Update on my side-yard kittens

[Coventina]

It's been hard to spot them. They are very shy and fast.

But, since my last post I've been able to determine the following:

Nobody is taking feral kittens right now.



There are 3 kittens of unknown gender and the momma.
They are much younger than I originally thought. Maybe only 4 weeks?
But they are sooooooo skittish. Whenever they even sense me they are off in a flash.

I got a good look at them today, and they are adorable! Two dark gray tabbies and one light gray tabby. They still have the super fluffy stuff in their coats.

I've determined that they are actually living in the kayaks, not the pickup truck.

The mom is a little less skittish than the babies. But still very cautious. She'll let me talk to her, as long as I don't get close.

I'll keep feeding them and trying to tame them. I hope I have enough time.....

[Enter stage left]

1. Patience grasshopper!

[SheltieLover]

2. Try this place!

Fried's in Indiana

Maybe we could arrange an undrground rescue transport if they will take them.

I've been there. It is a cat heaven! And they dis take ferals! Or did, years ago.

And if they can't take them, they will likely know of someone or some organization to help!

[phone]

Please let us know?

[SheltieLover]

3. Did you google feral cat rescue?

[MLAA]

4. Good luck, Coventina!

[Nac Mac Feegle]

5. We had a semi-feral mama cat that had 5 on our back porch.

It took my wife about 2 months to get her tamed down. She is now a very loving indoor cat now, and the kittens are quite cuddly. The vet suspects there may be some Maine Coon in the mix, as they're fluffy and rather large, but no ear tufts.

The other problem is that she got pregnant again before we got her inside, and had another six. Anyone want some very loving kitties?

[Bayard]

6. Can you trap them?

The older they get, the less chance of success in taming them in my experience.

[Rhiannon12866]

8. I borrowed a Have-a-Heart trap from the animal hospital to bring my previous cat inside

The woman there who works with ferals said to use something odoriferous like tuna. It took me awhile since mine was an adult cat and it turned out she wasn't feral since she didn't run from me, just wouldn't let me get too close. I'd been feeding her for awhile, but got desperate when the weather turned cold. And it turns out she was a spayed female, age 12, who got away from a woman on the next street who moved. She remained an indoor cat for the rest of her life, the closest she got to outside again was sitting in the window and watching the bird feeder.

[Bayard]

12. Can you do that again?

Trap the mama, and the kittens will come out because she'll be crying for them. I've also done this in reverse, where you catch the kittens, put them in a crate there, and set the trap for the mama.

[virgdem]

7. I just did a Google search for feral cat rescue and there are several organizations and rescues that

deal in feral cat rescue. I don't know where you live, but I hope that there are some resources near you. The time frame for socialization for kittens is usually up to around 8 weeks or so, so time is of the essence. Good luck!

[Buckeye_Democrat]

9. If they're in the kayaks, then they can...

... probably stay safe from your local coyotes. Assuming that they move away from the hole and toward a narrow end. So that's good!

I think you're the same poster who previously mentioned this situation and the area coyotes, anyway.

[Coventina]

10. Yes, I am.

Yeah, the mom picked a pretty genius spot!

[Fla Dem]

11. I had 3 feral kittens with their mom in my backyard.

The Mom brought them here as I had been feeding her in the past. She disappeared for a while and then showed up with her brood.

I probably waited too long, but when the Mom left them with me it was time to do something. So I purchased a medium sized Dog carrier. I covered the top so if it rained it wouldn't get wet inside, left the door opened, put an old blanket inside and put water and food just outside the door.

The kittens were very hesitant at first, but gradually made their way inside. One day when all 3 of them were napping inside I quietly closed the door. I then took them to the Humane society. It broke my heart to give them away.

The Mom came back well after her kits were gone. She was pretty much my yard cat from then on until one of the neighbors found her dead by the side of the road. There was no indication she was hit by a car, I think she was poisoned. Was heartbroken.

She was a beautiful Black cat, her name was Ebony. Ebbie for short.

Best picture I have of her.