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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Dh has seen a mom cat hunting with kittens in tow.

41 replies

Fluffycloudland77 · 05/08/2013 20:57

Which rescue agency is most likely to trap, neuter and release?

I'm assuming feral because usually the kittens would be at home wouldn't they? I mean you don't usually let mum take kittens off for a walk at nearly 9pm do you?

OP posts:
Original poster
Fluffycloudland77 · 05/08/2013 21:19

Dh has now got them kitten food and is trying to get them to eat it because he saw mom drop the mouse.

I'm getting plaintive phone calls of "but I can't just leave them here"

OP posts:
Original poster
Fluffycloudland77 · 05/08/2013 21:26

Kitten is eating, moms holding back.

This going to be expensive isn't it?

OP posts:
Snazzyenjoyingsummer · 05/08/2013 21:32

Are you in the market for a family of kittens? ;)

Original poster
Fluffycloudland77 · 05/08/2013 21:33

No, our cats the local ASBO cat.

Dh would bring them home if he could.

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3birthdaybunnies · 05/08/2013 21:37

Cats protection league gave us a trap for unneutered injured tom. Took about a week for him to build up trust - you have to keep feeding them. They neutered him, he would have been released back here but had FIV so sent to a farm for FIV +ve cats - it would have been easy to argue to have him pts, he was 10, injured and FIV pos but they still treated and rehomed him.

issey6cats · 05/08/2013 21:48

cats protection league is definitely your best bet they would rather trap neuter and release a small feral family than see them grow into a huge colony , how old is the kitten if quite small cpl may even be able to tame the kitten and rehome them, mom may not even be a true feral she may be a stray or a dumped cat and if she is a dumped cat you never know they may even rehome her aswell

Original poster
Fluffycloudland77 · 05/08/2013 22:19

Well they wouldn't come to him but he put four tubs of food out, apparently he likes the black one best.

I'll ring cpl after work tomorrow and see what they say. If nothing else I'd really like to get them checked over and neutered adopt them all.

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cozietoesie · 05/08/2013 22:37

Yes - they could do with being neutered - and if by chance one or more is adoptable, they could make great mousers. It sounds as if Mum has pretty well taught them their trade already.

thecatneuterer · 05/08/2013 23:12

Where in the country are you? If not in London then yes, CPL. How old do you reckon the kittens are? They are at risk from foxes. I see that they're too shy to entice into the house. Do you have a shed or something you could persuade them to use?

chemenger · 05/08/2013 23:18

Are they in a very rural location? I ask because we stayed on a farm once where there was a litter of kittens being raised by their mum and two of their older sisters. They were being fed by the owners of the farm (and the occupants of two holiday cottages) as well as being taught to hunt by their elders. All of them were going to other farms when old enough because they were well known in the area to be the best mousers around and were in demand. It was fascinating to see them trotting after big sister for a daily lesson in pest control. The runt of the litter was being hand raised on vet's orders by the farmer.

MumnGran · 05/08/2013 23:23

If in London, try the Celia Hammond Trust

cozietoesie · 05/08/2013 23:40

You don't think a feisty little black semi-feral might be just the one to get on with ASBOCat, Fluffy?

Wink
stealthsquiggle · 05/08/2013 23:57

Friends of ours let their DD adopt a feral kitten and it turned into he biggest, fattest, soppiest house cat imaginable - I alway assumed because it knew just how jammy it's new life was. My farmyard cat, OTOH, never stopped being a complete hunter killer (not great when you live with parents and father is a keen bird watcher Blush - I am sure she thought he would appreciate a closer look).

Good luck with CPL, OP.

Original poster
Fluffycloudland77 · 06/08/2013 08:35

It's a semi rural spot, it's a back road with a park.

At least the kittens had full tummies last night. I'll ring cpl later and hope they aren't useless like the RSPCA, I'd like some experienced cat rescuers anyway who can look at them and say if they are really feral, mom doesn't look mangy according to dh.

We will go back tonight with more kitten food.

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cozietoesie · 06/08/2013 08:45

Mum wouldn't necessarily look mangy, Fluffy. If she's young, fit and a highly competent hunter (and its been god weather for her after all) then she could well be feral yet look quite OK. All the actions you've quoted so far say feral cat to me. (Or at the very least, abandoned cat I suppose.)

cozietoesie · 06/08/2013 08:46

...... good weather ....

cozietoesie · 06/08/2013 08:47

I give up. More caffeine needed.

Branleuse · 06/08/2013 08:51

oh cute!!

id just leave food out for them and leave them be

shareastory · 06/08/2013 09:03

Ring CPL....I have a family of 6 'ferals' living in my garden (mum came to live with me, she knows which side her paw is buttered!) They were all neglected by a neighbour (a further litter were rehomed) They were trapped, neutered and returned and food is supplied by CPL from donations in supermarkets.

They are no bother and have grown to be be beautiful beasts...I hate to think of their fate had we done nothing.....

Original poster
Fluffycloudland77 · 06/08/2013 16:04

Cosie, you are not helping! I love black cats. I could call her Georgie.

Right, I'm going to ring cpl, I feel such a twat "my dh found a family of cats that may/may not be feral".

They will think I'm a handwringing do-gooder.

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Original poster
Fluffycloudland77 · 06/08/2013 16:24

Right, I rang them and they think its a woman who lets her cats breed unchecked Angry.

Due to lack of volunteers they get the RSPCA to trap, neuter, release and she's going to ring her contact at the RSPCA and pass my details on.

So, I don't know what will happen or if Georgie is up for coming to live with us runs away with self or if we are on severely dodgy ground.

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cozietoesie · 06/08/2013 17:11

Every house needs a Georgie, I think.

Grin
ChunkyPickle · 06/08/2013 17:15

If you're in the country, it's possible - my parent's cat was taught to hunt by its mother (as of course were the rest of the litter)

That thing could bring down rabbits... he was very good at it.

Original poster
Fluffycloudland77 · 06/08/2013 17:39

But how do re-home a kit with an ASBO cat?? Do you put a little suit of armour on it?.

I am in un-chartered territory here, last time we re-homed cats I wasn't the adult and you just chucked them in with the resident cats and let them sort it out. There was none of this swapping bedding over malarkey it was survival of the meanest.

I am feeling out of my depth, I don't want them to breed un-checked and end up diseased or caught by kids and hurt but I don't want to be accused of acting illegally due to my job, I have enhanced disclosure crb checks. I don't want to be arrested for cat napping with intent to spay.

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cozietoesie · 06/08/2013 20:03

Ah well, Fluffy. Your call.

Smile