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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

Omg they are alive and thriving!!

51 replies

EachandEveryone · 17/10/2017 14:50

They must me 8/9 weeks and all bright eyed and bushy kind of tailed. I’ve rang CP and CN has been so helpful. I’m shocked to be honest. I’ve been advised not to approac them as they are probably feral by now. The lady from CP is snowed under but can come out in a couple of weeks she has to find somewhere for them first. I’m counting five maybe six. All that good German grub mine won’t touch!

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Vinorosso74 · 17/10/2017 15:08

Oh wow! Some look like Vinocat! Hopefully all can be trapped and neutered including mum.

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 17/10/2017 15:09

Christ I hope so I don’t fancy feeding 7 of them for the rest of my days. The lady said to take dry food to them what do all you experts think?

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Vinorosso74 · 17/10/2017 15:13

Do they have water? If you only feed dry they will need some.

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 17/10/2017 15:21

Oh I give the mum water tbh we back onto shops and there’s puddles everywhere it’s the mum I feed

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Allergictoironing · 17/10/2017 16:17

Great that you've seen them again, and all are well. And well done for keeping the mother fed, as that's probably why they are all still around & thriving Flowers.

Do what the CP lady said, but as Vino has advised make sure there's plenty of water near the food as well. Better they drink that than puddles, as you often get antifreeze leaking from the roads into puddles which can be fatal to cats.

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 17/10/2017 18:20

The kittens dont come near my flat to feed. Lots of steps. The cf suggested leaving food where i saw them. Im not sure tbh its a big commitment i work dreadful shifts and often rushing. Its enough remembering to feed mummy and her boyfriends everyday.

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thecatneuterer · 17/10/2017 18:37

It's not a commitment for life though OP - just for a couple of weeks. And it's probably the only way to make sure CP can catch them.

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 17/10/2017 19:00

Where would i start though? Where i saw them today? Where the garage man said hes seen them come from which is not where i saw them today? All down my back alley which is creepy once it gets dark. Thr odd druggie sleeping rough, prostitutes in cars, itscjust not somewhere i want to be walking around looking for cats. During the daybis fine but i will never know if its the kittens im feeding at least when im feeding on my balcony i can see whos coming.

I dont know ive come this far and spent a small fortune i do want them taken care of. I hardly have enough hours in the day. I got home from work todat at 930 am got up at 130pm then tonight ive got to force myself to sleep to get up at 545 am and do a day shift so at that time of the morning i can barely throw food onto my balcony im rushing that much.

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Awwlookatmybabyspider · 17/10/2017 20:50

OMG, clock the teeny weeny sticky uppy tail

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 17/10/2017 20:55

I know. Sadly the CP said they are feral now no chance of socialising. Someone else is looking for a farm for them. A trap isnt just going to catch them there are at least three other cats around. Plus mine and my neighbours. Its a minefield!

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thecatneuterer · 17/10/2017 23:57

Yes a trap will catch them. But they have to use a manual trap. An automatic trap would be a terrible mistake. Ask CP what they are going to use - if it's an automatic tell them you don't want to go ahead and I'll come and do it instead. You have to be able to catch the right cat at the right time and you can only do that with a manual trap.

As for where to feed them - well it doesn't really matter as long as you choose a place that they can access and stick to it. If they come to the bottom of your steps put it there. Without seeing the layout of the place I can't recommend properly - but you just need to establish a routine.

If the worst comes to the worst they will just have to be trapped, neutered and returned.

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 18/10/2017 00:24

Well id happily feed them forever if that was the case. Can you see the wire fence? Thats why i cant get through amd no one could without pliers. The mechanics have seen them out and about though and are all keeping an eye on them they are decent people. Ive been told not to approach them i was tempted to grab one today! Ive lost track of who im talking to now but every single person has said there is no space for them anywhere. Someone is trying to find a farm. Its a shame as in my romantic head i thought the kittens could be socialised at 9 weeks. Id have happily fed the mother for the rest of her days but i cant afford to take anyone in. £50 a month insurance i pay now otherwise i would. Im off Thursday and Friday so i can go out then.

