Feral kittens

zaksmum

One of my neighbours a couple of doors down has feral kittens behind his garden shed. Originally there was a mother cat and four kittens - now the mum cat and two kittens have vanished, leaving just the remaining two kittens.

They're about 7 weeks old and very thin and bedraggled. Several people have tried to catch them but they run away. Some neighbours are putting kitten food out which is being eaten, but possibly by older cats. The kittens are mobile as I nearly had my shoulder ripped out of it's socket when my dogs spotted one about 100m away from the shed.

The neighbour says he's phoned the RSPCA and various cat/animal charities, but nobody is willing or able to help. The RSPCA said if they can't be caught and are mobile there's no point in sending anyone out to them.

I can't believe the kittens are just going to have to fend for themselves at such a young age.

Anything I can do?

Bloomin_Freezing2

My friend had the same issue recently. I spoke to my local cats protection league. They have traps (not as scary as it may sound) which they are happy for you to borrow to catch the kittens. Its just a long rectangular cage, you put food down the far end, when the kitty walks in to get the foot they step on a pressure pad which makes the door shut.

It's very sad to think of these kittens fending for themselves.

spookylukey

Poor little things, it's important that they are caught soon as otherwise they may be past taming. At that age there's a chance they can still be brought around and if you can get a rescue to take them in could have a chance of living a normal domesticated life.

This link shows all listed rescues in your area in case the neighbour has missed any, just click on the map http://www.catchat.org/adoption/

Good luck and thanks for trying to help them.

spendaholic66

We had the same issue years ago. (when i was a teenager and living at home) My mum called the rspca who said 'let nature take it's course' to which my mum said this kitten would probably die as it was below freezing and starting to snow. The rspca then said 'well that's just nature'. We were so shocked that have since stopped supporting them financially. They realy are not dreadful at times, they only really deal with stories that will get them in the papers hailed as hero's. Fortunately after leaving our door open for hours with food just inside, we caught the kitten in the early hours of the morning and a neighbour rehomed him.

gettingready

Oh dear, poor little mites...

Please post on Purrs in our hearts - someone there will definitely be able to advise or perhaps someone local to you will help to catch them.

Bonnie_dog

we had some feral kittens at our old house, I called the rspca who came out. I asked them what they would do with them and they said they would all be pts. So I obviously sent them packing and stopped all donations. A local cat rescue came round with traps and got them all, they tamed and rehomed all of them

Fire_Fox

Ruing all the charities again and simply ask if they can lend you a trap. If not post on Purrsinourhearts forums and ask if someone there can lend you a trap. If they are in poor condition then ring the RSPCA, welfare is their responsibility but sometimes they use the excuse of not being able to catch the cats - they did with my Noah. Alternatively once you catch them confine them to a shed or summerhouse whilst you feed them up - if you can worm and deflea in food they will put weight on much more quickly, or a vet/ nurse may be willing to deflea and deworm if you can get the kittens into a trap. There are feral rescues that take cats from anywhere nationwide if you can catch and transport.

gettingready

The problem with RSPCA is they lok good on.. posters for donations.
They may trap the kittens and simply p[ut them down.

As much as I am against breeding - an animal that is already alive.. should be given a chance

spike7451

gettingready wrote: »

The problem with RSPCA is they lok good on.. posters for donations.
They may trap the kittens and simply p[ut them down.

As much as I am against breeding - an animal that is already alive.. should be given a chance

I agree,I'd go with the local cat charity & see if they'll lend you a cat trap for a couple days.Chances are that as they are so young,with proper love & care they can be rehomed as normal cats.

zaksmum

Been on the phone most of this morning trying to get someone to come out and help the kittens but nobody wants to know.

How cruel is that? Poor little creatures.

Taadaa

Can you get together with some neighbours and try to trap them yourselves then take them to Cats Protection or similar?