Another feral cat/kittens thread...advice please.

Realtine

I know there has been threads about feral cats and kittens but I need advice.
At the moment there are five cats (2 larger ones and 3 kittens) sitting on my deck. My OH had started feeding them as they looked miserable down the end of the garden and bit by bit they have been getting used to it and him. So now they are there permanently.

I have seen the older cat around for a couple of years now and sure enough every year there are new kittens.

About 10 houses down from us is where they normally reside and a gentleman in there does tend to take care of them but they are feral. They are all black and there are other black cats around, not just this bunch.

In fact last year a kitten was left to fend for herself at the end of our garden also but we managed to rescue and tame her and she, up to this weekend was a fully domesticated indoor cat but unfortunately on Saturday morning she followed our much older outdoor/indoor cat outside (our older cat can open windows) and we spotted her too late diving into a garden three houses away. We haven't seen her since but anyway, we haven't given up hope on her yet so that's not the issue.

The feral cats are becoming either more braver or something because despite us having three dogs, they just won't run anymore and our dogs cant be bother to chase them anymore, if they do the cats and kittens just run and then immediately appear out from behind the shed again and start to follow the dogs up the garden, it's kinda funny really but not.
Our dogs are very used to cats so it's only with a half hearted effort to chase them anyhow the cats and even the kittens just hold their ground now and the dogs turn away.

Also, I'm afraid our older cat will suddenly see her territory being taken over by five cats, and will also disappear.:(

I did email the feral cats website, an email for the Dublin area was on it but I haven't heard anything back as yet. I would like to trap these cats and have them neutered, I can help towards some of the cost, but not all of it in any way shape or form. I'm a bit confused as to what to do, they are so cute even mammy is so pretty but probably not so pretty when kitty starts to grow and mate and hunt and fight.

Any advice or help i would gratefully appreciate on either, finding our own little cat or in TNR this new lot.
The kittens are about 8/10 weeks old.
thanks...

Nody

The young once can't be neutered until 5months/2kg so that would leave the two adults (who definitly need it if you keep on seeing litters every year!). I'd try to move the kittens indoor if possible to socialise them (prepare them for adoption) while going for TNR on the adult once and leave them outside preliminary (if they are very cuddly / social they may be adoptable as well).

loveisdivine

Try and rehome any that are becoming tame, then neuter whats left and leave them where they are to live out their lives peacefully.

Has your older cat shown any stress from them being there?

Realtine

loveisdivine wrote: »

Try and rehome any that are becoming tame, then neuter whats left and leave them where they are to live out their lives peacefully.

Has your older cat shown any stress from them being there?

She has a bit, more if mammy and daddy are present though.
The rescue centres I have contacted are full and can't do anything at the moment. I have to visit our vet tomorrow and I will discuss with them what to do. If I didn't have our older cat I wouldn't mind so much once they were neutered but as a previous poster said they are still too young - but I'll have a chat with our vet and see what we can do.
As far as I know the DSPCA will put down the cats if not re-homed but I don't want that to be honest. We'll keep trying to find a solution hopefully before too long.