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thecatneuterer · 18/10/2017 00:31

Yes if we were to get them right away then they could potentially be socialised. I just caught three today about the same size and they are hissy and spitty but are so small I think they will be fine. But we need a fosterer to put the time in and we have completely run out of fosterers. So at the moment they're in a hospital basket in my house, but I just don't have the time to put in.

So where is the nearest place that both you and the kittens can access and where we could put a trap? Mind you I'd happily cut that fence. I'd still rather leave CP to do it if possible as I'm so busy, but if they are going to use an automatic trap then I'd rather come myself. And because of their ages then the sooner we can do it the better.

Feel free to pm/phone me (I don't do mornings :) )

thecatneuterer · 18/10/2017 00:34

Also who is this someone who is trying to find a farm? Is it someone involved in feral care? Kittens can't just be released onto a farm. You need all the right equipment to get them used to their new environment before being released (a large kitten pen basically) and the new owners need a lot of advice on how to go about it. If you do identify a farm we could sort everything out with them, but you can't just take them and let them go.

thecatneuterer · 18/10/2017 00:35

Oh and don't whatever you do try to grab one. That will make mum cat take the rest away and not bring them back.

FretYeNot · 18/10/2017 00:36

How old are they? My kids brought home a kitten of about 6-8 weeks once, one of a litter born to a colony of cats up by the park. She's been the best cat we ever had.

FretYeNot · 18/10/2017 00:39

Oh, I just read they are 8/9 weeks. TBH I'd probably still approach them.

thecatneuterer · 18/10/2017 00:53

No FretYeNot she definitely shouldn't approach them as we don't want to scare either them or the mother away. Trapping is the only way to do this.

thecatneuterer · 18/10/2017 00:57

Is there anyone is London/Essex who fancies doing some kitten socialising/fostering for a few weeks? There are so many jobs like this one that all the charities are turning away because we don't have the fosterers. Can anyone help?

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 18/10/2017 06:49

Its such a shame. I cant name names but shes Hertfordshire and is on catchat. The otherone is Watford and knows of you. Tbh, between the three of them i think will get a plan of action i know this is way out of your area. Im glad in a way humans cant get to them easily. Although the mechanic said she marches them up and down the back way. Im sure the fshmongers will be sorting them out. They arent exactly frail.

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Allergictoironing · 18/10/2017 08:18

Mine were feral for a whole year, born into a colony of around 20. All were re-homed eventually (mine took a year as they are black & shy), and though mine aren't the most sociable with strangers they love nothing better than belly rubs from me. So they CAN be socialised at a later age than you were quoted, but it takes a long time & loads of patience.

I wish I could TCN, but I don't see mine being terribly happy about interlopers!

thecatneuterer · 18/10/2017 11:37

OK but please ask about what sort of trap they use. I can't stress enough that an automatic trap would cause more harm than good in a situation like this where there are a number of cats. If it keeps slamming shut in front of the noses of the ones you want to get then some of them will never go in it. You need to be able to get a number of them in at once and only pull the string when the rest of them aren't looking.

So please ask and if they only have an automatic then I will come instead.

littlemisscomper · 18/10/2017 19:56

I bet kittens of 9 weeks are still young enough to be socialized! Either way they need neutering on the cycle will go on and on.

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 18/10/2017 21:48

Yes I know I don’t want to be tripping over cats when I go out to the bus stop, I’m having a glass of wine now and will be up in morning having another look around

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Original poster
EachandEveryone · 19/10/2017 14:15

I’m off to Tescos to get done party plates. I can either leave the food where I saw them but I’ll never know whether it’s them that are eating it or leave it where I vandee from my window in the hope they will walk up abit

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