Mother Still Outside - What Should I Do?

Hey everyone,
Over the past 3 weeks, I've been looking after a mother and her kittens in my backyard. She came before when she was pregnant but my father chased her away. I managed to capture one kitten a few weeks ago and give him to my niece after taming him. Then, last week Saturday, I caught his brother which I am still trying to tame. Before catching any of the kittens, I contacted a local cat rescue and they offered to take the mother and spay her, deflea, and deworm for free ONLY if I could catch all 3. Anyways, after telling them that I couldn't catch the mother, they basically abandoned me and left me to figure this out all by myself. I was upset at first because it's unfair and I'm still upset because she's still in my backyard. I've been feeding her but she won't let me get close. She comes to my door crying for her kittens daily. So many male cats have came to the backyard chasing her and spraying on stuff in the backyard. I chase them away from her but they keep coming back. She fights them and has scratches and missing fur all over from fighting. I don't know how to help her. I'm trying to find another place that'll take her but I haven't been very fortunate. I need advice as to what I should do about her. I can't feed her like this forever because I have 3 other cats to feed and that's hard enough already. Her kitten that I rescued last Saturday is also very boney. I've been feeding him often but he still wants more food. He licks out the other cats bowls trying to find stray pieces of food. I'm not sure what to do with him either. I'd love to have some reasurrance from other members on the issue.
Thank you.

You need to get access to a humane trap.  That would be the easiest way to catch her.  Otherwise you could try to feed her in a cat carrier and see if once she is inside that you can close the door. 

Some rescue organization, humane socieites or ASPCA will rent humane traps.  You may need to call around.

Thank you for caring for her.  She does need to get spayed soon or she will end up pregnant again.

Alright, thank you. However, she has a lot of fleas and I'm terrified to bring her inside. Is there a way to tame her outside so that I can get a flea collar around her neck?

Once you trap her or get her into the carrier, head right to the vet. Along with spaying her, they can give her something for the fleas.  Do you use a flea collar on her outside.  She could get it caught in something and strangle herself. 

So I'd have to pay for that out of my own pocket?

Yes, but it shouldn't be that expensive.  When you take her for spay, she will need vaccines as well.  She will also need to be wormed. 

Look for a low cost spay/neuter clinic in your area.  They are very reasonably priced. 

Graceful-Lily said:

So I'd have to pay for that out of my own pocket?

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Once you catch her, you will have successfully trapped all 3. Wasn't this the condition of the rescue that offered to spay/deflea her to begin with? If you catch her, call them and let them know that the kittens are in homes (one with you and the other in another). Maybe they will assist you now that all 3 of these cats are off the street. If you give us an idea of where you are located, we can try to help you find another organization that may help you if the original one will not. 

Thank you so much for caring about this little family. They are very fortunate to have a friend like you. 

I live in Canada. Yes, you're right. That was the condition. I wasn't thinking straight. The only problem is if they take the kitten, the mother would be released back to me. They don't keep the mother.

Graceful-Lily said:

I live in Canada. Yes, you're right. That was the condition. I wasn't thinking straight. The only problem is if they take the kitten, the mother would be released back to me. They don't keep the mother.

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you mentioned that you are afraid to bring her in because of the fleas. Once she is spayed and fleas are no longer an issue, would you be willing to bring her in and keep her? The rescue would probably be able to place the kitten. She is a very pretty little girl and could very well become a loving pet and companion for you. I see some fear in those eyes but there is also some trust there. She knows you care and I'm sure that she appreciates everything you have done for her and her babies so far. 

I might. My mom is willing but I don't know if she'll get along with my other cats. They have been smelling each other through my back door for weeks but when I opened the back door, she almost ran inside to chase Felix.

Graceful-Lily said:

I might. My mom is willing but I don't know if she'll get along with my other cats. They have been smelling each other through my back door for weeks but when I opened the back door, she almost ran inside to chase Felix.

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If you do bring her inside, she will need a room of her own for awhile away from the other cats.  The cats will need to be properly introduced.  Cats are very territorial by nature and  usually do not readily accept others.  It takes some time, patience and work.  If you could provide her a room of her own where the other cats cannot have access to, it will help the situation.  It will allow her to acclimate to inside living as well as acclimate to you.  Then you can work on doing introductions.  We have lots of tips here that can help. 

Yet first she needs a clean bill of health so that she doesn't get your other cats sick.

