I need some advice, also if anyone knows any articles on this topic or any other forums where I can post please let me know..
I got asked if I can take in a stray cat and her kittens. When I asked more about the mother cat, she seems to be feral or at least very wild-- the person who has been feeding her says she will tolerate him but it took a long time for that to happen (he's been feeding her for about 9 months). He has not handled the kittens.
The kittens are about 2 weeks old. I am worried that if I do bring the mother and kittens home, she will either be so stressed out that she will abandon or kill the kittens or that she will not let me approach the kittens at all so I can socialize them, meaning they will be wild just as if they were born feral...
I don't know what I should do... The options seem to be:
-separate the kittens and care for them as if they were orphaned. (I've cared for orphans before)
or
-wait until the kittens are old enough to eat on their own (4 weeks or so probably) and then take them in (they will be more difficult to socialize at that point.)
or
-try to find someone with a "foster mom"cat who can nurse them until they are old enough to eat on their own (I know a few rescue groups that may have nursing mothers)
or
-take them in now and let the mother stay with them, and try to get her to let me handle them and hope she does not harm or abandon them.
I got asked if I can take in a stray cat and her kittens. When I asked more about the mother cat, she seems to be feral or at least very wild-- the person who has been feeding her says she will tolerate him but it took a long time for that to happen (he's been feeding her for about 9 months). He has not handled the kittens.
The kittens are about 2 weeks old. I am worried that if I do bring the mother and kittens home, she will either be so stressed out that she will abandon or kill the kittens or that she will not let me approach the kittens at all so I can socialize them, meaning they will be wild just as if they were born feral...
I don't know what I should do... The options seem to be:
-separate the kittens and care for them as if they were orphaned. (I've cared for orphans before)
or
-wait until the kittens are old enough to eat on their own (4 weeks or so probably) and then take them in (they will be more difficult to socialize at that point.)
or
-try to find someone with a "foster mom"cat who can nurse them until they are old enough to eat on their own (I know a few rescue groups that may have nursing mothers)
or
-take them in now and let the mother stay with them, and try to get her to let me handle them and hope she does not harm or abandon them.