We just found out that our stray had three kittens, they are about 3.5 weeks old. They're just now starting to explore, which both excites and worries me. Though I would love to pet and cuddle them, I am instead just going to watch as they grow and develop so they won't get used to people, for their own safety. How else can I help to protect them from other people that may see them and from other animals? I would love suggestions and helpful hints in helping our kitty raise her babies!
2007-06-30 09:37:32 · 9 answers · asked by T-bird 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
First, you want to take them into a vet and have them spay/neuter the kittens. That will help them later in life by keeping them out of trouble when they try to have kittens themselves. Same with the Mom, you want to take her in to be spayed. Next, set up a safe area for them, someplace they can go that a dog or human can't get into easily. I've set up my garage so that I can open the door and get in there to clean up or feed them. The side window is open so they can get in and out, but its too high for dogs, and too small for humans. You want to interact with them a little, so you can flea treat them. If they become infested, they will not only bring the bugs to you unknowingly, but can become anemic and die.
The BEST thing you can do is take them into your home, clean them up, flea treat them, and make them house pets.
The avg life of a stray is about 5 years. The house cat can get 10-15 years.
2007-06-30 09:45:00 · answer #1 · answered by Sit and Stay PS 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It sounds as though you've got the makings of a cat colony going on there. If you want to keep the stray as a pet, bring her and her kittens to the vet and get them checked out. Then bring them indoors and wait until the kittens are weaned and then adopt them out. Get the stray fixed as soon as the vet recommends.
If you don't want them, it's not an issue, you've got them. They've adopted you. The only other answer would be to call an animal rescue, preferably one that is no kill and specializes in cats to pick them up (or the local pound). If you just let them go and ignore them the stray and her many children are just going to continue to breed around your home and neighborhood.
2007-06-30 09:55:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure why you don't want them to get used to people. If you can't take them in yourself, you should make an effort to find them homes right away unless you want them to be wild or feral. If that's the case, I don't think there will be much you can do to protect them. They'll just do there own thing, and probably won't have a long life span if they are in an urban setting with lots of people & traffic.
2007-06-30 09:48:42 · answer #3 · answered by BethS 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are sure she is a stray you should think about catching her and the kittens and having them fixed. Animal shelters usually offer cheap rates for it and the less strays the less euthanized animals. Otherwise momma cats are pretty good about raising babies. If they are really wild you won't be able to coax them inside your house so just enjoy them from afar.
2007-06-30 09:47:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The worst thing you can do for them is to leave them outdoors to grow up as feral cats. You need to trap these babies as soon as they are weaned....or take the mother and kittens in, then try and place them in homes or at least take them to your local SPCA or humane society so they can be adopted into good homes and not left to live a dangerous life outdoors.
2007-06-30 11:19:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contact your local feral cat society they can help you, but why wouldn't you want to at least socialize them to people they will always be afraid of people unless they come into human contact and feral cat/kittens suffer so much. I don't know all your reasons but Animal love or Peta or look on the net for a feral cat organization in your area.
2007-06-30 09:46:05 · answer #6 · answered by Pearl N 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You can protect them by keeping them indoors and making them indoor cats!! Cats have a shorter life span once they're outdoor cats. Cats are also constantly being run over by cars, do you really want that to happen?!
2007-06-30 09:41:08 · answer #7 · answered by ppL L0ve 2 hAt3 m3 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You cannot protect them if they are outside. Bring them indoors.
2007-06-30 09:47:56 · answer #8 · answered by paisleyblackcat 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just stay away from them and momma do her job
2007-06-30 09:41:24 · answer #9 · answered by luckford2004 7 · 0⤊ 5⤋