I now have 3 kittens from the wild in my house!

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I've been watching them for the last couple of weeks.
They've been living under a shed with their mom.
I got one of those hav-a-hart traps.
I was hoping to catch the mom first then the kittens.

I wound up catching two at once, this afternoon, the the other one a little bit later.
I'm sure the mom won't go into the cage anymore.
She was actually going in there with the kittens to eat the food I put in there.

I wanted to get the mom fixed, shots, etc. then let her go again, but keep the kittens.

I've never been one to keep pets. My wife and daughter did/do, but when I was still with them, they weren't my pets.

Anyway, I know this should be pretty simple stuff... feed, water, clean up after, play.

It still freaks me out a bit though. I'M TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR LIVES HERE!

I told my daughter today that we'll keep them until they're old enough to go for their first check ups... then we'd see if we were going to keep any of them or all of them.
We went to the vet today, but they said take'em back home for a couple more weeks... too young, and I need to make an appointment.

I have a friend who is really good with animals. She seems to know a lot, or at least she cares enough to get all sorts of info on the animals she adopts.
She told me about the food situation for cats (regarding chicken meal in catfood), and I'm hoping she will get back to me about that.
But, due to circumstances, I'm not sure how much she will be able to help me out with these cats.

So, what sorts of advice do you cat owners have for a first-time kitten owner?

We caught them today... I think I already said that... and went to the feed store and now we have:
-cat carrier (big enough for the three of them for a little while I figure)
-soft cat bed
-carpeted cat tower (a really short one with one cave-like space and a top where they can sit out in the open)
-catbox and cat sand with scooper handle
-food & water bowls (the kind that are flat on the bottom and won't tip over)
-wet & dry kitten food

Like I said, the vet told us to bring the kittens back in 2-3 weeks when they're older.
I guess they'll get shots?

They're really scared right now (being kidnapped from their mom... THAT part bums me out, but I hope their life will be better than out on the streets).

We have them in the bathroom with all their stuff because I figured it was a small space that would be easy to clean up.

Wow, I totally get this. I captured my cat Sabu from the streets where she had been living for about a year. Now she's like Cher. :
Bottled water, organic raw food, enzymes, anti-oxidants, fish oils, and two beds.

Last edited by michel on 21 Sep 2007, 10:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Ah three KITTENS! How wonderful.

It sounds like you've pretty much thought of everything for them, wsmac.

The only thing I would mention, which is something I remember from when I had kittens is, once you get them happy with whatever food you're giving them, don't alter it too much while they are still young. Food changes can upset their stomachs when they're still small.

Oh and give them plenty of gentle human contact - strokes and cuddles and playing with them! (once they settle down and stop being scared) Now is the time they become socialised and used to people.

Have fun

Kittens and adolescent cats are the most adorable yet frustrating creatures.
One second they can be happily snuggled in your lap purring contentedly, the next they can be tearing around your living room knocking things off surfaces and trying to kill your blinds/curtains.
Dont give up on them though, just be patient and try to hide away your fragile ornaments.
It will be worth it, you will be rewarded with a loving companion (master), regular entertainment, and a nice soft hot water bottle in cold weather.

they sound adorable. If they are six weeks old or less make sure to continue giving them some kitten formula for at least a week. If you can, hold them as much as possible. the earlier they have contact with people, the better the more relaxed they will be. Maybe mom cat can be trapped still. Keep trying. kitties dont take too well with their kids disappearing. It makes them depressed. Ahh, i am so jealous. All my babies are grown.

Five of my nine cats are ferals. We did the TS/NR (Trap Spay/Neuter Return) and they live in our back yard. They are now six and seven years old, a good age for ferals.

What do the kittens look like? They sound wonderful. Good luck to you.

wsmac, I love you. A soft cat bed and a carpeted tower...you're an excellent cat dad. I'm sure you'll do just fine, your heart's in the right place, that's all that's necessary. Everything else will work itself out. Have no fear.

kittens are born killing machines... that's why we decided to domesticate them in the first place.

My friend suggested this to me.
I called one agency and was referred to another. I have yet to call the second one.
This is what I wanted to do for the mom.



GUUULP! Guess I'm glad I decided to domesticate these kittens! Wouldn't want to be attacked and dragged back under the shed someday by all three.

THANKS for all the comments and suggestions everyone!

I may get pictures up soon.

