How long do feral cats take care of their kittens?

How long do feral cats take care of their kittens?

Is it OK to separate kittens from their mother? While most kittens are weaned by 8-10 weeks, most experts recommend leaving kittens with their littermates until 12-13 weeks, so they can be properly socialized.

Can feral kittens become good pets?

Feral kittens can usually be tamed if they are rescued young enough AND they are socialized properly. Feral kittens should begin their socialization as young as possible (before 6 weeks of age). These kittens typically become wonderful, loving pets.

How to take care of a feral cat?

If you decide to become a caretaker of a feral cat colony, it’s extremely important to ensure they are all spayed and neutered. During the sterilization surgery, the cats are administered a rabies vaccination, and they are also “tipped,” which means that the tip of one ear is surgically removed while the cat is still under anesthesia.

How are feral cats born in the wild?

A feral cat is typically born in the wild or outdoors with little to no human interaction. If you attempt to get too close or try to pet them, feral cats view your hand as a claw that will harm them and will hiss and/or run away. Feral cats are born from other ferals or from stray cats.

How old do feral cats have to be to be weaned?

Older feral cats who have been feral for a long time will be most difficult to tame, if you can tame them at all. X Research source Feral kittens should not be removed from their mothers until they are ready to be weaned, at approximately 6-8 weeks of age.

Can a feral cat be returned to its original home?

But the feral and semi-feral cats, you want to return them to their original home if at all possible after Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). In some cases though, especially if there is conflict with the property owners, finding a barn home (or another colony) is the only way to ensure their safety.

1 Conduct ongoing trap-neuter-return 2 Provide food and water 3 Provide shelter 4 Monitor individual cats within the colony and provide ongoing health care

A feral cat is typically born in the wild or outdoors with little to no human interaction. If you attempt to get too close or try to pet them, feral cats view your hand as a claw that will harm them and will hiss and/or run away. Feral cats are born from other ferals or from stray cats.

How old do you have to be to adopt a feral cat?

The ASPCA advocates adopting the many available domestic cats and kittens rather than trying to tame feral cats. However, feral kittens — especially those less than 8 weeks old — often can be socialized. Abandoned and lost cats can also be reintroduced to domestic living.

How long does it take for a feral cat to get pregnant?

Because a female cat can become pregnant as young as 16 weeks of age and go on to have two or three litters a year, the feral cat population — and the problems associated with it — grows and perpetuates. In seven years, a single female cat and their kittens can produce 420,000 more cats.