Mum and five kittens......

[scottswede]

We have a large stray cat problem where I live. (Whole other thread...) I have been taking care of a mum and her five little ones since they were born. Living outside, but feeding them and trying to get them used to humans. They are 11 weeks now and I finally got them inside. I have arranged for a cat home to take them all in a week or so.
Problem one. Mum won't use the litter box but is peeing and pooing on the floor on the chairs. Kittens all seem to love the box by the way.
Problem two. Two of the kittens seem much more feral than the rest, don't like human contact at all. I spend a lot of time with them but these two are fighting me all the way. The cat home won't take them if they are not friendly.
Suggestions, advice please EXCEPT just keep them...... We have 4 already, all strays, who we have fixed. We were feeding a total of 13 at one point.

[scottswede]

I would love to keep them, don't mind being know as the cat lady who lives on the corner BUT we are possibly moving country again in a couple of years. Only allowed 5 pets with PETS. We already have 3, so we will be faced with a much larger problem then.
I have had a few inquiries from around the village, but when I ask if the would prefer a male or female ( cheaper to fix a male) they blatantly say it doesn't matter as they wouldn't be getting them fixed anyway. My calculations are next summer I will have a possible 20 kittens on my doorstep. :-&
I am trying to stop this ridiculous unwanted cat problem here, not encourage it.
There are currently 5 adverts for kitten homes in the local stores, so don't hold out much hope along that avenue.

[cozietoesie]

I just don't know whether there is a kitten glut/dearth in Sweden. If they're not going to have them neutered (and what a gormless lot they sound!) then I'd suggest that you go for as early a neutering as you can (finding the money from somewhere) and then advertize/sell them personally for that cost to recoup the money. Sadly, they'll likely go quicker the younger they are.

I don't think you have a whole lot of options to neutering them, frankly. If you keep them, you'll have to do it and if you have to give them away, they'll also need it from somewhere.

Heck of a situation for you given the prices across there.

[thecatneuterer]

Oh dear. But really would having to keep them be so bad? I know it's expensive, but apart from that you really would hardly notice you have a lot of cats after a while. Honestly ....

[scottswede]

If they stay then yes we will obviously neuter them all. I doubt very much we can recoup though. They are giving them away here and nobody wants them so asking for 130GBP is going to go down well...... Thinking about it it may make them more appealing to give away already neutered. Didn't think of that aspect.
We are looking at around 600GBP ( around 100 for females and 70 for males) to fix them all but I suppose the kids can do without christmas pressies this year JOKE
If we knew for sure about the move then it would be easier, but we don't so........
It will all work out in the wash as my gran used to say, just can do with out the anguish.

[thecatneuterer]

Sorry I didn't see your earlier message about moving. Oh god I would hate to live somewhere with that sort of problem. I know I would spend every penny I had on trying to sort it out, but it would just be overwhelming. I do feel for you and well done for trying to do something at least.

[scottswede]

My five little terrors went to the cat home today. They called on Friday to say they had a place. Very mixed feelings. Know I have done the right thing but miss them terribly already.
We will call in a week to make sure the 2 little shy ones are doing ok, if not then we will take them back. Then we will call again in a few weeks and if there are any left we will also take then back. I would hate them to spend their lives in a cat home.
Dh took them in as I couldn't and said they settled in fine, even my little timid ones.
I have one set of fingers crossed that they all get homes and the other set crossed that they don't

[issey6cats]

awwwits hard when you have got attached to them but they will im sure find fabulous homes for all of them and mom as well :)

[GetStuffezd]

Oh God - what an experience! It must be awful to give them up when you've become so attached! And I cannot get over the ridiculous price of neutering. My boy cost £29 to do, which suited me fine. I hope all your little ones find loving homes and secretly hoping you get the 2 shy ones back