How can I capture three little feral kittens?

Question

Since February, I have been feeding this female cat that lives near me. (I call her Little Girl or Mama Cat.) Well, she had babies, she's left because they're old enough and I don't want to see them grow up to a life of being a feral cat. I would love to take them myself, but I already have 7 cats and a dog.

What is the best way to capture them so that I can take them to SPCA? I don't know if they'll make it there, but they're certainly not going to be tamed where they are now.

Two of them come right up to me, although they won't let me touch them, other than lightly touching them on the ear while they're devouring the food I provided. The third, a girl I think, is still very shy, although certainly not about eating.

Any suggestions would be really great. I consider myself a strong animal lover and I do not want to leave these kittens to the elements.

Answer 1

Well, I am not sure where you live but if you provide a location I can probably help direct you to a feral cat organization in your area that will help you and many of them fix the cats without cost to you and relocate or home them if you can tame them first., until then here is some helpful links on how to tame and help feral kittens... http://www.feralcat.com/taming.html

Trapping feral kittens... http://www.rmaca.com/trapping.html

This site contains all the information about feral cats you could ask for.... http://www.feralcat.com/
http://www.21cats.org/feral.html

Please include your location so I can help you get in touch with a no-kill feral cat rescue, it will be far better than the SPCA which has many kill shelters..... Until then here is a list of links to feral cat rescues all over the place.. http://ca.dir.yahoo.com/Science/Biology/Zoology/Animals__Insects__and_Pets/Mammals/Cats/Feral_Cats/Humane_and_Rescue_Societies/

Answer 2

I have taken in many feral kittens so far with 5-6 cats in a litter. Its a lot easier when they still have their eyes closed, because they wont remember as much, and would learn about being a house cat easier. Your cats seem to be a little bit older than 3-4 weeks, if they are eating hard food. Although I don't like saying this, I would use a trap, and set food inside, or leading up to it. However if your cats are smart, and cautious they wont go anywhere near it. You could also try to contact your local wildlife shelter, and they could sedate the cats, and find them good homes. Just make sure that if you capture one of the kittens, try your hardest to get the other two, it would make it easier for them to cope with their new surroundings.

Answer 3

Good for you. Ironically, a friend {through girl scouts} has completed her Gold Project by rescuing over a hundred feral cats.

While they're kittens, the timing is perfect. They convert easier to being 'pets'. My friend recommends baiting safe traps with plenty of food. I can't recall the brand names, but they're the sort that don't injure the animals in any way.

Once you've captured them, call the local shelter. My friend actually took the time to domesticate them, but she is well-versed in what she's doing. If you do have to domesticate them, slowly allow them to become used to your presence. Start with just sitting near their cages -- do move them to a roomier container -- and talking. Gradually move to petting and holding. Once they're through with being shy or aggressive, they're probably ready for adoption.

PS: Make sure to get them shots immediately.

Answer 4

I think all the posters are right on. The kittens should be trapped and taken to a safe place.

Poor momma cat has gone off to breed again and produce another litter of homeless kittens. You need to get these kittens out of that neverending cycle.

Answer 5

same thing happened to me, Ma left her kittens in my garage, 3 of them, 2 disappeared (I think Mom might have brought them home, where ever that is) anyway a single cute little female still was hiding in the garage........ my dog died (old age) she was a female black lab/cross that me and my wife rescured from starvation in the woods, we brought her to the vet to have her put to sleep, the vet came to the car and she didn't even have to move, so we took her home to bury her but it was raining, I took her out of the car and left her on the floor in the garage overnight, next day I came and got her and carried her to behind my stone wall to bury her beside "Bruno" (another dog that was hit by a car), its an old New England stone wall in the woods about 150' behind the garage, so I dug, the ground is very rocky, must have taken 45 mins or so, I placed Lady (that was her name) in her grave, covered her and said the lords prayer, Immediately after the "Amen" left my mouth, that little kitten jumped off the wall and landed on top of the grave, from that moment on she didn't show the slightest fear of us, it really startled me because I had no idea she was there, she followed me into the house and went straight to Ladie's bowl and began eating what was left, she has been our new pet ever since, at this moment she is sprawled out on our couch next to me, she is all grown up now, she's the best, a great cat, used the litter box right from the beginning, she's our new "Lady."

Answer 6

I used to take care of a little kitty that way too.
At first she was very shy but she'd take the food I left her...actually, I'd throw little pieces of chicken near her and she'd go eat them. Eventually, I'd leave some food near me and then she'd come near me to get it.

Then, I had a bowl of food and when she came to eat it, I'd pet her and she gradually grew to trust me. She's even sit in my lap. Eventually when the winter came, my brother's friend took her home because my parents said our house was too small for a cat.

Maybe that's what you can do with the cats, pet them while they eat the food you provide for them.

Answer 7

Ask your local animal shelter if you can use a "have a heart" trap. Put food in it, set it out in a safe place over night where they will find it. Check your area to see it there is a no kill shelter where you can take them once they have been caught instead of the animal shelter.

Answer 8

Call your SPCA and ask about getting a live trap to humanely capture the kittens.

And thank you for careing enough to do something. Those litte one's are God creatures, and you will be blessed.

Answer 9

Call the ASPCA and get another form of advice or some of their traps. Then just bait the traps with food and be sure to check them every few hours or so.

Answer 10

In Texas.. where I was.. there was a FEREL program.. so contact your humane society or animal protection, etc to get in contact with them... I did and they loaned traps that would catch the cat(s).. the traps did not, of course, hurt the cats