A cat, who is clearly a stray, has had a litter of four kittens in our garden. Judging by their size, they look to be about 6 weeks old (give or take a week). The mum is constantly watching over them and growls and hisses if we get too close. We've been giving them wet kitten food, which they scoff down every evening. In short, we've managed to film them, but there's no way we can get within two metres of them. This means it's impossible to tell if they're boys or girls or to put a listing up, especially as we have no idea how we'd even catch them. We've already got two cats of our own, so we can't take on another one. We've asked around all our friends but nobody seems that keen... what should we do? If we leave them, will they just have more litters next year? If we call the local pound, will they put them down because of overpopulation?
We managed to film them here: https://youtu.be/3QB2DyVCg-w
Translated from French
The forum content is sometimes translated from another language, and posts may concern countries with different animal laws. Do your research before making any decisions.
Since the forum is translated by AI, the translations may contain errors.
Hi again,
I’ve just watched your video, and I have to say a couple of things have struck me as a bit odd.
The kittens look really quite chunky, with lovely coats, and seem very healthy for kittens born outdoors. To me, they look at least eight weeks old.
The second thing is the way they’re eating; none of them are taking their food out of the bowl to eat it further away, which is what you’d usually see with a cat that’s gone hungry or has a feral background.
You managed to film them for 30 minutes without them seeming bothered and without the mum showing up.
I wouldn’t be surprised if these kittens had been dropped off recently by a neighbour.
Hi there, if they are nearly two months old and haven't had any human contact since birth, it's going to take a lot of socialisation work to get them ready for rehoming. If your own cats aren't up to date with their jabs, it’s best to avoid getting too close to them yourself. Do you have a local animal rescue nearby that could help you trap them so they can be looked after? If the mum is feral, she can always be neutered and released back as a community cat. How long has this family been in your garden?
Hi,
It’s true that this isn't an easy situation to deal with. It’s really kind of you to have fed the kittens, especially since you can’t even get near them and the mum isn't yours.
Given your situation, the best thing to do is to contact a local rescue, the RSPCA, or even vet surgeries (as some work in partnership with animal charities). These types of organisations should be able to help you rehome the kittens, especially as they're still very young and usually quite easy to find homes for.
As for the mum, unless it’s truly impossible to get close to her, the best thing would be to have her spayed so that this doesn't keep happening every year. You can also look into this with a local rescue.
Juliette
Right, just looking at them, I’d say there are three males and one female (the long-haired one).
They seem to be in great nick, but you’re right, you’re nowhere near being able to get close to them, let alone get them rehomed.
The worry is that you’ve got cats of your own, and strays often carry diseases. If they’ve been feral for several generations, they can be resistant to illnesses while still being carriers.
Speaking from experience, I’d suggest you don’t try to lure them any closer to the house. Instead, try getting in touch with a local rescue to see about trapping them. But don’t mention that you’ve been feeding them...
If you do try anything else, I really hope your own cats’ vaccinations are all up to date. Your best bet would be to lure the mum over, as the kittens will follow her. However, you’ll have to start socialising them before they can be put up for adoption, and to be blunt, if you don’t manage that, you’ll be stuck with them...
Also, you can hear a fast road nearby in the video, so their chances of survival are pretty slim if they aren't taken in...
Hi there,
They look quite alert and active already; I’d say they’re nearly 2 months old. It’s great that the mum is still looking after them, as the behavioural weaning she provides is vital for their development later on.
'If we leave them, will they have litters next year?' Er, no—more like in about 5 months. As for the mum, she’ll likely be pregnant again in, say, 2 or 3 weeks.
Could you contact a local rescue or animal charity (like the RSPCA or a local cat shelter) who could take them in and get them sorted out medically? (Microchipping, vaccinations, worming, and flea treatment). Kittens are usually adopted pretty quickly; it’s the adults that tend to be overlooked. If the charity could get the mum spayed, that would be brilliant. They’re used to trapping cats.
Thanks for what you’re doing for them, and don't forget to keep their fresh water topped up often when it’s hot.
