Any ideas on homing socialised feral older kittens?

[Seymour]

I'm experienced with cat colonies and TNR. Currently we have a colony of 8, 4 males and 4 females.They live in our backyard and the wooded area adjacent to our yard. It's a pretty stable colony and the cats are healthy and well-cared for.

Back in the spring two of the females showed up with kittens. All in all there were six feral kittens and I captured each one. It took me a while to get the trap I needed (I had one sufficient for the adult, but the adult trap could have injured a kitten if one small one followed another in and snapped shut without the second kitten clearing it.)

So I got a late start on working with these little guys.

I have had plenty of experience socializing feral kittens, but this crew was tough. Because of the space situation I could not separate them the way I would normally (it's been my experience that wildness is reinforced in feral kittens kept together—they feed off one another), so it's been a long road to prepare them for new homes.

I will add here that I am advanced in years, as is my husband. We have much older cats that have been with us for 13 to 17 years. My grown children have pets of their own and we had planned not to permanently acquire new pets because we don't want them to have to readjust to new homes once we are gone. I planned to foster for a local animal shelter so I could get my cat fix.

All my little guys have been neutered or spayed, received their shots, wormed and given a clean bill of health. We also had them microchipped. One has been placed a new home and he is doing very well. Since these guys still have that feral mindset, new owners have to know they may have to work with them a bit during the early adjustment period. My vet is looking for good homes for them, too.

And here is my dilemma: they are older now and not small. I am adamant that they go to good, lifelong homes and kept indoors. I will vet anyone who wants them. Around here cats, kittens and dogs are often acquired by people for nefarious purposes. They use the animals for bait to train dogs to fight. In one case, two guys were getting "free" kittens and then feeding them to their snakes. For that reason, I am not advertising them.

So my question, anyone have any ideas on how to find the type of owners I want for these guys? I don't care how long it takes. I am not trying to unload them, but they really need homes of their own. And when one is placed, I make sure the new owners know they can bring it back at any time in its life if it doesn't work out.

I appreciate any advice. Our newspaper is little more than a shoppers guide and no one reads it. Online forums like Craigslist are populated by scammers. I have tried doing word of mouth, but honestly, most of my friends are shut-ins or have passed away.

Appreciate your thoughts.

Seymour

 

[poolcat]

Hi Seymour,
These are certainly lucky ferals to have you on their side.

Is Nextdoor.com active in your area? If so, you could do a search and figure out who in your city/area/neighborhood is a cat lover. (Animal lovers are very active on my town's Nextdoor feed.) Then message those folks and ask them if they know anyone who might be interested in your cats. Ask them to keep you in mind if they hear of someone looking for a young cat.

How are you planning to vet the people who inquire about them? (I'm just curious.)

Carol

 

[Seymour]

Hi Seymour,
These are certainly lucky ferals to have you on their side.

Is Nextdoor.com active in your area? If so, you could do a search and figure out who in your city/area/neighborhood is a cat lover. (Animal lovers are very active on my town's Nextdoor feed.) Then message those folks and ask them if they know anyone who might be interested in your cats. Ask them to keep you in mind if they hear of someone looking for a young cat.

How are you planning to vet the people who inquire about them? (I'm just curious.)

Carol

Hi poolcat,

I'll keep that in mind. I know when someone finds a stray and posts it on Neighbors, there are generally lots of people who say they will take it if the owners aren't found. I am deeply suspicious of people who just jump in and offer to take an animal without knowing anything about it. I also tend to be suspicious of motives.

A lot of it stems from a local animal rescue who ran the cat side of the house and made all of the rescue clinic runs. Some of the members of the rescue had cause to go to her home and found dozens of cats—many sick and starving and housed in a filth. There were also two dead ones. She'd also kept cats that were special cases with money raised from the public (like one kitty found shot and left in a ditch) and no one could answer what she did with the money. The local animal cruelty investigator said, "nothing to see here" and eventually the woman moved. Oh, and on the surface she seemed like the kind of person you'd trust with animals: an elementary school teacher married to an attorney. So very deceptive.

I was totally disgusted.

I usually vet by asking for veterinarian references and permission to to check with them. I also (on the advice of my own vet) charge them a small amount—$25—to weed out the people who use kitties as bait animals.They don't want to pay for them if they can get them for free.

