Feeding Stray Cats

[Stanley Burrell]

Hey, I'm allergic to cats and don't think it would be very wise to bring a stray into my parents' house or my living space, but I feel seriously bad for a litter that's been getting pounded and pelted by what's been an absolutely nasty summer season of rain and rain and more rain.

My question is, how do I give these guys a bit to eat without doing something dumb, like accidentally overpopulating them or attracting other unwanted animals. Also, what kind of foods should I use and how should I set things up?

Frickin' non-stop mewling and crying is making me feel bad for the poor bastards.

[Androidpk]

I have a Chinese friend that would love to take care of all of those kittens for you.

[radamanthys]

HAHA! You have a soul.

[Mikalmas]

Hey, I'm allergic to cats and don't think it would be very wise to bring a stray into my parents' house or my living space, but I feel seriously bad for a litter that's been getting pounded and pelted by what's been an absolutely nasty summer season of rain and rain and more rain.

My question is, how do I give these guys a bit to eat without doing something dumb, like accidentally overpopulating them or attracting other unwanted animals. Also, what kind of foods should I use and how should I set things up?

Frickin' non-stop mewling and crying is making me feel bad for the poor bastards.

Where are they hanging out? Around your house I assume? Do they belong to someone's cat, or do you think the mother cat is a stray? Are they feral, or can you get close to them/touch them? Sounds like you probably need to find a TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) program in your area, or try to find outwho the owner is. Are they newborns? Its possible the mom has came to have them close to you and might go back home when they're older (that's assuming they're not a stray). Its tough, because if you start feeding them they're certainly NOT going to go away, they'll likely stay around. But I understand not wanting them to be hungry, so a rescue or TNR is probably your best bet.

[Stanley Burrell]

They're hanging out in a sort of rocky crevice area with a couple of pines before the land evens out (it's about 65 feet from my folks' house.)

All I hear is "meowmeowmeowmeowmeowmeowmeowmeowmeowmeowmeowmeowme owmeowmeowmeowmeow meow."

So I checked it out -- And I don't know if the mom herself is feral, but the kittens definitely are (two are really tiny). They look absolutely ridiculous after it rains, and definitely not happy. I don't know diddly about cats, but I started hearing the Meow-Mix advertisement constantly right after tiny cats started appearing, I'm guessing they were born pretty recently.

I didn't know cats went to specific locations, per se, to give birth.

Is there a certain amount of time I should let go by before calling a TNR program? I noticed the meowing about a week ago.

And yeah, just if I'm going to give them food, what kind of containers/types of food should I give them? So far cooked chicken seems O.K. :shrug:


You have a soul/My Asian friend owns a restaurant

Bah and bah.

[radamanthys]

I wish I knew the answer, heh.

[Androidpk]

Because I do like cats.

http://cat-care.suite101.com/article.cfm/what_to_feed_a_kitten

And not as food :D

[Belnia]

Give them something dry to hide in. Old dog house, or even just get some cheap plywood and make them a little shelter. Extra points if you throw some old towels/clothes in there to stay warmer at night.

We've had very little luck catching the parent cats, but the kittens aren't too hard to catch for neuter/release programs. 2 of our housecats were former alley cats that decided to come in and stay for the air conditioning and tuna. Or if you get really attached, Allegra is over-the-counter now and does wonders for cat allergies.

[diethx]

Give them something dry to hide in. Old dog house, or even just get some cheap plywood and make them a little shelter. Extra points if you throw some old towels/clothes in there to stay warmer at night.

We've had very little luck catching the parent cats, but the kittens aren't too hard to catch for neuter/release programs. 2 of our housecats were former alley cats that decided to come in and stay for the air conditioning and tuna. Or if you get really attached, Allegra is over-the-counter now and does wonders for cat allergies.

This.

And please, please, PLEASE make sure if you do contact a shelter or whatever to help you trap and neuter/spay them, make SURE if they're keeping them to find homes for them that they are a NO-KILL shelter. It's very important though that you do get in touch with one of these places and get them fixed somehow, otherwise your problem will just grow.

As for food, I would recommend going to your local pet store or supermarket and buying some dry kitten food. Just make sure whatever you put the food in, the sides aren't too high or the little guys won't be able to get their heads inside to eat. And stick with fresh water instead of milk. Small (disposable or real) tupperware containers should do okay, so long as the walls are low.

I'd also recommend talking to Killer Kitten as i'm sure she has some awesome advice about this, since this is practically what she does for a living and all.

[LMingrone]

Here's my suggestion. Don't mess with cats you don't know.
A friend of mine called us up last week saying that she had a cat for us. (We already have one, and were looking for a companion.)

I asked the normal questions...Is it fixed, house trained, de-clawed?
Got an answer of "Yes!" for all three questions.

So, they bring the cat over. It's VERY cute at first. Was rubbing up against us all. Then.........BAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

You ever see a cartoon with a cat latched onto someone's arm with a dust cloud all around? Yeah, that was me. A two year old cat ripped my muscles in my right wrist, and now I have Cat Scratch Fever. Stupid cats.