All I can think of to say, (You've done an excellent job so far,) is don't let anyone play rough with them. A friend of mine got a new kitten. Her boyfriend kept playing really rough with it, fake fighting, tickling, etc. Now, if you come in her front door for a visit, this half grown cat will attack your ankles, biting and kicking ferociously, all in fun, with lethal nails and claws. The only thing you can pray for ,is that she's recently had her claws trimmed, and then it doesn't hurt so much.

We'll play nice!

I got home today from school and found that I now have the mom in the trap.
It big enough for her to stand up in, and walk a tiny bit, but I really hope I can find someone who can take her tomorrow and 'fix' her, give shots, etc.

I think the County Animal Shelter is the one to do all that stuff.
I will call them in the morning and hopefully they can take her tomorrow. I'm willing to pay for the stuff if necessary (if they don't' have a T-N-R program).

We'll see.

I fed the kitties when I got home. One actually started eating while I was right there.
The other two are still pretty scared and shy.
I can pet them, but I don't push it if they try to back away from me.

My daughter is at her Mom's house until Friday night, so I'm on my own til then.

I remember when I brought my current cat home from the pound. She was all bewildered and frightened, and I wanted to just pick her up and hug her. It was so hard to restrain myself, but I did. She was also sore from her spaying. I cleared a space on my bookshelves, cause I knew that she would like to sit up there. It was the exact dimensions of the cage she had been in at the pound. I also fixed up a hiding spot in the closet, with old clothes on the floor, knowing she might want to hide for awhile. Now we are close as anything.

Do you have something they can use as a scratching post to keep their claws from getting too long? Of course there's trimming with a clipper if they'll hold still. Momma kitty could be a problem to trim that way.

They are born killers, and sneaky. They'll all lay on you while you're asleep and purr you to death. Oh, the horror.

I may be getting the Mom fixed tomorrow morning. Trouble is, they want me to pick her up an hour after I am already at work.
I'm trying to find out if a friend of mine in town can pick her up, and I'll get her Saturday morning.

If not, then it'll be Monday, I guess.

I'm not going to keep the kittens.
I can't explain it, but I just can't keep animals all by myself.
Everyone I tell this to just tells me, "Oh, cats pretty much take care of themselves.".

Well, actually, I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM!
I have to make sure I keep food for them at the house when I don't even keep my fridge and cabinets stocked with more than a day or two of regular food for everyday meals.

I have to remember to feed, water and clean the box... EVERYDAY!

They will want attention sometimes and I can't always do that.
All animals have similar habits of constant licking and other things that really irritate me.
It's not that I dislike these behaviors.... I just can't tolerate them and it's not fair for me to try to make them stop or chase them away.
I also don't want to have to get up and leave the room everytime either.

I've tried, but the last couple of days have shown me that I am not a pet person all by myself.

These are really cute kittens and I really hope I can find them a good home.

This is really agonizing for me, but I'll have to figure something else out.

I do not want to turn them loose before they are 'fixed', but I can't live with them for 4-6 months until their little bodies change enough for them to be ready for the surgery.

Still, I have been spending time in the bathroom with them.
I lie there on the floor they come slowly up to me sniffing.

I had a baggy pair of shorts on last night and two of them crawled inside the legs of my shorts!
They didn't go too far, but just hung out there for a bit then crawled back out.
I thought that was so funny.

I'm just glad they didn't use anything as a scratching post!

I feel bad for not being more patient with stuff, but it has never been something I could control.
I wouldn't get violent with them for it, but I just get all worked up and stressed out at those repetitive things.
Otherwise, I do like cats.

edited

Someone who didn't want three more cats running loose in the world with the ability to have more homeless kittens who would run loose in the world having more homeless kittens who would run loose in the world having more homeless kittens....

Not to mention...

Three more predators decendant from human domesticated cats, loose on the naturally wild bird and rodent population (not just mice and rats... who do, by the way, have a place in the wild world).

Please keep in mind that these kittens would not live with their mom in the same way humans do.
They would wind up on their own in a town that literally has cats wandering every street day & night.
I literally have never seen so many cats in one town, in my life... all because people won't take the steps to control their "pets" and have them fixed if they are not going to breed them.

So... go ahead manalitwist and give me all the crap you want. Call me names, talk about me in every forum you can think of, curse me out loud while you sit at your computer.

I've got my own issues to deal with... you'll have to deal with yours without me