I am very cautious, I know. But I love these little guys. If I were younger, I'd keep them.

Thank you for replying.

 

[LivnDedCatLady]

We have a very large feral cat population where I live and I have a big heart with a soft spot when it comes to cats. I’ve taken in many and found homes and some of those homes were with me. People started dropping off pregnant cats or young kittens at my house and for a time it was overwhelming bc I had more cats than homes for them. 3 kittens showed up the same day, larger and older and very feral. We started by putting food outside for them. Then by the door, then inside the door, and slowly in the kitchen with the others. At first they’d remind them they were outsiders but very quickly they were taken in and my older cats who were mothers loved on them as if they were their own and that’s when the others fully accepted them. They were still weary of us humans though. I felt like they longed to engage with us but were afraid. I started putting their food down and when they’d come to eat I could pet them and they would purr and put their tails and butts up. I started doing that when I’d feed them then would slowly call them to me or sit still in one place for awhile and they’d come to lay. They’re not all the way there yet but they are making great progress.

I have my cats who have been with me many years and will forever some were from the pregnant mothers dropped off at my house when we couldn’t find homes or one fell through and we would form a bond. I feel my cats all have a special role in teaching the feral cats to trust. The mother cats especially. We’ve gotten them all fixed which is a must around here bc there are just so many homeless cats and it’s just as important to fix the males bc of that. I never want to be a part of the problem that makes this such a large issue where I live so every one we home is fixed first or has their appointment made and paid for before leaving. Since I get so many fixed we get a reduced rate and it only costs 20 for males and 30 for females.

It’s wonderful your community has someone like you and I’ve also seen the dark side of this and it’s horrors it puts the pressure back onto us for sure to make sure we arent putting our babies into the hands of monsters who do those things. Nothing here ever happens to them either. There was one person poisoning all the local feral cat colonies. Including one my daughter and I cared for by my husbands shop. I will never forget the day we showed up to care for them and seeing the horror in her eyes. It was heart wrenching. Especially when local authorities did absolutely nothing to stop it. They didn’t have the resources to look out for someone doing this at the cat colonies according to them but I assure you they have more numbers in our tiny town than cities have in theirs and most of them higher salaries too but that’s because they focus on traffic violations and that’s it. All it would have taken is scoping out 1 or 2 colonies to see who was doing it and the sheriffs office had 5 colonies all within 1 mile from it. I won’t go down that road though.

I hope you find them a great happy home, I’m sure they’ll start to warm up once they trust that you’re the one caring for them. I would also look into any local groups who care for and home them and you could call your local spca and animal control number to ask them for info of some and they will likely know a few. I know our local animal control has started working with the local groups to help find homes and they’ve stopped euthanizing ever since. Facebook may show local groups if you know of any local lost pet groups on there you can ask them. You don’t have to say why or can say you’re looking to contribute so people don’t automatically assume you’ve got kittens your homing. I’ve known some people to buy cat houses and set their backyard up to keep them warm and fed through winter and cool and fed through summer when they can’t have them indoors and the cat houses are very nice and the cats are very happy, she still spends time loving on them and socializing. It can be done for sure. I wish you the best of luck.

 

[maggie101]

Hi poolcat,

I'll keep that in mind. I know when someone finds a stray and posts it on Neighbors, there are generally lots of people who say they will take it if the owners aren't found. I am deeply suspicious of people who just jump in and offer to take an animal without knowing anything about it. I also tend to be suspicious of motives.

A lot of it stems from a local animal rescue who ran the cat side of the house and made all of the rescue clinic runs. Some of the members of the rescue had cause to go to her home and found dozens of cats—many sick and starving and housed in a filth. There were also two dead ones. She'd also kept cats that were special cases with money raised from the public (like one kitty found shot and left in a ditch) and no one could answer what she did with the money. The local animal cruelty investigator said, "nothing to see here" and eventually the woman moved. Oh, and on the surface she seemed like the kind of person you'd trust with animals: an elementary school teacher married to an attorney. So very deceptive.

I was totally disgusted.

