Please help - stray /feral kittens - we dont know what to do

gothic_girl

Hi everyone

I don't post here as I have no pets but I shall tell you a mind boggling story and now we are stuck and need advice!

We live in a terrace property, due to a vermin problem we put poison down (in packets)in the upstairs box room and did not use the room so hopefully the problem will be sorted only clear up needed YUCH

Tuesday night I sent my boyfriend in to find something and came face to face with a feral cat and 2 kittens ( window shut but mama can undo it from outside with claw eeep) so he backed out and shut door.

We called RSPCA, Cats protections, shelters you name it no one will help even to catch them, fix and release. not even with some cost given towards the bills. They all say unhomeable, cats protection just said to toss out of window :eek:, it appears the mama can get in and out but the kittens cant ( high window both on the inside and outside) but they look younger than 13 weeks which was the guessimate we were given (got a little better look), we were going to try and put them into a box and lower that out the window but now we think they are younger feel awful as pitched roof and fences we are not sure they would be able to get down. Mama has gone and kitten have found the prime hiding spots finding impossible to catch them.

choices we were given, we catch them and have them put down or catch and release hoping they end up back with mama or can survive together or on their own. the most helpful shelter offered there catch trap but only if we can find someone to take them all which we cant because they are feral and too old for training.

we cannot keep them in there cos no pets allowed/ poison/ unsafe room but could keep an eye out for them when released outside/ bit of food/ stop them being picked on.

Because of the ahem state of this road and houses there are a lot of ferals around but plenty of food even if they cannot hunt properly. Does anyone have any advice/ other ideas, it is important that we catch them asap we have put some water and food in for now as mama cant get back in ( we hope cannot fight that one!)

WE DONT WANNA HURT THEM, we feel awful but we are inbetween a rock and hard place.

Please help:A

gettingready

You do not say where you are?

Do you have a Celia Hammond branch anywhere near you?

http://www.celiahammond.org/

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Good grief, if I lived in a place with vermin and feral cats moving in as it was so insecure, I'd be out of there and at the lettings agent with a demand for a new address and compensation. No pets? Tell them to sort out the rats before they get so sniffy!

As a last ditch attempt, I'd use food to get them into boxes, then take them to the RSPCA/PDSA and tell them that they may have eaten poison. Then leave without giving your name.

Whatever way you look at it, they're dead cats walking where they are now. It is up to you whether they die quickly by a vet's hand or slowly of disease and starvation/rat poison.

I wish I could be more positive.

gothic_girl

oh sorry we are in Birmingham. tried council, pdsa, rspca, cats protection and all shelters we can find but no go.

Don't start me on this house but with me out of work (redundant) and my Partner only temping til december we cannot leave this cra* shack. its not an agency just a private landlord who believes the house should have no work and he can just sit with the money coming in. we are only still here cos of the rent price.

we've bought some cat milk and kitten food (dry ) and wet food as well as leftover plain chicken, theve demolished the wet food so far so that's ok and we have left water too We need to get them into boxes but at the moment that's what we are stuck with! I don't think they would intentionally eat the packets but obviously we want them out to make sure of that.

chez22

These forums may have someone on who can help http://www.catchat.org/forum.html

http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/

Also catchat has a list of all rescues in your area, you may not have tried the smaller or less well known ones http://www.catchat.org/adoption/mids.html

Cramar Cat Rescue in Birmingham take in feral cats http://www.cramarcats.org.uk

rita-rabbit

um - maybe stop putting the poison down & hope ferrals eat the vermin?! Also thoroughly clean whole property & ensure all foodstuffs only kept in fridge/tins etc?

gothic_girl

unfortunately tried cramer but they are full

Rita - the poison been down for a while, we are obviously not replacing it but also cannot get to pick it up Keeping them there is not an option.

We are all old terraces in a exceedingly naff part of town hence the vermin problem no one seems to be bothered with them ( stomach churns at the thought) we seem to be in the minority trying to rid the vermin got an electric doo dad (not sonic) now so fingers crossed on that front.

Going to try and catch the cats again later see if they liked the milk and kitten food

Thanks all

Solar1

Have you tried Wellcat at Quinton 0121 426 5594. They take in ferals and the lady there is very good and very experienced, but I know she is often at full capacity as she keeps they all until she can rehome them.

If you post a picture of them on here you may have someonewilling to take them on. We have had ferral cats younger and older than these and to be honest most have come around in the end it just takes time.

One of the cat rescues may be able to help with a cat trap to catch the kittens. Is the mother still in the area.

gothic_girl

we are not sure.

wellcat was lovely but she is full they are the ones offering a trap if we can find a home/shelter to take them.

rita-rabbit

gothic_girl wrote: »

unfortunately tried cramer but they are full

Rita - the poison been down for a while, we are obviously not replacing it but also cannot get to pick it up Keeping them there is not an option.

We are all old terraces in a exceedingly naff part of town hence the vermin problem no one seems to be bothered with them ( stomach churns at the thought) we seem to be in the minority trying to rid the vermin got an electric doo dad (not sonic) now so fingers crossed on that front.

Going to try and catch the cats again later see if they liked the milk and kitten food

Thanks all

Personally I would view the ferals as a blessing in a vermin infested neighbourhood! Seriously cleaning up your place is best bet & not putting any more food down - ferrals can live on vermin. Sounds harsh but given the choices you have I would opt for that. Also contacting council about ensuring rubbish cleared often or take empty boxes/litter etc to the dump - vermin will both live & feast on stuff lying around.

Sooz00

I don't understand why CP etc. are saying it's not worth trapping them. Surely Mum could be spayed and released. If the kittens are still kittens, there would be no problem taming them. I took on 2 x 20 week old feral kittens along with a 16 week normal kitten at the same time from a local rescue. That was ten years ago and they have turned into the most loving, cuddly, friendly cats I could have asked for. Admittedly, they hid for a couple of weeks once I got them home but they soon came around and having the 'normal' kitten at the same time was perfect as they started to follow his lead.

Do you think the rescues would reconsider?