Cat/kitten query

Shewhomustbe...

About 4 days ago I noticed a young cat visiting my garden. I went out to check on her and gave her some food as she looked quite thin and was obviously hungry.
She's been turning up every day since so I kept feeding her.

I was heading out early this afternoon when my b/f came in to tell me there was a kitten hiding under my car. He had initial thought it was the cat from above.
We thought it unusual that a young kitten would be out on their own but they looked ok, jumping around and playing, but was quite nervous of us so we decided best to leave it be.

When we got home I spotted the cat sitting in the back garden so I brought some food out to her where I discovered that there was now her and FOUR kittens, all very hungry.

I don't know if I should bring them to a shelter as the mom looks to be doing a good job of caring for them but I couldn't bare to see any more of them killed (we saw a dead kitten close to where we live on Monday)

The Sweeper

Try and find somewhere near to you that'll house them for rehoming without euthanasing them. But you need to do it sooner rather than later - if they're not socialised they'll never be rehomed because they'll be too frightened of people. If you leave them feral, they can spread disease amongst the domestic cat population, cause a nuisance, and make more kittens.

djmarkus

Are the tame enuf to stroke?

Shewhomustbe...

Minesajackdaniels wrote:

Try and find somewhere near to you that'll house them for rehoming without euthanasing them. But you need to do it sooner rather than later - if they're not socialised they'll never be rehomed because they'll be too frightened of people. If you leave them feral, they can spread disease amongst the domestic cat population, cause a nuisance, and make more kittens.

That's what I thought! We weren't sure when the cat first started coming around if she was someones from the area because she didn't have a collar. She's very comfortable around me and loves the attention. The kittens are all nervous, couldn't really get close to them except when the were eating and even then the jumped away.

kestrel

to be honest, if i were you, i'd just ring the DSPCA or your nearest shelter. they will come and take the kittens with the mother back to where they have the chance of a better life. the mother will get all she needs to look after them properly, and they will be rehomed to loving homes. it's a billion times better than leaving them to lead the life of a feral cat.

Shewhomustbe...

I'm in Longford and the only place I can find is the ISPCA centre.
What I'm worried about is if they put animals down if they can't find homes for them.

doctor evil

Don`t mean to be heartless but not all animals can be saved. I would prefer there to be centres that euthanise animals than ones that keep trundling on even when it is in the animals best interest to be put down. Also the obvious, centres in general are under funded and over stretched.

Sigma Force

Dont' forget the trap netuer return scheme, perhaps your local shelter can organise to take the mum and have her spayed and return her. The kittens and mum should be taken in and tested for feline disease like FLV etc. To make sure they are healthy and won't pass on anything to any other cats, the only thing is that rescues are packed with cats and kittens at the moment but no harm in giving them a ring for advice, mabey they can help with neutering.

It's not a nice thought that they would be put to sleep but rescues do all they can, some have a strict no kill policy but in the end it is more humane to have them pts that let them roam around and be killed by a car or by disease etc. If they are left there any that survive the road will breed and you will end up with a bigger problem.

An option you could offer the shelter is if it's possible for them to spay the mother that you could help out with fostering the kittens and cat until the shelter can find them a home. If rescues had more foster people they wouldn't need to put any healthy animal to sleep.

Hope this helps

Gegerty

My grandmother had kittens in her backgarden and as they got older there were more and more kittens, it got out of control. the RSPCA said they would only put them down and wanted €10 per kitten off her! I'm not sure if she tried cat shelters or not. I think your best bet would be to try and find them homes yourself. Put ads in shop windows and on vet notice boards etc and ask around.

Shewhomustbe...

Thanks everyone.
Found a couple of cat shelters in Mullingar but thought it best if I try to rehome them first myself so if anyone??!??!

My b/f would like to keep the mother but we've already got two house rabbits so would we be looking for trouble or does anyone know if its possible for them to live happily together?

