, the carrier, as the kittens are comfortable with this one. Since the kittens are going in to eat, then next feeding time, you can wrangle them to you with the rope method. Don't wait to capture them and keep on trying. Your doing great here.

Smudge should just be trapped too. I highly doubt she is caring much for the kittens anymore and actually, IF she is around, the kittens may be trying to follow her to dangerous territory, like the farm field, where they have no skills and no experience to protect themselves OR get themselves back to your yard and may become lost. Might be best to capture Smudge and keep her indoors with the other two kittens and then focus on capturing the other two outside which are already eating in that carrier. Just keep doing something is better than nothing as you know. Skittish is OK and normal under these circumstances, but still you are strong for the cats!

p.s. You are not taking me away from anything here! Your so kind and unselfish for thinking this way but really, this is what we are here for!! You should see some of the other LONG LONG feral cat threads that I have participated in along side their journey's. I don't have all of the answers but it certainly helps to know I can offer support along the way for as long as you need! Some of the feral cat threads have turned into blogs and novels! So, don't worry. Your story is important and we want more than anything for you to have success with your feral kitties.

Thanks...So glad I am not THE LONGEST STORY . But I am still so grateful for your time and wonderful words of courage and great advice!

Talked with the Vet just now. She is worried the skinniness of Smudge might be an underlying problem of some sort....FIV or Felv.

So, with advice from you and the Vet, the plan is:

Capture the two outside kittens, so I can get Smudge in without further stress (she didn't come in house at all yesterday).

Then, once all kittens in, I can take her to Vet, who will test and then do surgery, if tests come out okay.

I am going to ask for help (for the first time EVER ) from a girl down the street whose mother used to have lots of cats.

I really need help getting the two little ones. If both are in the carrier and I am trying to hold it shut, plus get to carrier, etc. it will really be necessary to have another helping hand.

So, that is the plan. It may take a day to get to the girl who can help, but the kittens can just keep getting used to eating in the little carrier (I won't change the carrier).

Guess this could make a novel. The mystery goes on..will she get them, will she not???

Hugs, and super thanks.

I will update again tomorrow....

Just because not one part of this saga will go easily....the outside babies are no longer eating in the little carrier!

But, that might not be all bad, it probably means Smudge is having them eat at one of the feeding stations where I trapped the other kittens.

So, I moved the Web Cam, and will see where they are.

If they are eating at feeding stations, it will be easier to catch them since there is room for the drop trap.

I got someone to help, since I was so worried about trying to get both of them in the little carrier, but with the drop trap I can manage on my own.

So, I am in good shape today. Smudge came inside yesterday, and again this morning to spend a few minutes with the captured kittens. She went in so I could shut the door behind her both times...that seems to work well, she doesn't mind. She is gaining some weight too. 

If and when I can catch the last two, it is obvious she won't object to being shut in with them. So fingers crossed!

I will post again tomorrow.

With the crate/rope method of trapping, you really don't need another helper because when you pull on the rope, it shuts the door quickly and you drag the crate to you swiftly. It is pretty traumatic and scary for the feral cats/kittens though - this method. I usually recommend having a glove on your hand to latch the door shut, especially if you are catching an adult feral cat because they can lash out with their claws trying to escape. Having another person nearby may not work because the cats will be very hesitant to enter the crate with a new stranger. I do think it is nice that you have someone nearby that can help and more importantly, support , you through this effort.

MEGA MEGA for success today. :cross: :high5: Your persistence WILL pay off. :nod:

I caught three feral babies using a quiet cage, a string to close the door and good smelling food.

Traps are loud, so if any of them hear the clank from the trap door shutting, they will all run away.

I tied a thick non visible string to the cage door, then put the strong smelling food in the cage.

I sat at a distance and patiently waited.


As soon as all three were inside eating, I slowly  pulled the string until the door was shut. 
I walked up, latched the cage and brought them inside.

Here's what they look like now.

Thanks for help on using little carrier, however, the outside kittens are no longer eating in the carrier....or anywhere else.

Not sure what is going on. Smudge came in yesterday...went to safe room, has not left, has not wanted to leave. And no sign of the two outside ones anywhere.

I have moved the camera a couple of times to see if they might be somewhere else, but no sign of them.

I am going to schedule testing and possible surgery for Smudge for next Wednesday, and hope the situation resolves itself before then.

I'm afraid something has happened to the the outdoor ones......

The problem with the little carrier for me, was the location it had to be in. Couldn't drag it to me, and couldn't get a good visual on whether or not both kittens would be in carrier before closing...and then after closing I was going to have to walk about twenty feet,and go through a gate to get to the carrier...that was why I wanted help. Normally I wouldn't have anyone else nearby....but the circumstances meant I needed someone. But since they haven't eaten there since after the first day I saw them in there....that whole scenario is not possible.

Gosh it would help to have visuals for some of this....I am starting a website soon just for feral cats and think that would be a good idea. So much is hard to visualize if you haven't done it before......and I certainly need work on using a small carrier. I haven't needed it ever before....but now I know it is an important skill to learn.

Will post again tomorrow..

I am sad and sorry for you to hear that you have not seen the two kittens! I am going to stay hopeful though that they are coming out by chance when you are just not around. I know how hard this is for you and know the torment and worry going on inside your head over this. OH COME BACK, BABIES!!!!! :cross:

Keeping up the vibes for Smudge as well and that she will be able to have her surgery next Wed. Hang in there, hun! Your doing the best you can with all of this. :grphug: