Now that weather is warm the feral and stray cats that have
not been spayed or neutered are breeding and there are sounds of kittens
meowing in the woods.
Kitten season is
here and it will run from spring to fall but when the weather starts to cool
down then the cats will stop breeding. During the cat breeding season the city and neighborhood
shelters will become inundated with thousands of adorable stray kittens that
need homes desperately. The kittens that
are not caught and taken off the streets will be left to fend for themselves
and will become feral.
Yesterday I found a stray kitten hiding under my neighbor’s
deck. The first thing that I did was look for the mother cat. The kitten may be weaned or she may have been
moved to this area by the mother cat.
I
informed my neighbors that there was a kitten under their deck. I asked them to watch for the mother cat and
let them know that I would trap the cat family.
We all watched for the mother cat and did not see her. This was an indication that the stray kitten
may be older and had been weaned.
Since
mother cat was not around I decided to approach the kitten to find out if it
was people friendly. The kitten hissed
at me which was an indication that this kitten was probably feral. She did not run from her hiding place but
instead held her ground and in her "cat way" told me in so many hisses to stay
away.
See bellow feral kitten cards that I designed at my zazzle
shop. The images used are of cats that I care for at the colony. See mother cat watching black kitten in the background. This little kitten was not weaned.
Catching Stray Kittens
Get ready to catch a stray cat by showering with hunter’s
soap. Lather up with this soap and it
will take away the human scent.
Gather cat supplies;
cat carrier that is lined with newspaper, feliway behavior modifier spray and a
half can of kitten food that is diluted with water. Mix the food and water well to make
gravy.
Before I go out to catch stray kittens I will spray heavy
leather gloves with the feliway. The gloves will protect my hands from being
bitten or scratched. I will wear
protective clothing: leather boots, socks heavy denim pants and long sleeve
shirt. All clothing will be treated with
Feliway behavior modifier spray 75 ml. I
spray the formula onto my clothing, boots and socks.
Feliway behavior modifier simulates a cat’s natural
pheromones and it comforts the cat by relieving stress. I find it is helpful when trying to catch
stray kittens or cats because it creates a state of security and helps the cat
to cope with a new human, crate or home.
Put away all phones as any noise will frighten the kitten.
The first step to catching a stray kitten is to communicate
with food and water. A hungry cat
will get close to the human that is feeding them. I find that a strong kitten food
like salmon and ocean fish entrée for kittens will attract stray cats
quickly especially if they are hungry.
Note if you are not an experienced cat trapper then do not attempt to
catch a stray kitten. Instead contact
your local cat network to inquire about trappers in your area.
Approach the kitten where it is hiding by walking
slowly. Do not make eye contact with the
kitten as they will feel threatened.
Sit
down on the ground and keep your eyes to the ground. Set the food and water directly in front of
the open cat carrier, close enough so you can grab the kitten by the scruff and
put into the carrier.
If the kitten will not allow you to grab them then plan to
catch with a live animal trap. Obtain a trap
by borrowing one from your local animal control, humane society, and
veterinarian or contact your local cat network.
Ask to borrow a trap and follow instruction on how to safely set up and
trap cats.
Note:
The scent that your body is projecting is that of a cat’s natural pheromones.
The stray kitten will approach the food slowly with cautious steps. Be prepared to wait awhile because the stray kitten may linger in their hiding spot and approach the food very slowly.
The scent that your body is projecting is that of a cat’s natural pheromones.
The stray kitten will approach the food slowly with cautious steps. Be prepared to wait awhile because the stray kitten may linger in their hiding spot and approach the food very slowly.
It is best to sit quietly and refrain from speaking to the kitten, as your voice may frighten them. Think positive thoughts and project a calm energy.
Sgolis recommends these Cat Adoption Guide posts.
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