Hi all...so, kitten season is a real thing and it's been happening right under our noses!
Today, my fiancé and I found a stray litter with their obviously protective mother in his backyard behind a very bushy, bush. We found out because his dog was eyeing something in that corner and she probably already had an encounter with mom because we've seen mysterious blood on her. Well, not such a mystery anymore..but I digress.
So, here's the sitch.
We fed them and boy, were they ravenous! The mom, especially and we're happy that she kept eating so she could nourish her young (they were probably no more than 3 weeks old). The mom growled, of course when we got close to the kittens and she would run off if we got too close (we were only trying to feed and give them water). So this went on for about a few hours...and then dad pops up, or at least we think it's dad.
Dad is another story. He is in bad shape. No raw or fleshly wounds, but definitely wounds, cuts, scrapes, misaligned jaw. Poor guy seems like he's been through a lot. Him and mom, both but he definitely is in worse condition. We fed him as well and he ate and is much more calm than mom and didn't run off when we got close to feed him.
So, my fiancé lives in the suburbs. He rarely gets coyotes or other wild animals. The weather is sunny, but they have a lot of shade and shelter. We are thinking of just continuing to feed them and help care for them, but we definitely want to TNR mom and dad...we just don't know how. Mom is scared of us, dad is still hesitant to trust us...and babies will eat but they don't come out of their hiding place unless we're gone (we recorded them..it was too cute!).
What also makes this matter more difficult is that my fiancé is moving in a month so that doesn't allow us much time. So, we re asking all of YOU for advice, counsel, help, tips, etc. We would greatly appreciate any sort of help as we are desperate to care for and find furrever homes for the entire family.
Thank you!
Today, my fiancé and I found a stray litter with their obviously protective mother in his backyard behind a very bushy, bush. We found out because his dog was eyeing something in that corner and she probably already had an encounter with mom because we've seen mysterious blood on her. Well, not such a mystery anymore..but I digress.
So, here's the sitch.
We fed them and boy, were they ravenous! The mom, especially and we're happy that she kept eating so she could nourish her young (they were probably no more than 3 weeks old). The mom growled, of course when we got close to the kittens and she would run off if we got too close (we were only trying to feed and give them water). So this went on for about a few hours...and then dad pops up, or at least we think it's dad.
Dad is another story. He is in bad shape. No raw or fleshly wounds, but definitely wounds, cuts, scrapes, misaligned jaw. Poor guy seems like he's been through a lot. Him and mom, both but he definitely is in worse condition. We fed him as well and he ate and is much more calm than mom and didn't run off when we got close to feed him.
So, my fiancé lives in the suburbs. He rarely gets coyotes or other wild animals. The weather is sunny, but they have a lot of shade and shelter. We are thinking of just continuing to feed them and help care for them, but we definitely want to TNR mom and dad...we just don't know how. Mom is scared of us, dad is still hesitant to trust us...and babies will eat but they don't come out of their hiding place unless we're gone (we recorded them..it was too cute!).
What also makes this matter more difficult is that my fiancé is moving in a month so that doesn't allow us much time. So, we re asking all of YOU for advice, counsel, help, tips, etc. We would greatly appreciate any sort of help as we are desperate to care for and find furrever homes for the entire family.
Thank you!