Turns out it wasn't fixed or de-clawed. I bet my doctors are happy with the extra few hundred bucks.

/Cat is in a safe home now. I'd never shelter one.

[diethx]

You deserve more than your arm muscles ripped if you actually get your cats de-clawed. Douche.

[LMingrone]

I didn't get it de-clawed, and would never do that to a feline. I'd be like getting my hands chopped off, and I'm not cool with that.

I just got the cat dropped off to me thinking it was fixed and de-clawed. Only reason being is that my current cat is the laziest one you've ever seen.

The second I bring the new one in, he attacks Joe's (my good cat) face, and then sinks his claws and fangs into my arm. The previous owner complained when she had to come pick it back up. She's lucky I'm not trying to get my medical bills paid for. It's going to cost me at least $300 in the end, for a cat I held for one day. My fault.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

This.

And please, please, PLEASE make sure if you do contact a shelter or whatever to help you trap and neuter/spay them, make SURE if they're keeping them to find homes for them that they are a NO-KILL shelter. It's very important though that you do get in touch with one of these places and get them fixed somehow, otherwise your problem will just grow.

As for food, I would recommend going to your local pet store or supermarket and buying some dry kitten food. Just make sure whatever you put the food in, the sides aren't too high or the little guys won't be able to get their heads inside to eat. And stick with fresh water instead of milk. Small (disposable or real) tupperware containers should do okay, so long as the walls are low.

I'd also recommend talking to Killer Kitten as i'm sure she has some awesome advice about this, since this is practically what she does for a living and all.

I agree with this.

[Mikalmas]

A lot of TNR programs will loan you traps to catch the queen. As others have said, the kittens are usually pretty easy to catch. Do you think they're old enough to eat, or are they still nursing? If they're nursing, food for Mom is the most important thing (and dry shelter, of course). Meow Mix isn't the best food (its primarily corn and coloring, bad stuff), but it's definitely better than no food at all!

The thing with TNR programs is most of them will assist you with supporting the colony, but usually can't help with placement. Every rescue/TNR/shelter I know if is absolutely overburdened as it is and can't take in more :( Unfortunately, this is kitten season. I was at the local humane society the other day evaluationg a siamese for Siamese Rescue, and every single cage was filled with kittens. Its heartbreaking. But that being said, if there's just one or two cats and kittens, sometimes you can get the TNR to relocate them to an existing colony somewhere else (but if there's more than one queen and kittens, they probably can't relocate another entire colony unless they're in danger from construction, demolition, etc.)

Sounds like TNR (with relocation) or a rescue is your best bet. Rescues are pretty covered up, so I wouldn't hold my breath there. But do try to provide some sort of dry shelter for them if you can, and start calling around. Your local Humane Society might ahve some contact info for TNR if they're feral.

[Allereli]

Cat: the other white meat

[diethx]

I didn't get it de-clawed, and would never do that to a feline. I'd be like getting my hands chopped off, and I'm not cool with that.

I just got the cat dropped off to me thinking it was fixed and de-clawed. Only reason being is that my current cat is the laziest one you've ever seen.

The second I bring the new one in, he attacks Joe's (my good cat) face, and then sinks his claws and fangs into my arm. The previous owner complained when she had to come pick it back up. She's lucky I'm not trying to get my medical bills paid for. It's going to cost me at least $300 in the end, for a cat I held for one day. My fault.

Okay, the way you said it, it made it sound like you wouldn't have a cat in your house unless it was de-clawed. I take back the "douche".

edit: Oh and yeah, Meow Mix is better than no food at all, for sure. However if you don't mind spending a little extra money, I prefer Purina PRO PLAN (it's what I feed my cats). They make a kitten formula in a few different flavors, and either should work. I go with chicken & rice cuz it stinks less.

[Stanley Burrell]

Well, they ate a can of tuna, and bits and pieces of cooked chicken (I put it on some printer paper, so it wouldn't be touching the floor.)

The biggest of the little guys seemed adventurous enough to stare at me and flick his ear, so I went away and I think they finished up. In about two hours from now is when the meowing starts.

If I put water in a tupperware container, is it dangerous if rainwater gets inside? Sadly, I mean this, I don't know how the water thing is supposed to go.

Using printer paper to put chicken and maybe some turkey on still a good idea for the ones whose face are still on ground level?

[ElanthianSiren]

They sell a compound at Petco called Just Born for Cats.

KK could probably tell you more about how it's worked for her or IF it has. I used it once with success.

[Keller]

My grandmother-in-law feeds a whole mess of feral cats/raccoons in her NEIGHBORHOOD.

Whenever we go to her house for family gatherings, I am reminded that the best cure for feral cats is a pellet gun.

[4a6c1]

Good for you Ben, thats some major good karma you're reigning in.

First borrow a trap from a local feline shelter and have the mother trapped and spayed. This will cost you nothing except the time it takes to call a shelter and find out which one has a volunteer vet on call and humane traps that they will let you borrow. You will be saving hundreds of lives by doing this one thing.

