I,m Sure this is an old question......

Hello, just joined for some help!!     A few months back a feral cat living under my landlady's house had kittens.  As usual the cute things started coming around, but not getting too close to me. (My landlady tried unsuccessfully to run them off)............Anyway all left, even the mom, and I am now the "owner/provider" of a male and a female.   Just last week the male has warmed up to me and he is not afraid of me touching him at all.   The female though is still very skittish.   BUT, they both have no problem scratching at my door in the mornings and evenings for food, which I give them.    

My problem is that now there is a large very furry male cat really harrassing the female, because I guess she is in heat.  The house is on blocks, so he hides under there until I am not around.

I don't want another litter of wild cats to deal with.......SO, what can I do?  Nedd to do quickly before the female gets pregnant.....therein will lie another problem.

I will really appreciate some advice on this.

Thanks

The female will need to be spayed. She's probably already pregnant, but the vet can do a spay/abort if that doesn't bother you. You can rent a humane trap from a shelter or hardware store (usually) if you can't catch her yourself. That, or trapping her and taking her to a shelter to be put down, are literally the only options if you don't want another litter of kittens. Cats are very fertile.

Thanks.  I kinda thought about the trap deal, and I have heard of them being rented for this purpose.  I'll try to find an inexpensive vet to do the procedure.   But then she will be on her own because I cannot keep her inside.  I feed them regularly though.

I am told to quit feeding them and they will leave.....but I have a soft heart and can't stand the thought of them hungry....especially when it's cold.

For females, it's best if you can keep them confined for at least 3 days after surgery. Do you have a spare bathroom or maybe a dog crate in the garage, any way to do that? Some people have released TNRed females as soon as they're out of the anesthetic but it's riskier that way.


Ask the local animal welfare groups about the resources in your area. There may be a low-cost TNR clinic nearby.