How long do feral cats feed their kittens?
Our shelter leadership has convinced itself that it is better to leave nursing kittens in the wild until they are old enough to be weaned (5-6 weeks), rather than trap the mom and get her and the kittens into a safe environment (shelter nursery or foster home) where she can raise them without fear of predation.
When to help a stray cat with kittens?
It is common to trap the mother and kittens so the kittens can be socialized by 4 weeks old. The Mom cat is evaluated and released after spaying or adopted depending on how she gets along with people. But she gets to raise her kittens in a safe place, and they all have a future.
What happens if you stop feeding feral cats?
The truth is, cats know how to hunt if they’re feral. They know how to not go hungry. If you’ve ever seen a cat that is a barn cat, they know how to catch rodents, to the point where they are controlling the population of the farm, and getting a meal.
How old were the kittens when I adopted them?
I adopted 2 cats that were only 3 weeks old and when I had to leave I ended up raising them in a rabbit cage to keep them safe. But when I did allow them out when I was home they would take off and go hide for the entire day and come back out at night when they were hungry.
What happens to a mom cat with kittens?
The Mom cat is evaluated and released after spaying or adopted depending on how she gets along with people. But she gets to raise her kittens in a safe place, and they all have a future. When they finish spay/neutering a colony the colony gradually goes away as the cats age.
What happens if I stop feeding a stray cat?
If you really want to stop feeding a stray but it’s weighing on your conscience, I can help put you at ease. That stray was finding food before they met you, and they will find food after you stop. So, please don’t worry about it. Cats are natural hunters too.
It is common to trap the mother and kittens so the kittens can be socialized by 4 weeks old. The Mom cat is evaluated and released after spaying or adopted depending on how she gets along with people. But she gets to raise her kittens in a safe place, and they all have a future.
How often do stray and feral cats have babies?
The shocking fact is that a cat can have babies 5 times a year! Even if they bring kittens into this world only once a year that is still a lot of newborn babies to care for. To stop that from happening, the rational thing to do is to trap, neuter and return those stray and feral cats.
Is it possible for a stray cat to starve?
It’s very unlikely they will starve. It doesn’t end there though, as a responsible member of your community there are some things you can do to help stray cats outside of feeding them. Here’s everything you need to know about stray cats, feral cats, and what you can do to help them. What Makes a Cat “Stray”?