Graceful-Lily said:

I might. My mom is willing but I don't know if she'll get along with my other cats. They have been smelling each other through my back door for weeks but when I opened the back door, she almost ran inside to chase Felix.

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We have an excellent guide to introducing cats to cats that will make things much easier if you decide to take her in. With enough time, patience and love, it is entirely possible that she and Felix could be besties. 

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/how-to-successfully-introduce-cats-the-ultimate-guide

Are the other cats in your home spayed/neutered and up to date on their vaccinations? 

You would be doing an amazing thing for that pretty little girl. @catwoman707  has one of the best quotes ever on her profile

"Saving one cat won't make a difference in the world, but it makes a world of difference to that one cat."

Truer words have never been spoken. 

I'll see what I can do. She still comes around but lately she's been eating and leaving because the male cats chase her around the neighborhood. Felix and Smokey are altered and it'll soon be Harvey's turn if we decide to keep him. I haven't been to a vet recently for vaccinations. I'm in need of a new one.

Unfortunately, we don't have a spare room. We'll be moving in the next few months so everything is all over the place.

Thank you for not giving up on that beautiful kitty! It frustrates me at how few people want to get in & help - the result is that the people that DO get involved are expected to keep taking in unwanted cats and dogs.

Even if you are only able to get her trapped and spayed (is the rescue going to help you with that?), that is much better for her (and any kittens who will be born if she ISNT fixed). The males will not pester her as much. In fact, the rescue should also help you to TNR the males. In my area, the rescue group pays for the neutering ( which, technically, is the term for both sexes because females are "spayed" and males are "castrated", "altered" or "gelded", but the common vernacular is that neutering is the term applicable to the males). I hate to have to return the ferals but life is easier for them once they are neutered, whether or not they have homes. Someday, maybe there will be enough good homes for all *sigh*

Thank you! I haven't heard back from the rescue and she didn't come for feeding this afternoon. I'd rather find them homes because Smokey hasn't been liking the kitten. So she might like an even bigger cat.

Update: A volunteer at the rescue has contacted me. They say they'll take the kitten and find a home for him. They'll also deflea, spay, and deworm Hazel (the mother) free of charge. I told her that I don't want Hazel returning to outside life as a feral cat and she told me that she'll be happier outside. And that feral cats can hide in your house for months without being tamed.

Is this true?

Graceful-Lily said:

Update: A volunteer at the rescue has contacted me. They say they'll take the kitten and find a home for him. They'll also deflea, spay, and deworm Hazel (the mother) free of charge. I told her that I don't want Hazel returning to outside life as a feral cat and she told me that she'll be happier outside. And that feral cats can hide in your house for months without being tamed.

Is this true?

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Well this is great news. Hazel is not a true feral. She is more of a semi-feral or a stray who has taken on some feral like tendencies after having to fend for herself for a while. If you look at the picture you posted, you will see that while she does seem somewhat fearful, you can also see some trust and hope in those eyes. She knows that you are her friend. I think that if you continue to feed her and  care for her that she could very well become an indoor cat and would enjoy the good life. An outdoor cat's life is very difficult. They are constantly on guard and there are so many dangers out  there for them. There are MANY, MANY former ferals happily living in homes. Is there an extra bathroom that she can use as a safe room to get used to being indoors until you move? If you trap her and then release her after she heals, it may be extremely difficult to trap her again for the move.

That's what my mom and I were thinking. It's not uncommon in this area. Many cats are throw outside after the "cute kitten" stage is over. There is a bedroom no one uses that's become more of a storage unit. I could clean it out and keep her in there until we move.

How can I determine her age?

She is definitely not a true feral and it is possible to socialize her.  It will take time and patience.  She may always be a bit shy, but at least she will have a home with food and shelter.  Yes, you could return to back outside, but she will always have to watch her back for predators.  Inside would be the absolute best for her.

You can determine her age by asking the vet to give you an estimate when they spay her.  Usually they determine her age by her teeth.

ShadowsRescue said:

She is definitely not a true feral and it is possible to socialize her.  It will take time and patience.  She may always be a bit shy, but at least she will have a home with food and shelter.  Yes, you could return to back outside, but she will always have to watch her back for predators.  Inside would be the absolute best for her.

You can determine her age by asking the vet to give you an estimate when they spay her.  Usually they determine her age by her teeth.

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Thank you!

Although the volunteer at the rescue said they'll deflea her. Him still concerned about the potential risk of an infestation. What can I do to prevent that? It's not like I could bathe her right away.