Anyone with trapping experience near Alton, NH?

Long story short.  It seems as if the Alton area only has kill shelters with no TNR or socialization programs.   I volunteer for a shelter about an hour and 45 minutes from there.   We have agreed to take this man's 5 feral kittens and TNR the mother whom  he feeds and lives in his shed.  He caught 4 using a string and carrier but the 5th  got away.  The kittens are now 10 weeks old so the window is closing.  To make matters worse a new feral with 4 kittens has scared the mother and the kitten off from the shed.  He is setting up a feeding station at a distance to try to lure her away.  Anyone in the vicinity who could help?

Sorry for the delay in replies! I am sorry to hear that you don't have any TNR orgs. to assist in your area. Makes things so much harder for both the feral advocates and for the cats themselves with not many able to trap. I am impressed that the man was able to do the crate/rope method to capture some of the kittens. At this point, I would try to get a hold of as many traps as you can and set them up out on his property and only feed inside the traps. I am sure the cats/kittens are hungry and will readily go into the traps. This man sounds very willing and doing the right thing by setting up another feeding station away from the shed with the new mother and kittens. Bless you and the BEST of luck in getting them all trapped.

I hope by pulling up this thread maybe another member will see this and be in your area and you will receive more replies.

I just found this TNR org. for Maine and NH. You may have already contacted them BUT who knows, maybe they have a way to help or some advice/support. :cross: http://mrfrs.org/feral-cats/

Thank you Feralvr for your support.  Merrimack River is a great group and they do a great deal with the ferals in their area.  However, they are at least as far from Alton as I am, maybe further.  The man has promised me the mother for our next clinic.   Unfortunately, the last I heard the kitten has gone missing.   I'm hoping mom just moved it for safe keeping.   I should get an update today or tomorrow.  The new fearal and her kittens have moved on.

Alton has a seasonal population. (Lake Winnipesaukee)   I understand some bring a kitten for their summer amusement and then just leave it behind. The town itself is small and does not even have an animal control officer.

I do hope mom cat will bring the kitten back around and that he/she can be successfully trapped. I commend your efforts and that this man is so willing to help the feral cats as well. How sad about people bringing a kitten up for summer vacations (?) and then abandoning them. I have never heard of this before today. Makes me very sad to know this. I hope there are many such as you in your area that take a stand to help the feral cats although it sounds slim. :shame: All my best to you and wishes for continued success in your endeavor to TNR.

Would there be a rescue group in Tilton or Laconia that could help or maybe even Meredith? Would the NH Humane Society be able to give you a few suggestions? I know they are dealing with a bad situation in Ossipee, but maybe they could point you in the right direction?

I spoke to NH Humane Society which is close to Alton.   They said they no longer have a vet on staff and so they don't do any TNR.  They did offer to lend some traps but when the man with the cats contacted them, they said that was a mistake.   The others say it's not their area.

The good news is the man reports that the kitten is back with the mom.  The mom goes into the carrier to eat but the kitten doesn't.  (the kitten saw the other trapped, the mom didn't)  However, he promises both next Tuesday for the clinic.  

Theyremine said:

I spoke to NH Humane Society which is close to Alton.   They said they no longer have a vet on staff and so they don't do any TNR.  They did offer to lend some traps but when the man with the cats contacted them, they said that was a mistake.   The others say it's not there area.

The good news is the man reports that the kitten is back with the mom.  The mom goes into the carrier to eat but the kitten doesn't.  (the kitten saw the other trapped, the mom didn't)  However, he promises both next Tuesday for the clinic.

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Bummer about the Humane Society backing down their offer to lend traps. argh. I try to get the name of the person I talk with when calling these different humane societies/shelters/orgs. and that way I can direct someone directly to that one person I spoke with. Sometimes I have found, as you, that you are told one thing is a "go", and then talking to another person it is a "no". I understand that humane societies do run out of traps quickly this time of year making it hard to loan them out. Sometimes they don't even get them back so many will require some sort of deposit.

The GOOD news is that the kitten is back!! This man sounds really helpful and caring to me. I am very happy that he is being so willing to cooperate in making the effort to capture the feral cats. What about a drop trap? I wonder if he has any experience using one. :dk: The kitten should go into the carrier as well to eat when he becomes quite hungry. How old - estimate? I wonder if he is eating solid food yet. :cross: LOADS LOADS of VIBES for this man's success. Keep us posted.

The 4 from the litter I already have are about 11 weeks old by the man's estimate.   (and confirmed by my vet) so the kitten should be eating solid food . And  I'm hopeful that he/she can still be socialized.  The 4 are scheduled for our adoption day on August 1, so he/she might not be united with them for long. (But there is one black one and blacks are not the first to go)  I'm hoping that perhaps he/she could join another litter for socialization if the litter mates all get adopted.

Theyremine said:

The 4 from the litter I already have are about 11 weeks old by the man's estimate.   (and confirmed by my vet) so the kitten should be eating solid food . And  I'm hopeful that he/she can still be socialized.  The 4 are scheduled for our adoption day on August 1, so he/she might not be united with them for long. (But there is one black one and blacks are not the first to go)  I'm hoping that perhaps he/she could join another litter for socialization if the litter mates all get adopted.

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Absolutely the kitten can be socialized!!!! I have had great success socializing much older kittens. Yes - if they are a bit older ( 7 months ) they take a little more time to understand and trust but they always come around to be sweet little babies. I never like to put a deadline on any feral kitten's socialization. I am keeping my fingers double crossed :cross: :cross: for the mom and the remaining kitten's capture.

First the good news:   Both mom and the kitten were trapped this morning.   The poor mom is so small; she's not much bigger than her kittens.  They were wild when they first got here, lashing out through the cage, but after I had them for awhile, I got them to calm down and was actually able to place food, water, and a litter box in the cage.   Then I left them alone for a couple of hours.   When I checked they had eaten and used the box.

Then I got the call to come pick up the 4 litter mates who were vetted today.  ( They got good marks on their socialization and will be available for adoption soon. )   I was told to bring mom and the kitten along so I wouldn't have to make the trip again in the morning (45 miles round trip)

Upon evaluation, I was told that the kitten was too aggressive and was a poor candidate for socialization.   I know aggressive ferals can be socialized, I have 2 living in my house right now and they are sweet and loving, but they are bonded only to me and totally unadoptable. ( My ferals do not get along with my older cat and I do not have another viable long term  living space for another cat.)   It was suggested that I ask the man if he would be willing to care for the kitten as well as the mom is he was TNR ed.   Luckily, he agreed (actually he seemed pleased) 

So they will be vetted tomorrow morning and I will be driving them north Thursday.

I guess it all turned out okay.  Not as well as I had hoped, but not as bad as it could have been.