How old is a feral mother when she has kittens?
The first one shows a great way of keeping a very feral mother with her kittens until she can be fixed. This one shows how to use kittens as bait, but it works just as well if you catch the mother first. I was once lucky enough to get a litter of 4 week old kittens to foster.
What kind of problems do feral kittens have?
Feral kittens usually have problems like ear mites and stomach parasites. Your vet can help you with all of that. The vet can’t cure feline herpes (humans can’t get this) or feline leukemia (also not contagious to humans), but there are many other things with which a vet can help.
Is there a feral Mama Cat in San Diego?
I am getting ready to capture this mama cat who is very feral, and her 2 kittens that she had, I think about 7-8 weeks ago. The Humane society in San Diego is on lock down due to Covid-19 and every other organization has a huge waiting list to do spaying. So, I am stuck on my own.
What to do if feral Mama Cat has kittens?
Mum won’t freak out if she has her kittens with her. Keeping them in a small space will help her stay calm. Don’t worry about betraying her trust. I know we all feel like that when trying to do TNR or bring outdoor cats inside, but she’s not going to make the link between trap+coming indoors+trip to the vet = bad human.
The first one shows a great way of keeping a very feral mother with her kittens until she can be fixed. This one shows how to use kittens as bait, but it works just as well if you catch the mother first. I was once lucky enough to get a litter of 4 week old kittens to foster.
I am getting ready to capture this mama cat who is very feral, and her 2 kittens that she had, I think about 7-8 weeks ago. The Humane society in San Diego is on lock down due to Covid-19 and every other organization has a huge waiting list to do spaying. So, I am stuck on my own.
Mum won’t freak out if she has her kittens with her. Keeping them in a small space will help her stay calm. Don’t worry about betraying her trust. I know we all feel like that when trying to do TNR or bring outdoor cats inside, but she’s not going to make the link between trap+coming indoors+trip to the vet = bad human.
Is it possible to retrap a feral cat?
Never assume you won’t be able to retrap her. In reality, most cats can be retrapped with a little ingenuity and so long as it isn’t an urgent rush job. If you have at least a couple of weeks “cushion”, then that is almost certainly enough time to retrap most cats.
How long does it take to socialize a feral cat?
Now taming and socializing a feral cat isn’t always the simplest thing. Sometimes, this can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks, or even more if they’re skittish. Usually, the two main factors that you do want to think about if you want to understand feral kitten behavior is the following:
Is it possible to befriend a feral cat?
If you want to be a good samaritan and befriend a feral cat, there are a few things you should know: For starters, a feral cat is not likely to return the favor; they will not only not approach you, they will likely run for cover at the sight of you.
When do feral cats start to become active?
A feral colony usually sleeps during the day and begins to become active around four or five in the evening. They also tend to hunt in groups of two or more, so if you see several cats emerge from a crevasse in a building late in the evening, you might be looking at a feral hunting party. Empower your team. Lead the industry.
How long does it take to tame a feral cat?
In addition to being a challenge, taming a feral cat can take a lot of time: feral kittens could be tamed in as little as two to six weeks, but it could be a year or more before an adult feral cat is tamed. Acclimating a feral cat to your home and socializing her could require several hours of your time per day, potentially for months on end.
What should I do if I see a feral kitten?
If you see a feral kitten with his mother, trap the mother and kitten at the same time. Keep them together inside your home until the kitten is ready to be weened, usually about 6-8 weeks. Contact the local animal rescue to have the mother spayed and returned to her colony.
When did I first start helping feral cats?
Some 25 years ago, when I first noticed feral cats and started helping them, a very experienced animal worker warned me: “…for feral cats there may not be a tomorrow!”. I have experienced the sad truth of these words many times and could not possibly forget them.
When is the best time to adopt a feral cat?
Feral cats tend to bond with one human, so they best adjust to a new home if they are socialized with other humans before being adopted out. Kittens can be adopted out at 8 weeks or so if tamed and socialized to humans. When screening prospective “parents,” remember that the kitten will do best if there are no small children in the home.
In addition to being a challenge, taming a feral cat can take a lot of time: feral kittens could be tamed in as little as two to six weeks, but it could be a year or more before an adult feral cat is tamed. Acclimating a feral cat to your home and socializing her could require several hours of your time per day, potentially for months on end.
If you see a feral kitten with his mother, trap the mother and kitten at the same time. Keep them together inside your home until the kitten is ready to be weened, usually about 6-8 weeks. Contact the local animal rescue to have the mother spayed and returned to her colony.