Guineapigrescue, I wouldn't mind fostering them until we found them a new home but there's no way I can afford to spay/neuter five cats, and again worried about my bunnies. They're all in the garden at the minute.

dearg_doom

POTY!! if only for cute-ness:)


Fair play to ye, looks like ye've adopted a whole new family.

If ye have a word with your local vet, they might be able to identify the mother.

But if they are completely wild, be careful around them as cats and kittens can be pretty aggressive as they wouldn't be used to handling. And be careful of disease transmission to your bunnies, like worms etc..

Good luck with them!

Sigma Force

One of the rescues might be able to help with the vets bills is what I meant and then you foster them for them, if rehoming them they will breed as well unless the new owners promise to have them spayed/neutered.

You are right not to put them near the house buns, I wouldn't trust any of my dogs or any cats with my rabbits, even though one of my dogs prefers their pooh rather than the rabbit itself I couldn't risk it.

It would be worth your while enquiring at rescues anyway if anything they should be able to offer some more advice on what's best for everyone.

I'd be in the same situation here if cats turned up, I have no facility for cats or kittens so I'd be in the same dilema

Shewhomustbe...

Quick update.
Sadly we think one of the kittens didn't make it through the night as we have only seen three today.
We managed to get two into a carrier but the third kitten is VERY wary of people. We decided to leave her with her Mom, whom we could have also gotten into a carrier.
The two we managed to get are now in our utility room. One is extremely playful but the other doesn't seem to like people either, runs and hides any time you go near them.
We are going to see if Mom comes back with the other kitten this evening/tonight looking for food and try to get them into the utility room so we can resolve the situation for all of them.

bobbygirl

my cat was the same when i got her first. She had been abandoned as a kitten in a box and she wouldnt let us come anywhere near her for ages without hissing and biting but eventually she was ok and have had her now for over 2 years and she has a great personality so stick with it!!

Irish-Lass

I would contact the ISPCA and not the DSPCA....mammy cat stands a better chance with the ISPCA

Shewhomustbe...

I'm looking for a home for these two sweeties.
Sadly I can't keep them as my bunnies aren't too impressed with their space being invaded!!

The curled up kitten is VERY friendly and playful, he's LOVES attention!!
The guy at the back is still building up his confidence but also has a great personality.

I'll be bringing them to the vet's to get them checked over but as far as I can tell they're in perfect health.

Irish-Lass

We currently have 5 house cats 4 our ares and 1 is a foster we also have a 9 mont old pup but we also had a house rabbit and guinea pig and the rabbit ruled the place and they call got on great together so it can be done, once it is done slowly and over time, but rabbits by nature are nosey or at least our guy was

Shewhomustbe...

"A final word about your cat’s tongue. As she uses it not just to taste, but also for smell, grooming and interaction with other cats, it is best not to let her kiss or lick you. Be sure to explain this to any children who might play with her as well."

Found this piece of info here, http://www.whiskas.co.uk , wondering how bad is it if they do that??

thatkindofgirl

They're gorgeous!!! One of the pet shelters might take them.

Try posting the photo here:

www.petsireland.invisionzone.com

I think a lot of the people there volunteer in shelters and know the story with getting help.

Shewhomustbe...

We've decided to keep them for the moment, forever if all goes well with introducing them to our rabbits.
The timid guy got sick, the vet said it could have been brought on by stress so we are keeping things nice and relaxed for him. Thankfully today he seems in much better shape.

Sigma Force

It's great that you have deceided to take them on and see how it goes, be careful introducing them to rabbits and never leave them un supervised even after time no matter how well they get on.
*From a paranoid bunny mum*

doctor evil

I thought you were male guineapigrescue!

Ronan|Raven

If you choose to keep them get them neutered asap. Otherwise there will be more hairy babies! It is hard ot get homes lately for them I find I have magnificent pride of the beasts! Cost a small fortune to keep them all but such as it is.