Feral Cats - rehome kittens?

sluicerat · #1 (**permalink**) 19-07-2011, 09:22 AM

We have 3 feral cats ,, who were discovered in last winter's snow - so starved that they were attempting to eat the bird seed. They have now presented us with 6 kittens between them - we have managed to socialise 3 of the kittens..
Interested in the opinion of those who are not ANTI feral cats - do we re-home them or let them 'live the life they were born to' ?

Farplace · #2 (**permalink**) 19-07-2011, 09:34 AM

Borrow a cat trap from the Cats Protection, or a local rescue centre. trap the adults and the 3 remaining kittens, and get them neutered. Some organisations will give you vouchers to pay for this.
Once neutered, they can be returned to the wild, providing you are happy to keep feeding them.
The socialised kittens can be rehomed as pets.

PMG · #3 (**permalink**) 19-07-2011, 09:38 AM

Given the situation you are already in then either re-home via Cats Protection (I wouldn't advise rehoming by just giveing to a friend or relative unless you were sure they would be spayed by the new owner) or pay yourself to have them neutured and let them live wild round your place. Once the lack of hormones kicks in they will be even less wild and may eventually want to live you or at least be heavily supported by you. The main thing is you don;t want anymore breeding of feral stock if possible.

Of course initially when the first cats were so starving it may have been kinder to catch and put to sleep thus avoiding them suffering and this recent breeding of possibly weakened youngsters who may get ill much easier than normal and could cost new owners a lot of vet money .........

Just my thoughts please don;t take offence

Pauline

sluicerat · #4 (**permalink**) 19-07-2011, 09:49 AM

Thanks for the input ,,, the ferals are all very well fed by me daily ,, to the point that they feed alongside the wild pheasants searching for bird seed !
I will try the cat protection league about neutering .. it is going to be a timing problem though as the farmer's tom cat is already starting to prowl again

PMG · #5 (**permalink**) 19-07-2011, 10:05 AM

Then you really need to get the kittens out of the way of this poss inbreeding and cage up the others as Farplace has said before you have more cats than you can handle. Cats that are well fed make better hunters and just because they arn't pouncing on the pheasants doesn't mean they arn't reducing the smaller wildlife in the immediate vicinity

Pauline

Farplace · #6 (**permalink**) 19-07-2011, 03:09 PM

Female cats can get pregnant again as soon as they have given birth, so mum may already be pregnant again. If you want to do the best for these cats, do it as soon as possible.
Roughly where are you? I may be able to put you in touch with rescue centres who may help.
Jan

werdnal · #7 (**permalink**) 19-07-2011, 03:34 PM

I would definately catch the parents and get them neutered - both males and females. Ask for if CPL will also arrange feline leukaemia tests on all of them. This disease is incurable and very common amongst feral cats, particularly fighting males. If they have it, the best route is euthanasia for those affected, as otherwise it will transmit to other cats, especially from those you rehome to new areas where it is not already established.

If the all pass the FL test, then I would let the adults out again to live the life they choose, and try to rehome the youngsters. Beware, female kittens can become sexually mature very early, especially at this time of the year. Cats born during the winter tend to delay their first season until spring, but at this time of year they could easily be ready to mate at 16 weeks, so if in any doubt, separate the sexes, or get them speyed too.

We rehomed 2 feral kittens that were born to a wild mother under my auntie's shed. She caught the mother and had her "done" and auntie and her neighbour fed her well into her old age, as she was far too timid to become a house cat.

When we first brought home our 2 firey little bundles, they were so wild, we didn't actually see them for the first 2 weeks, as they hid behind the sofa and spat at us if we came near. They gradually became trusting and turned into the most loyal and loving cats we could ever have wished for. They still maintain a little of their wild instincts, as used to pinch food given a chance - even took toast out of the toaster in their early days.

I know there are many wildlife lovers here who are anti-cat, and you may get a little backlash to this post, as there is no doubt they are adept killers of all things furry and feathered. We finally lost our tom - Toffee, last May to Kidney disease at the age of 17! His sister Treacle, lives on, and has just turned 18 this month! She is a very old lady now, almost totally deaf and "talks" to herself a lot - probably slightly senile to as she often has "senior moments" when she walks into the middle of the room and forgets what she's gone there for (don't we all?!), but she is living proof that given time and patience, even ferals can live long happy lives!

sluicerat · #8 (**permalink**) 19-07-2011, 04:10 PM

Many thanks for all your replies ... glad they were all positive ! Have spoken to the cat protection .. they have generously agreed to provide cages and vouchers for neutering ,, unfortunately they dont have any cages available as yet ! They advised do the 3 females now, and the kittens at 4 months old.. The tom responsible for impregnating these 3 girlies is not part of colony, and basically is a little commando lover ,, so I will not be able to catch him as he doesnt even bother with the food !

Farplace · #9 (**permalink**) 19-07-2011, 04:20 PM

As well as the feline leukaemia blood test, it is a wise move to test them for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). This is the feline version of HIV/Aids. I have a hospice at the sanctuary for cats living with FIV, but most shelters in the UK are not able to take them. Most of the feral colonies in my area (North East) have some FIV cats amongst them. I dont know what the situation is like in other areas. FIV positive cats only pass on the disease by deep penetrating bites caused by fighting, or occasionally by mating, if the male bites the neck of the female too hard. It is incurable, but healthy FIVpositive cats can live for many years with the right health care. Virtually impossible with ferals living free in a colony.