Next get a cardboard box and put the kittens in a cool dry place for the next 9 months. Feed/Water/Clean shit box as needed. When they are 9 months have them spayed/neutered.

The shelter you ally yourself with will most likely offer to supply you with all the food and/or litter you need. They will name you a foster parent and will even find these cats homes when after they are fixed. Or they will just take them off your hands if you dont have the time for them now.

Most important part is finding a shelter to help you. There are professionals who deal with these sorts of things. And I am not talking about the SPCA.

search your local here for a shelter. www.petfinder.com

Also. If you dont help those cats you will go to hell. I'm a Catholic, I talk to Jesus Direct via the Money in the Basket. I know these things.

[diethx]

You can have cats fixed well before 9 months.

[Mikalmas]

You can have cats fixed well before 9 months.

This. Waiting nine months will almost certainly ensure they've had enough time to have a litter of kittens themselves. Cats can go in heat as young as 6 months old. And I've seen it happen.

Best bet is probably in the 3-6 months range, though generally weight is a more accurate assessment. I can't remember exactly, but the weight requirement (I think) is somewhere around 5-6 pounds. Or maybe its 3. Hell, I can't remember.

As for fostering, most foster situations are volunteer basis. Shelters/Rescue organizations will often provide veterinary care for foster animals, but you're on your own with food and litter, at least with all the rescues I've dealt with. TNR organizations will generally provide a humane trap for you to use though, and will probably work with you getting them spayed/neutered, again, this is assuming it's one queen with one litter of kittens and not a part of a larger colony.

[Stanley Burrell]

Thanks everyone, I have a huuuge box coming tomorrow I'll use for the guys.

Just again about the water, how should that be kept/distributed?

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

Thanks everyone, I have a huuuge box coming tomorrow I'll use for the guys.

Just again about the water, how should that be kept/distributed?

In a shallow bowl, probably something of the heavier variety so it can't be easily knocked over. But keep it relatively shallow so they can reach it.

Don't worry about rain water getting into it.

[4a6c1]

Well MY shelter gives the fosters food and litter.

/trans-shelter snobbery

I'm not vet. I just know the vet always operates when the litters are 9 months. But she is a busy lady and completely pro-bono so that figures.

[diethx]

probably something of the heavier variety so it can't be easily knocked over.

So important, especially with kittens.

[Tisket]

In a shallow bowl, probably something of the heavier variety so it can't be easily knocked over. But keep it relatively shallow so they can reach it.

Don't worry about rain water getting into it.

Maybe they will drown themselves if it isn't shallow though! Save SB some hassle.





JUST KIDDING. If people can laugh at dead baby jokes, I get to laugh at dead kitten jokes! Actually I laugh at them both but whatever.

[Kuyuk]

I brought home a nice swordfish steak for my cat tonight, she looked at it, looked at me, and said WTF and walked away.

Stuck up bitch.

http://mirror.servut.us/kuvat/omg_wtf_cat.jpg

[Killer Kitten]

Hi, sorry I haven't been around. Kitten season is a killer.

What I would recommend is that you trap the whole bunch. Spay and release Mama cat if she's too hostile or frightened to handle. The life of a stray is not ideal, but if you give her a shelter and food she should do better than most.

The kittens can be fixed when they hit 2 pounds, which is about 8 to 9 weeks old. If they are feral, you can work on taming them down prior to re-homing them or you can re-release them with Mama and have your own feral colony. If they are able to be re-homed I would advertise them on Craigslist and always charge a re-homing fee. This generally discourages the pit bull baiters and snake feeders.

For cat allergies I recommend Zyrtec. I am allergic to cats and have asthma, so I take a combination of Singulair and Zyrtec. I rarely get symptoms of either.

There aren't many openings in shelters, especially at this time of year. Everybody is drowning in kittens. Thanks for stepping up and helping them.

[LMingrone]

Yeah, the shelters around here aren't taking strays in. I'm friends with the local warden and he won't even take stray cats in. I've had to just stop taking in any stray animals except for birds, because it's bad for the animals and bad for me.

(Just lost nine infant finches, my ducks are all doing awesome though. I have to go visit them.)

[Stanley Burrell]

I noticed a really weird kitten that wasn't light grey like the other cats, so I went in to get a flashlight and shined it at it to see what kind of new cat was in the area...

Are skunks considered felines :embarrassed:

Less rain, which I'm definitely happy about, and so are they. Had to move the tuna and cat food I bought farther away because they started to follow me back to the house and I can't have that.

When school starts, if they haven't relocated, I'm going to call a TNR.

[LMingrone]

Same here B. There's mad skunks and raccoons in our area. They used to find ways into my garage to get to the cat/dog food. Fucking skunks like to spray when they see a Doberman protecting their food. Trying to sleep with a smell of burning rubber and ass is not easy. Not to mention a pissed off Doberman.

Muskrats are worse though. Those things are evil.

[Miscast]

I think the best answer is to get a girlfriend.