Help, to stray kittens found, in a bind?

Question

Long story short, ive been feeding a 3 stray feral cats 3, two of which have already been TNR. The third one i didnt trap in time and i think she had a litter (she was huge then skinny). I figured none of the kittens survived becuase i never saw any and ive been feeding the mom every morning and night. She never looked preoccupied with a litter hiding somewhere becuase she would hang out and wait for hours until I came home to feed her and the other two.
Anyways, tonight I looked outside where i always feed the cats and low and behond there were two baby kittens also eating from the food. As i told you im trying to stop the multiplying (TNR) so I freaked and took the two babies inside to my spare bedroom. I figured kittens have much more of chance to be adopted then grown wild cats. Anyways i do know a woman who runs a no-kill shelter and i plan to take them there tommorrow?
Did i act too soon?should I have let them be and trapped them when they were older?what should i do

I already own three indoor cats, so any more kittens/cats is not an option

I dont know how old they are, I would say anywhere from 5 to 8 weeks, they walk around fine, eyes open, and handle very easily

TNR , Trap Neuter Return

Answer 1

If they are old enough to come to the food dish nd eat on their own, they are weaned or nearly weaned. The mother probably left them because she wanted them to be weaned (so she can go get pregnant again).

I think it's best for you to take them to the no-kill shelter now. They should be nearly old enough to spay or neuter, and the younger feral kittens are captured and socialized, the more adoptable they will be.

Thanks for your efforts towards helping ferals.

Answer 2

Not sure what this TNR you are talking about is....Anyway, I don't think it is possible to act too soon, if adoption is what you are going for. In fact it may already be too late. If they are eating solid food, they will survive without the mother. If not, you can always buy a bottle at the pet department at Walmart, for feeding small animals. This can be a very rewarding experience if you have time for it.

If you let them run wild for any length of time, they are nearly impossible to litter train. That seems to have a lot to do with the kitten itself, but I'm talking "in general" here. We've had two, out of probably twenty-five that we brought inside for whatever reason, that were able to be litter trained. The remainder we had to return to the wild.

If you can get them from the mother shortly after birth and hand feed them, they are the best cats you can possibly hope for. Ferral cats seem to be more intellegent than house cats. It may seem cruel to remove them from their mother, but I'm guessing their chances in the wild are less than 10% of living til the age of two years. If you don't get them when they are available for capture, you might not see them again.

The animal control facility is less than a mile from our house, and they have a HUGE problem with securing the animals there. For that reason we have a fairly large number of ferral cats, and dogs in our area. The dogs we either run off or call the pound to have them re-captured. The cats we feed because they don't really bother anybody, and their chances of adoption are so slim. Their life expectency in the wild is less than two years if they are healthy to start with. We help them all we can, but pretty much nature controls the population.

We feed from five to fifteen cats at a time. They come and go. The longest we've had an outdoor cat is three years. Only rarely do we ever see any babies from the ferral mothers, unless we run across them on our outbuildings etc. Never more than one or two when we do. Nature is really hard on kittens. If it were not the case they'd be everywhere.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Well the kitten sounds flawlessly average and whilst he hides he is simply reacting as a kitten might. Kittens are extra skiddish and playful...and shy then grownup cats are. Once he is complete grown he shouldnt act that means until the homeowners earlier than you have been abusive which i particularly doubt.But simply restle with him even if he is not playful that means he will be much more likely to be in a playful temper. It's only a common response for a kitten. Actually, mostly whilst a kitten hides they're being playful. Notice whilst you stroll right into a room filled with kittens all of them run and conceal..(common response). I've grown up with kittens for years and i have grown into the features and all that stuff. have amusing -Dyani

Answer 4

Simply provide them with the same food, water and a litter pan in that room AWAY from your other cats. Then tomorrow take them to that no kill shelter.

BTW: In the State of Missouri, if you feed and water an animal for three or more days it is considered to be owned by YOU!

You need to check the laws concerning this in your state and then call animal control out to capture the feral cats. Even if they are "put to sleep", it will be a LOT more humane than dying of parasites or becoming road kill.

Answer 5

You did ok. How are the kittens around people? Can they be handled and picked up without problem? Do they act gentle with you? If they do, then they're adoptable and can find new homes.

Answer 6

You did good sweetie, they would have died anyway :) You saved what could have been. Put more food out and maybe if there are more they will come. If not they have passed. Bless you.