I posted a question yesterday.. I found that 2 adult cats and a few kittens were living under my house. Everyone who answered the question was helpful and told me to call rescue shelters and socialize with the cats. The kittens look about 6 weeks. HERE is the problems I forgot to mention. I have a six year old dog and his doggy door is on the other side of a gate where the cats go in and out of under the house. my dog goes absolutely mad when he sees them. This is the ONLY reason why I haven't brought the kittens in the house. I don't know what to do. If I lock my dog in a room, he will tear up the carpet if I bring in kittens. I can set up a trap and at least catch the adult cats, but I really have nowhere to set the kittens and play with them or anything.
My other problem is I've seen 2 male cats and 4 kittens. How do I know there aren't more under the house? I don't want to close off the area without making sure they are all out from underthere..
2007-04-08 23:28:40 · 6 answers · asked by Raymond G 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
We had a big problem with feral cats around our house - to the extent they were destroying my screens in my windows. I set out catch it live traps and took them to the pound for them to deal with the cats. It was the best way. Eventually I stopped catching cats and the raccoons started entering the cage (I caught about 10 raccoons) and they were removed by animal control (the raccoons were invading people's houses) and then I started catching oppossums (also removed by Animal Control). So catch the cats and let animal control remove them. When you stop catching cats then it will be safe to seal up the area under your porch.
2007-04-09 00:33:14 · answer #1 · answered by mom of girls 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If the kittens are already 6 weeks old they should be caught right away for socializing, feral kittens learn a lot from their moms- especially how to be afraid. Try finding rescue groups in your area -Petfinder.com would be helpful as they list group names beside every pet. Would it be possible to keep the kittens in a room until homes are found? The adults need to be trapped and spayed/neutered so that this situation doesn't reoccur in your neighborhood. I'm afraid it will be very difficult to determine when the 'basement apt.' is vacant. Try to ensure that there is only one entry. There are companies that can install one way doors, ie- the animals can get out but cannot reenter. You might be able to figure out how to make one yourself if you're handy. Also, maybe try posting again & mention what city you're in, there's a chance that someone here knows your area & resources available to you. Thank you for caring and best of luck.
2007-04-09 01:23:49 · answer #2 · answered by Michelle S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you indend on adpoting the kittens, leave them another 2 weeks with their mother. Removing kittens too early will lead to problems later on. Probably the best way to introduce the cats to the dog, is to put them in a crate for a few days to let the dog get used to them. Locking the dog up seems to him like punishment. Food laced live traps will probably get all the cats out from under the house. Remember that kittens are not disposable. Don't bring them into the family unless you are prepared to keep them. I actually found two of the best cats I've ever had in my basement. The mother went to some vet students for spaying, then was released on a farm (with the owner's permission of course)
2007-04-08 23:51:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hm sounds like you won't be able to keep the kittens then, they'll have to go to a rescue.
I would just try to catch them as they come out if you can't get under there - they can't stay down there forever, and if they're 6 weeks old they're ready to start leaving mum. You might be able to find a cat rescue place that can lend you a cat trap - humane of course!!
Chalice
2007-04-09 00:16:04 · answer #4 · answered by Chalice 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The problem with your dog sounds like a lack of pack leadership and socialization. Please remember that doggie doors allow free roaming but do not substitute a walk. Proper walking techniques are vital in the relationship with your dog. Getting him to heal or walk along side you, to stop when you stop, and to ignore distractions on the walk will put you in a leadership position in his mind.
once you have re-established yourself as the dominate or leader dog, you can control his behavior. once you have captured the cats and have them in a large dog crate, bring your dog into the room on the other side and work with him to sit with his back to the crate. He must learn to ignore the cats and as pack leader you must correct him when he so much as looks at them with ears forward and tongue out. You may need to roll him onto his back and hold him there (pinning is a doggie ritual done to disipline lower ranking members). Keep a colar and leash on him when he is in the room near the cats and make corrections as you would on the new walks, by a sharp, quick jerk and release of the leash.
I recommend watching The Dog Whisperer with Ceaser Milan, a National Geographic TV show that is out on DVD and can be bought or rented... It is both entertaining and highly informative and is the best example i've seen of showing how to assert yourself as pack leader and how to stop aggression, fear, destructive behaviors, and how to socialize with other dogs and animals. At the heart of his message is using a controled walk with rules to drain the dog's energy which builds up and to help him focus on being a calm submissive pack follower. I highly recommend watching the first season to you.
Remember that even a backyard and doggie door are just a big kennel in a dog's mind...a beautiful, enormous kennel, but a kennel nonetheless. They require disiplined walks to drain their energy (which he releases by "going nuts" and "tearing up the carpet") and to establish yourself as leader.
These wild cats have come into your life for a reason... they demonstrate the need to work with your dog and establish rules and boundries, and to place yourself as pack leader where you can control his behavior before it escalates.
As far as blocking off under the house, wait a while. once you capture this family others may still avoid it because of their smell. take a flashlight or higher someone to get underneath and search for more. Give it time and keep traps out just incase.
-RVT
2007-04-09 00:44:36 · answer #5 · answered by vet tech 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
with Fiv/Flk in stray and wild cats. I would NEVER bring untested cats into my house, and I work for a vet.
I know you want to do the right thing. Please think of your pets first.
2007-04-09 11:15:44 · answer #6 · answered by lisa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if there is a hole big enough for your dog to fit under the house let the dog loose in there. the cats shouldnt be under there for long
2007-04-09 00:00:37 · answer #7 · answered by BOB H 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