Early in spring a stray/feral cat started coming to my home (I had been feeding a neighbors cat on my front steps) and adopted us. It started with her and then soon multiplied to what I call my "frequent fliers", 5 cats that visit regularly morning and night for food. Sometimes we get stragglers up to about 9.
The original cat then appeared with 3 kittens. After they were weaned (about 8 wks old) I trapped them and they have now become part of our family. They are 16 wks old now and getting neutered.
I trapped the mom cat and had her spayed. She is now living in a 36" kennel in my basement as she recovers. She is friendly, fearful and shy, but very friendly. She loves to be pet and has never hissed, bitten or scratched. We are hoping to put her in PetSmart for adoption (I would love to keep her but have her 3 kittens on top of my children's cats).
My questions are-
-Should I bring the kennel upstairs so she can get sunlight and socialize with my indoor cats?
-Will it stress her out to see her kittens? Will it stress the kittens out?
-Will she be depressed because she is in a kennel and cant go outside? Is that just going to taunt her?
-If she cannot be adopted can she still be released after (what I am assuming as) so much time away from the colony?
I am new to this whole TNR thing. It saddens me that she is in a dark basement after having so much freedom out in nature and sunlight. I still look in my bushes and on the steps for her as it has become a habit and pleasure to watch her frolic and know that she chose us.
The original cat then appeared with 3 kittens. After they were weaned (about 8 wks old) I trapped them and they have now become part of our family. They are 16 wks old now and getting neutered.
I trapped the mom cat and had her spayed. She is now living in a 36" kennel in my basement as she recovers. She is friendly, fearful and shy, but very friendly. She loves to be pet and has never hissed, bitten or scratched. We are hoping to put her in PetSmart for adoption (I would love to keep her but have her 3 kittens on top of my children's cats).
My questions are-
-Should I bring the kennel upstairs so she can get sunlight and socialize with my indoor cats?
-Will it stress her out to see her kittens? Will it stress the kittens out?
-Will she be depressed because she is in a kennel and cant go outside? Is that just going to taunt her?
-If she cannot be adopted can she still be released after (what I am assuming as) so much time away from the colony?
I am new to this whole TNR thing. It saddens me that she is in a dark basement after having so much freedom out in nature and sunlight. I still look in my bushes and on the steps for her as it has become a habit and pleasure to watch her frolic and know that she chose us.
