Found feral kittens inside car, what to do?
#1
04-05-15, 02:43 PM
Found feral kittens inside car, what to do?
I have tarp covering a car with a broken side window so a cat must have jumped up under the tarp onto the floor to give birth. Found 3 healthy, far as I can tell, kittens being nursed by the mother. She ran off when I opened the door but assume will come back. I need to move the car so what do I do? I'm guessing they are 1-2 weeks old. Will a shelter take them that young?
#2
04-05-15, 02:57 PM
Call a shelter or animal control & let them come set a live trap for the mother. At that point, they can take them all to the shelter & try to find a home for them all.
Keep in mind, some shelters are "Kill" shelters, meaning that they will keep them for a week or so & if they cant find a home for them, they will be euthanized. Some shelters or "Rescues" wont euthanize animals. Ask if you are concerned. If you do have concerns, you might look for a cat rescue etc.
A vet maybe able to help you find one or some other local place that doesn't euthanize.
But, if this is really a feral cat, you'll need someone who can place a live trap over night to catch the mother cat, then take the kittens at the same time.
Good luck.. hope this helps
Keep in mind, some shelters are "Kill" shelters, meaning that they will keep them for a week or so & if they cant find a home for them, they will be euthanized. Some shelters or "Rescues" wont euthanize animals. Ask if you are concerned. If you do have concerns, you might look for a cat rescue etc.
A vet maybe able to help you find one or some other local place that doesn't euthanize.
But, if this is really a feral cat, you'll need someone who can place a live trap over night to catch the mother cat, then take the kittens at the same time.
Good luck.. hope this helps
#3
04-05-15, 03:13 PM
Group Moderator
#4
04-05-15, 03:13 PM
This is a fenced property in a town an hour from home that I only get to once or twice a month so nobody would be there to give them access for traps. Plus I've seen probably a half dozen feral cats in the area when I'm there. I thought I could bring the kittens in myself and would call first on Monday. Will also ask what they do with them. Heck, I must have caught and released 40 mice from my house last month so I don't want them killed, but they also cant stay where they are.
#5
04-05-15, 06:31 PM
Super Moderator
1 or 2 weeks old? Are you sure? Thats awfully young and they won't make it w/o intensive care round the clock. Hartz.com: Determining the Age of Your Orphan Kitten They need to eat 6-9 times a day.
Ears are one of the best signs of age. Eye color also, but by the time that changes, they are probably un-adoptable. My friend the Rescuer says 4 weeks is getting to the limit for true ferals not so much for domestics.
You may find that Momma has moved them when you go back. Very common if the likely birthplace has been discovered.
Check in your area for a free Spay/Neuter, Release program. Do a search for how many cats a single breeding pair can produce in a year. Don't believe the crazy high number as they don't take into account mortality rates. But it's still a bad thing.
Ears are one of the best signs of age. Eye color also, but by the time that changes, they are probably un-adoptable. My friend the Rescuer says 4 weeks is getting to the limit for true ferals not so much for domestics.
You may find that Momma has moved them when you go back. Very common if the likely birthplace has been discovered.
Check in your area for a free Spay/Neuter, Release program. Do a search for how many cats a single breeding pair can produce in a year. Don't believe the crazy high number as they don't take into account mortality rates. But it's still a bad thing.
#7
04-06-15, 08:49 AM
Forum Topic Moderator
Atikovi,
Sadly as pointed out if you took them to a shelter, without Mama cat, their care would be too intensive and they would most likely be euthanized. Unless you can find a rescue organization that can take them on without the Mama.
So, sad as it may seem, the way I see it you have two options if you don't want to leave the car in place: if Mama Cat hasn't moved them, leave the car as it is until they are older another week or so, while you try to trap Mama, or take them into the shelter without her/
Please keep us posted
Sadly as pointed out if you took them to a shelter, without Mama cat, their care would be too intensive and they would most likely be euthanized. Unless you can find a rescue organization that can take them on without the Mama.
So, sad as it may seem, the way I see it you have two options if you don't want to leave the car in place: if Mama Cat hasn't moved them, leave the car as it is until they are older another week or so, while you try to trap Mama, or take them into the shelter without her/
Please keep us posted
#8
04-06-15, 05:53 PM
Went back today and the mother was in the car with them. As soon as I opened the door she ran out.
I bought a large plastic tote box from Home Depot and cut a hole in it. Lined it with a towel and transferred them into it placed next to the car.
Will check back in a few days.
I bought a large plastic tote box from Home Depot and cut a hole in it. Lined it with a towel and transferred them into it placed next to the car.
Will check back in a few days.
...........
#12
04-28-15, 07:28 PM
Forum Topic Moderator
Atikovi,
In your place, I would go ahead and take them to your local Humane Society and notify them of the feral Mama cat. They may have programs local to the area that can come, and set a live trap, catch spay and release the Mama.
At the age the kittens are at now, they are not feral just scared. So they can be wonderful pets for anyone with cat experience.
Do keep us posted.
In your place, I would go ahead and take them to your local Humane Society and notify them of the feral Mama cat. They may have programs local to the area that can come, and set a live trap, catch spay and release the Mama.
At the age the kittens are at now, they are not feral just scared. So they can be wonderful pets for anyone with cat experience.
Do keep us posted.
#13
04-28-15, 11:29 PM
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Technically they ARE feral since they were born in the wild. However, the more that you can play with them the quicker (and easier) they will learn to not fear people. I am not an expert by any means but I think that if you could play with them a few minutes every day (several times a day if possible) it would accustom them to people and still receive needed care from their mother. If you can do that then I would wait for another couple of weeks before taking them to a shelter. If you cannot spare that time then taking to a shelter sooner would be okay.
#14
04-29-15, 08:05 AM
Super Moderator
If they are much over 4 weeks, it will be very tough for one person to get them used to people if they haven't been worked with. We worked with 2 litters before we finally caught momma. One set all but one were still not real happy with people after 2 weeks. The other we got a bit younger and they all turned out fine. All were adopted out in a week after they were worked with at the rescue and ready to go. Our rescue friend helped us out a lot and she's been doing this stuff for years.
A link for future reference...Socialized Cat Guide - Alley Cat Allies
Lots of good info all over that site.
A link for future reference...Socialized Cat Guide - Alley Cat Allies
Lots of good info all over that site.
