Does anyone know what time of night cats outside usually come out?
I have been feeding stray cats and to be honest I was worried I was feeding a skunk, but in the back of my mind I knew I shouldnt stop putting food out. I had seen about 3 cats around already and all of them seen to have been strays, not feral cats, because I have seen them up close and I was talking to them. They sat and just listened. So we got snow here the past few days and I have been checking tracks and I was keeping track of only 1 cat that has been coming. He/she made the same route everyday to the food bowl. I thought there would have been more than 1 because like I said I saw at least 3 and I know there is more cats around than that.
So I went down to look at the tracks this morning to see if there were any changes in the cats pattern or to see if there was any other unwanted critters, I find what looks like 2 or 3 sets of adult cat tracks AND teeny tiny tracks. A kitten! They look smaller than my kittens feet (my kittens are 4 months old) So the kitten has to be younger than mine. They were TINY. I also didnt see the tracks leaving the food bowl, the kitten definately ate though but the tracks went back under a shed (I found one of my cats I have now under that shed) Do cats have kittens this time of year?? I also saw adult cat tracks go under the shed but they come back out. Is it possible I was feeding a mother cat? When do you think it's safe to trap them and spay/neuter them? I know it's usually after the kitten/kittens are done nursing but I havent seen the kitten so I'm not sure on age.
My main question is, I cannot get them to come to me during feeding time. Idk if they even know who is feeding them. I wanted to make sure they see it's me feeding them so they get used to me and associate me with food. But I have no idea what time they even come out. To me I'm guessing between 12am and 4am. But I'm not sure. I usually feed them first thing when I wake up but the food remains untouched until late. I even went out at about 10pm to check if I could get a peek but nothing in sight.
The sad thing is I realize depending on how old the kitten is it could end up being a feral. I think I'm too late for the kitten But like I said, the others (if it's the same cats) are strays so it's possible to get them used to me.
Does anyone have any advice for me??
I wanna help them so bad!
I have been feeding stray cats and to be honest I was worried I was feeding a skunk, but in the back of my mind I knew I shouldnt stop putting food out. I had seen about 3 cats around already and all of them seen to have been strays, not feral cats, because I have seen them up close and I was talking to them. They sat and just listened. So we got snow here the past few days and I have been checking tracks and I was keeping track of only 1 cat that has been coming. He/she made the same route everyday to the food bowl. I thought there would have been more than 1 because like I said I saw at least 3 and I know there is more cats around than that.
So I went down to look at the tracks this morning to see if there were any changes in the cats pattern or to see if there was any other unwanted critters, I find what looks like 2 or 3 sets of adult cat tracks AND teeny tiny tracks. A kitten! They look smaller than my kittens feet (my kittens are 4 months old) So the kitten has to be younger than mine. They were TINY. I also didnt see the tracks leaving the food bowl, the kitten definately ate though but the tracks went back under a shed (I found one of my cats I have now under that shed) Do cats have kittens this time of year?? I also saw adult cat tracks go under the shed but they come back out. Is it possible I was feeding a mother cat? When do you think it's safe to trap them and spay/neuter them? I know it's usually after the kitten/kittens are done nursing but I havent seen the kitten so I'm not sure on age.
My main question is, I cannot get them to come to me during feeding time. Idk if they even know who is feeding them. I wanted to make sure they see it's me feeding them so they get used to me and associate me with food. But I have no idea what time they even come out. To me I'm guessing between 12am and 4am. But I'm not sure. I usually feed them first thing when I wake up but the food remains untouched until late. I even went out at about 10pm to check if I could get a peek but nothing in sight.
The sad thing is I realize depending on how old the kitten is it could end up being a feral. I think I'm too late for the kitten But like I said, the others (if it's the same cats) are strays so it's possible to get them used to me.
Does anyone have any advice for me??