Need advice..Stray mama and 2 babies

There is a stray mama and 2 babies about 4 weeks old living in my driveway under my truck ( it doesn't run) and also up in the engine.I feed and water them daily, and try to get them to come to me but they wont. I can't stand the thought of them living out there for quite a few reasons ,one being that its been in the 90's outside for days with no end in sight. And two when winter comes it gets brutally cold out(I live in Michigan),third there is a family of raccoons that wont leave them alone, I think that's why they get up inside the engine. There is a no kill shelter that will take them all and spay/neuter them treat for fleas and find them homes.My problem is I don't know how to catch them since they run when they see me coming! Does anyone have any advice?

babygirlsmama said:

There is a stray mama and 2 babies about 4 weeks old living in my driveway under my truck ( it doesn't run) and also up in the engine.I feed and water them daily, and try to get them to come to me but they wont. I can't stand the thought of them living out there for quite a few reasons ,one being that its been in the 90's outside for days with no end in sight. And two when winter comes it gets brutally cold out(I live in Michigan),third there is a family of raccoons that wont leave them alone, I think that's why they get up inside the engine. There is a no kill shelter that will take them all and spay/neuter them treat for fleas and find them homes.My problem is I don't know how to catch them since they run when they see me coming! Does anyone have any advice?

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The catching is the easy part here.  You use a human trap, perhaps of the brand Havaheart.  This no-kill shelter may perhaps even lend you one?   Otherwise you can perhaps one from the city´s  animal protection authority.  Or some rescue group nearby.  (such a rescue group may even help you with the self catching moment too - it may be tricky for a first timer, and the catched cat may get into a defensive frenzy aggression in the moments after catching).

Its most important to catch mamma. The kittens are probably easy enough for you to catch anyways, when you know where their quarters are.  Otherwise you take them in a trap them too.  Perhaps in a drop trap. 

The real problem is the next step.  The kittens are big enough now to be easily raised even without momma, if necessary, and are still young enough to be easily fostered.  so I can easily believe they will find homes.

But a feral momma?  Very few shelters do work with ferales you cant handle with hands... And there are few people who are willing to adopt a non fostered ferale... A shy  somewhat fostered yes, it may happen, but ferale??  So at best they will do a TNR - ie spay and return outside.  Which is OK, she is used to manage outside.  You are perhaps even willing to continue to help her??  As your outside kitty, sort of?

But if they with poker face assure you they will find her a home, I get uneasy suspictions.   Its common they just pts ferales, and other cats they cant handle...

So be sure on what they will do exactly, before you admit her.

TNR is definitely your best bet.  You can make the Mom a nice shelter for her to stay warm in the winter.  There are so many ideas ranging from a sturdy rubbermaid container stuffed with straw to heated houses.  You can do an internet search on feral cat shelters and you will find so many.  Here are some shelters that I have used throughout the years.  https://feralcattails.wordpress.com/tips-and-techniques/shelters/

Here is a video on trapping.  It shows volunteers trapping an entire colony, bu it is the same for just trapping a few cats. 
As mentioned above sometimes you can rent or borrow traps or you can purchase them on Amazon.  I believe that Alley Cat Allies has a special right now on some traps.  http://nationalferalcatday.org/gear/

If you scroll down there are some discounts on traps.  I love the Tru Catch traps!  I also have a Havaheart trap.

The raccoons may be bothering the cats as they too want to eat the food.  It is best to only leave food out during the day.  I would start by feeding the cats on a schedule.  This too will also make trapping so much easier.  I would feed them first thing in the morning and then again in the late afternoon or early evening.  By dusk you want to pick up all the food.  Once the raccoons realize the food source is gone, they often move alone.

Thank you for caring and wanting to help these kitties.  TNR is the absolute best thing you can do.  THe kittens might be able to be adopted, but you definitely want the Mom cat spayed or before your very eyes there will be so many cats.  The kittens once approximately 2 months and/or 2 lbs can also be spayed/neutered.