Feral Kittens In My Backyard

mr wendall

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Hi Folks,

There is a stray cat that my family and I call Tom that we've been feeding for the past 2 1/2 years now. Within the past two weeks Tom has decided to bring his offspring to the backyard barbecue; 5 feral kittens which are obviously his offspring and we know who the mother is as well. They look to be about 9 or 10 weeks old right now.

Because they are still so young (and just so adorable) my wife and I are very confident that they would be adopted if we manage to trap them and take them to the animal shelter. The problem is that these cute little kitties, along with Tom (dad) and their mother seem to be a small colony; one happy family. They eat together and everything. I've even watched Tom as he did the tender and famous "head bunt" with a few of the little ones. So I am slightly concerned at the thought of breaking up a happy family. I know we could TNR the feral kittens and keep them with Tom and their mom but why do that instead of providing them the opportunity to be adopted by loving families?

What would you guys do if you were me?
 
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StefanZ

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Hi Folks,

There is a stray cat that my family and I call Tom that we've been feeding for the past 2 1/2 years now. Within the past two weeks Tom has decided to bring his offspring to the backyard barbecue; 5 feral kittens which are obviously his offspring and we know who the mother is as well. They look to be about 9 or 10 weeks old right now.

Because they are still so young (and just so adorable) my wife and I are very confident that they would be adopted if we manage to trap them and take them to the animal shelter. The problem is that these cute little kitties, along with Tom (dad) and their mother seem to be a small colony; one happy family. They eat together and everything. I've even watched Tom as he did the tender and famous "head bunt" with a few of the little ones. So I am slightly concerned at the thought of breaking up a happy family. I know we could TNR the feral kittens and keep them with Tom and their mom but why do that instead of providing them the opportunity to be adopted by loving families?

What would you guys do if you were me?
One question, the alternative is to take them to the shelter.  Is the shelter specialized in fostering semiferales?  If not, the danger is they will be pts.

So unless they ARE specialists on this,  the alternatives are if YOU will foster them,

or just TNR them.

As the Tom apparently accepts you, fostering at your place (perhaps of the whole family) will be easier than fostering somewhere else.
 

ondine

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Welcome to TCS and thank you for helping this little family.

I agree with Stefan.  At ten weeks, they are slightly older than the ideal to socialize.  I would contact your shelter and ask if they can socialize them, if you can do the socializing so they can find homes or if there is another alternative.

There are so many kittens this time of year, the chances they can be adopted easily are pretty slim.  If there's a TNR or feral rescue in your area, contact them, too, and see how you can facilitate the socialization/ adoptions.

Otherwise, have all of them spayed and neutered (INCLUDING mom and Tom).  You have a built in colony and fixing them all will insure your colony does not get any bigger.
 
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mr wendall

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Thanks for the advice and guidance Stefan and Ondine,

Tom and mom will be a big challenge. Mom NEVER lets me get near her and she has been a stray cat since like forever. And Tom.....oh boy, where do I begin with Tom? He can be dangerous. And he's pretty big too with muscles. He's built like he just did 10 years in a cat shelter upstate.
 

shadowsrescue

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Thanks for the advice and guidance Stefan and Ondine,

Tom and mom will be a big challenge. Mom NEVER lets me get near her and she has been a stray cat since like forever. And Tom.....oh boy, where do I begin with Tom? He can be dangerous. And he's pretty big too with muscles. He's built like he just did 10 years in a cat shelter upstate.
When you do TNR, you do not need to get near the cats or touch them.  You use a humane trap which makes it safe for both you and the humans. 

Here is a video showing how to successfully trap.

 
 

StefanZ

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Thanks for the advice and guidance Stefan and Ondine,

Tom and mom will be a big challenge. Mom NEVER lets me get near her and she has been a stray cat since like forever. And Tom.....oh boy, where do I begin with Tom? He can be dangerous. And he's pretty big too with muscles. He's built like he just did 10 years in a cat shelter upstate.
OK, if you feel fostering of the parents is too much to you at this moment, especially having also the 5 kittens, I do understand.  So contend yourself with TNR them, so long.  Later on, you will perhaps see.

But fostering of the kittens should be possible.

The self catching for TNR isnt THAT difficult if you know how.  Although be careful, they can get a high strung defensive aggresiveness at the self catching... Before they notice its no real threat and they can calm down some.

You can perhaps get help from some TNR-group?
 

StefanZ

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Thanks for the advice and guidance Stefan and Ondine,

Tom and mom will be a big challenge. Mom NEVER lets me get near her and she has been a stray cat since like forever. And Tom.....oh boy, where do I begin with Tom? He can be dangerous. And he's pretty big too with muscles. He's built like he just did 10 years in a cat shelter upstate.
Another though.

Fostering of 5 shy 10 weeks, whom are together in a shy group, isnt easy either.  Although much easier than to foster the shy ferale parents.    :)

If you feel this is above your possibilites, there is a practical trick, a sort of triage.

In a group of 5, there is always one or two who is more daring, more curious.  Or you get more contact with than the others.  You simply take these two  in for the  fostering.

And just TNR the others.

Like wise, there is always one or two a more shy, perhaps even a little aggresive.   This one you do just TNR with, dont even try to foster if you are busy with them more promising...

As said, DONT submit them to a shelter, unless you are entirely sure they do specialize in fostering of such kittens, and they have fosterers lined up.

Otherwise the risk is overhelming they will be pts as soon you have disappeared out the door.  They may even assure you:  "Oh no problem at all sirmadame, trust us, we take care of this.  We are used. They shall get good homes...."

They dont want to hurt the nice well wishing people whom think they are doing something good and nice. 

But they do what they gotta to do.  If they cant work wonders,  nor have the resources, so they cant.

YOURs possiblility to work miracles is much bigger: you ARE there, you are emotionally attached to them, you are in the position to give them your love and your care.  These are mighty tools in this!

And if you cant - there is always the TNR. Especielly for the adults, whom are usued to this and survive nicely, this is always a hot alternative.

But its an alternative for the kittens too: they are in this area, still during your protection and help, and guided by their parents. Both of them, not just the momma but also the caretaking Tom.

Your story reminds me not so little of what  @MsAimee   tells, with her favorite tom who was a great caretaker and protector of kittens - some of them even not his biological children.
 
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mr wendall

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WOW! Thanks a million Stefan for the very helpful advice. I will certainly talk to my wife about it so we can try to implement your strategy.

And thank you Shadow for that video. Now I understand and don't have to be (too) afraid of dealing with Tom and his thuggish ways.
 
 
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