Oct. 16 is National Feral Cat Day, and we know many of you come into contact with stray and feral cats in your everyday lives.For example, when I recently wrote a blog post about what to do if you find an abandoned cat or kitten, reader Robyn asked this question in the comments:
I have five stray cats that I have fed for over a year. I can't bring them in since I have two dogs and a catPetfinder's public receptionist, Kristen, and I e-mailed Robyn some advice, but I wanted to share it here in the hope that you'll find it helpful as well.
of my own. The smallest cat ate this evening and proceeded to give birth
to at least three kittens (that I see). She went inside the house I have on my small back porch with little dog beds and blankets inside for the cats.
I never knew she was pregnant. I cannot afford to feed any more cats. I know mommy will feed them for a few months, but how do I protect them being outside? I know shelters are overcrowded and I cannot imagine them being put to sleep. These cats have been a part of my so-called family for a while now and I don't know what would be best for them. Any advice?
What you can do:
Even if your local shelter is too full to take the mom and kittens to re-home, it's a great place to call first. Staffers may be able to refer you to a foster group that can raise the kittens, or at least -- so you won't end up with even more unexpected litters in your yard -- low-cost spay/neuter options or a group near you with a trap, neuter and return program for feral cats (see our article, TNR - The Humane Alternative).
Also try calling your own veterinarian to see if he or she knows of anyone who may help. Your vet's office may already be working with local people who assist outdoor cats, or may offer a discount to good clients who are helping strays.
If the mom cat is friendly, it would be great if you could bring her
and her kittens inside temporarily to keep them safe (be sure to keep them in a room separate from
your other pets). If you don't have a place to keep them in your home, check with family
and friends to see if they would provide a short-term place for them.
Whether mom is feral or not, it's important for the kittens to have as much human contact as possible once their eyes open so that you'll end up with friendly kittens you can find homes for -- not wild kittens who add to your outdoor population. (Check out these articles for more info: How to Find a Home for Your Pet and Tips for Finding a Home for a Pet.)
In the meantime, provide additional shelter on your property for any other stray cats so that Momma Cat can have the house on your back porch all to herself. Be sure to provide her with good-quality food -- she'll need it to nourish herself and the kittens.
But the most important thing is to get your outdoor cats fixed so you don't end up with future litters of kittens. Even if they are feral (wild-acting), they can be safely captured with humane cage traps. (Learn more in our article, Caring for Feral Cats.)
Spaying and neutering will also keep your outdoor cats healthy, and reduce the likelihood that wandering tomcats will choose to visit (and stay) to court the ladies. While looking for help from local organizations for your momma cat and her kittens, don't forget to mention you're also looking for help getting your entire outdoor clan fixed.
Do you have experience with a cat colony? Share what you learned here!
Additional resources:
Alley Cat Allies
You might also like:
Blog: What should you do if you find an abandoned cat or kitten?
Caring for Feral Cats
TNR - The Humane Alternative
How to Find a Home for Your Pet
Tips for Finding a Home for a Pet
Whether mom is feral or not, it's important for the kittens to have as much human contact as possible once their eyes open so that you'll end up with friendly kittens you can find homes for -- not wild kittens who add to your outdoor population. (Check out these articles for more info: How to Find a Home for Your Pet and Tips for Finding a Home for a Pet.)
In the meantime, provide additional shelter on your property for any other stray cats so that Momma Cat can have the house on your back porch all to herself. Be sure to provide her with good-quality food -- she'll need it to nourish herself and the kittens.
But the most important thing is to get your outdoor cats fixed so you don't end up with future litters of kittens. Even if they are feral (wild-acting), they can be safely captured with humane cage traps. (Learn more in our article, Caring for Feral Cats.)
Spaying and neutering will also keep your outdoor cats healthy, and reduce the likelihood that wandering tomcats will choose to visit (and stay) to court the ladies. While looking for help from local organizations for your momma cat and her kittens, don't forget to mention you're also looking for help getting your entire outdoor clan fixed.
Do you have experience with a cat colony? Share what you learned here!
Additional resources:
Alley Cat Allies
You might also like:
Blog: What should you do if you find an abandoned cat or kitten?
Caring for Feral Cats
TNR - The Humane Alternative
How to Find a Home for Your Pet
Tips for Finding a Home for a Pet
i also have strays. They found my kitty door for my cat and had 4 kittens. we have tamed 3 of the 4 and now they are ours. the most loving kittens you could have. the 4th not as much but we still care for her and she lives at our home with her mother father and 2 other siblings. we have taken our 4 to the shelter for stray programs to have thier shots, neuter and spay. we are still working on catching the rest for a spay and release program. at least no more kittys. If given contact you can tame strays. i have done it. But we will continue to feed and care for the rest as florida is full of strays, dogs and cats. it is sad, but if you check your local shelters,they have lower cost rates for strays. At least we can have them fixed and shots to prevent ill health and more kittens. i can't afford much either, but i will do all i can for them and they are all happy and healthy, thank god.
thanks
I live in the country in Northcentral Wisconsin, and when i first moved to the house I am at now, I brought my cat of 13 years along. Frisky was the most awesome cat ever, yea some angering times, and relentless washing of shoes, rugs, etc.. to remove his litterbox incontinence, but i truly loved him, and i know he loved me. Back to my feral cat tale.. ... Frisky was hit and killed by a car :( while he was around i noticed when i fed him there was another unknown kitty lurking desperate for a taste of meow mix. Frisky's prodigy, looked like him too. (NOTE: the time between the kitty's appearing a dissappearing has been within two weeks and most of the time one shows up to take the others place before they leave, sorta like shift change.) She, Pepper was my new pal. she had her feral ways yet though. she stuck around for a year or more and helped me through my loss. To shorten things up a bit, pepper hopped a ride on a friends log truck and now lives miles down the road on a mice happy farm. I was sad, pepper had left me. BUT WAIT!! Pepper had a kitten , coco, after coco cordero, former closing pitcher for the brewers. as u probably can guess, coco and i were pals, then coco had ran away.... :( leaving Vortec, a cat that was the first in the rotation that wasnt tiger striped, but a black and white kitty. vortec was my newest pal, until two weeks ago when he never came back to eat. i searched and searched, was missing my latest friend. I declared him a sure reunaway two days ago, and said i was done getting my heart clawed at in such a way. UNLESS the cats that showed up out of nowhere were cute kittens, sweet prominent pet companion kitties. Speak no more. In a pile of some round hay bales i heard mewing. LOUD mewing. i investigated like i do (i cant leave a kitty behind) and what i came across, took the sadness of lossing vortec away. it was kittens!!! at least three, maybe four confirmed sightings. as i look closer into the hay bale compound they've created I am frickin amazed. It's like theyre living in the mansion of carpeted-scratchingpost-hotel-lounge EVER!! theres a little ramp of hay leading up to one of the many little entrances, what looks like the front door is followed by a turn to the left (stairs) and in front a basketball sized in-hay hole for them to bunker in. I'm looking to T.N.R. these cats, and finding the information i need. I am a Cat Caregiver. Never to be confused with a Cat Lady. Ive bought a live trap, just need more info. If anyone can help me email me Lorelig7204@msn.com.
If anyone has adopted a female dog by the name of Maggie and/or Lexus please call me and let me know 2513664568. I was told my dogs where brought to the spca and adopted. I was going threw a divorce, they were my babies and well taken care of . I do not want them back but never got to say good bye. Please call me and allow me to have that closer. Maggie is black with a great spunky personality with cute short legs and a little long body. Lexus is a little spastic but longer legs white n light brown. God Bless you and please call me!
Chasity n Mallarie