What should i do if there are cats in my backyard?

Question

There are 3 kittens and their mother cat in my backyard. I don't exactly know where they live or how they eat. I want to help them or at least feed them because they look really weak,
but whenever I go close to them, their mother starts to stare at me and i get the feeling i'm not wanted. Their mother is really protective. What should i do?

Thanks for all the answers guys, I think i'll just leave some cat food and water for them when they're not there; they can eat/drink it when they are back. By the way, they don't seem very weak anymore now that i saw them playing and running around so i don't think i'm going to call the animal shelter. I guess they were just resting when i saw them before...I was also thinking about leaving a ball of yarn, I read that cats can't resist "moving thread."

Answer 1

They sound like feral cats, in which you should be very careful about approaching them - they may carry diseases, worst of all being rabies.

If you want to be charitable, just leave some food out for them, and they may end up socializing with you as a result. I adopted a feral cat's kitten after she got used to eating near us and being around people. It just takes patience and the realization that she might not ever come around to liking humans. But some food (dry will do fine, but wet is a nice treat) wouldn't hurt.

Answer 2

Agreed, put out a bowl of food and perhaps some clean water. If the mother cat looks weak as well, beef up the food you leave for her with tuna fish. Don't approach them too often too early or the mother cat may leave. There isn't much you can do about the kittens without taking them from the mother and bottle-feeding them, so just let them go for a few days. Check them out from a window until the mother seems more comfortable with you.

Answer 3

It's probably best to put a small bowl of dry cat food/water out for the mother.. .She is probably nursing and can use the nourishment.. However, kittens are born with worms/parasites so I would advise to have a little contact with them as possible and call an animal shelter/warden to come and take them... They need vet care... Also, you don't want the mother having kittens all the time without being taken care of..right? Good luck

Answer 4

try and get as close as u can, and place down some food, and clean water. when the mom feels comfotable, she will eat. and keep doing that. she may even get used to u. if the kittens don't look well in a few days, ur best bet would to call an animal control person, or shelter, and let them take care of them. plus, the cats may have something u don't want. but, the babies may improve. if u want, u could put out like a plastic storage box, filled with hay orsomething, and see if they use it to sleep in. or, u can call animal control, and they will trap them, and bring them to the shelter. but the thing is, if the mom is that feral, she may be put to sleep. but, the kittens might get adopted.

Answer 5

Ofcoarse their mother is protective, You're big, scary and strong. You could hurt her kittens.

The best way to deal with them is not to disturb them too much. All you can do is set out some cat food and a dish of water. ( No milk!!!) And watch from behind the glass.

Unless you want to take them in I would stop feeding them when they are old enough, but do not feed them too much. They still need to learn how to hunt.

Answer 6

If you really want to help: put some cat food and water close by and you will see friendliness in time. But if you do not want them to live in your backyard and adopt them, call for help to any animal rescue group.

Answer 7

You should call animal control. They won't kill a mother and kittens, they can catch them and give them all that they need to strive.

There is a good possiblity that if they look so weak they might need IV medication or at least fluids.

Answer 8

My advice is that if you think they are strays and that the kittens are unhealthy the best thing for you to do for them would be to call your local animal control. Mother animals are usually protective of their babies and it would be best for you to not bother them in case any of them are carrying any disease. Your local animal control will come and pick them up and hopefully get them adopted out when they are old enough and healthy. Best of luck.

Answer 9

You can just put the food outside for her and then leave. If she's hungry, she'll come and get it once she feels safe. Clean water would be nice too.

I only feed my strays dry food in the winter. Wet food attracts the flies.

Answer 10

Call the animal shelter. They may take some time getting out there, but it would be best for the animals.