As I was sitting at my computer last night I just happened to glance out the window and saw something small moving in my apartment parking lot. What I saw was one small cat, and if I had to guess I would say that it's about a four month old kitten. But then I saw another...and then another...and then another...and then I lost count until I saw what must have been the big Momma cat hopping up into the dumpster around which they were all clustered. So I have a colony of at least three, perhaps as many as five kittens plus their mother running around in the woods behind my apartment. Mocha and I may have to do a "stake out" by the window this evening to see if I can snap some pictures. More importantly, I'm going to feel guilty if I don't try to get them captured and fixed before the kittens get much older. They may have a shot at finding homes if I'm right about their age, and maybe even the momma depending on how long she has been feral. What do you think? Should I call around to shelters to ask for help or is there a better way of going about this? (I'm in the northeastern Hartford, CT suburbs if it makes a difference to anyone.)
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Found a family of strays
- Thread starter brick
- Start Date
I can't help much (as I live in Ireland!) but there are loads of people here, I'm sure one of them will either know your area or be able to advise you where to look - if it was me I'd definately want to help home them, so I understand your concerns
Anyway, stick around, one of the grown ups will be along soon to advise, I'm sure!
Anyway, stick around, one of the grown ups will be along soon to advise, I'm sure!
Brick..how wonderful that you care about this family. First, I would see if there is a feral cat organization that is in your area:
http://www.alleycat.org/orgs.html#ct
Even if one isn't close by...I would still contact them to find out if they know of anyone who practices TNR where you live.
You will want to borrow a trap (or several if you can) to trap this family so that you can have them spayed/neutered (depending on the age of the kittens). I have also attached a list of low cost clinics:
http://www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html#ct
Good Luck,
Katie
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- #4
are you thinking of keeping them??
or do you want to put them into a no kill shelter??
I took in two stray's yesterday and it is the best thing i could have done!!
they are fun bundles full of life and love, and im glad they strolled into my garden!!
have you tried to approch the cats/kittens??
do they look like ferals or just stray's???
sorry about the questions, was just wondering
or do you want to put them into a no kill shelter??
I took in two stray's yesterday and it is the best thing i could have done!!
they are fun bundles full of life and love, and im glad they strolled into my garden!!
have you tried to approch the cats/kittens??
do they look like ferals or just stray's???
sorry about the questions, was just wondering
That is so wonderful of you to try and help them.......I hope you can snap some pics for us and then get them homed...........all kitties deserve a wonderful loving home.......I wish I could take them all in.
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- #7
As much as I would love to consider taking them in, I really don't have the room. I just adopted my first kitten at the beginning of June (also a stray) and I think that it's a bit early to expand the family. One bedroom apartment, kitten shots, spaying, etc...just don't want to bite off more than I can chew. Although, a buddy for Mocha is probably in the long term picture.
Anyway, I kept my eyes open last night but didn't see any of them. Odds are they just moved on to one of the other (I think there are at least 5) dumpsters in my apartment complex. It's that or they have gone somewhere else in the neighborhood. I'll watch for them, though.
I encountered the mother once before and she was all about running away when I approached, so take that as you will. Stray or truly feral is hard to say.
Anyway, I kept my eyes open last night but didn't see any of them. Odds are they just moved on to one of the other (I think there are at least 5) dumpsters in my apartment complex. It's that or they have gone somewhere else in the neighborhood. I'll watch for them, though.
I encountered the mother once before and she was all about running away when I approached, so take that as you will. Stray or truly feral is hard to say.
Best thing is to try to get her trapped so she can be spayed. She can be returned back outdoors, but will no longer be able to have litter after litter.
Katie