I usually vet by asking for veterinarian references and permission to to check with them. I also (on the advice of my own vet) charge them a small amount—$25—to weed out the people who use kitties as bait animals.They don't want to pay for them if they can get them for free.

I am very cautious, I know. But I love these little guys. If I were younger, I'd keep them.

Thank you for replying.

I have gotten cats adopted from the nextdoor app and posting photos at restaurants and natural paws. Have a printed form asking for name,number,explaining that they must have annual vaccinations, kept indoors. Meet them first. Ask what vet they will use . If they have never owned a cat before,give them ideas of how to take care of a cat. Will they be able to provide for the cat?

 

[cmshap]

If they have never owned a cat before,give them ideas of how to take care of a cat. Will they be able to provide for the cat?

I don't have any advice for S Seymour on this issue, except just to provide a small bit of perspective as a first-time cat owner.

As a first-time cat owner (of Willy, who is now 11, and I've had him for 9-10 years), I took on the responsibility accidentally at first, and did not plan on having a cat. He was a stray situation who did not have any findable owner, and we bonded too much for me to give him away.

But it would have been helpful to know [1] what the average expense is for taking in an indoor-only cat, and ensuring adequate vet care and a comfortable life (I know that differs by area, but if you are adopting locally, you might have a good idea of what it is in your area), and [2] a basic list of resources for finding information... such as this very site and its guides (isn't there one specifically on expenses and how to make sure you can afford the responsibility)?

It's of course not hard to find a plethora of cat-care information online, but there's also so much of it, and not all cat people agree on what's correct. I would have loved for someone to give me a list... I didn't discover this site or others like it until more recent years.

 

[poolcat]

Yes, for sure cmshap ! Medical care costs are something someone new to owning cats should be aware of. No way to predict how much you'll need to spend on vet bills, but if big bills will be a problem it might be best to get insurance while the cat is healthy. I've read that you don't usually save much overall with insurance, but it can make it easier to pay a smaller amount regularly. Or put what you'd pay in premiums into a savings account for future use.

 

[cmshap]

Yes, for sure cmshap !I've read that you don't usually save much overall with insurance, but it can make it easier to pay a smaller amount regularly. Or put what you'd pay in premiums into a savings account for future use.

I hope this doesn't seem too off-topic, but I feel it's a relevant follow-up to my previous comment...

I would not actually bring up insurance if talking to/vetting a potential first-time adopter of a new kitten, except to mention it as an additional optional cost.

Like I said, I am a first-time cat owner, and my current cat of 10 years has cancer, and I am treating him with chemotherapy. It is expensive. I do not have pet insurance, and I am paying out of pocket. It's barely affordable, but he is responding well, and I can afford it, and he is healthy enough to have more years left if he gets through it, so I am going for it.

I've done some research as best I can, and if I were to have paid into insurance over the course of the last decade, I'd have lost money. But if I had insurance later in his life, but before his lymphoma diagnosis, I'd be more comfortable right now.

It's impossible to know, is the conclusion I came to. But my point is that insurance is a whole dimension to pet ownership that could dissuade potential new owners (who could otherwise afford regular vet care, assuming the pet will just have typical issues arise) from making the plunge.

My personal view is that there are so many pets that need homes, it's absolutely ethical to take one in if you feel like you can afford normal, regular vet care, but can't necessarily plan for emergencies or extra insurance from the start. And you just decide you will deal with emergencies if/when they arise (but need to be aware they can occur, and will cost extra money).

It's better for more pets to be adopted to stable homes, where emergencies or unpredictable health problems could be figured out as they come, vs. not be adopted at all.

I would stick to figuring out an average cost for adequate vet care for a pet of average health, to state to new owners, and maybe also state that there could be some spikes in the costs of issues arise from time to time. But pet insurance is a complex dimension even for me, today, when just trying to research how I could have handled it better (for future reference, for my next cat).

 

[Seymour]

Thank you for all these replies. I haven't been near my computer over the holidays, so I've just now had a chance to respond. I also have physical constraints with my hands and can't always type, so sometimes replies get away from me. My apologies.

I have a managed colony on my property, but have managed other colonies and it can be very rewarding. It can also lead to a lot of heartbreak when bad actors decide to intervene. My colony of 10 years was trapped and disposed of when it was down to four cats. I had permission to keep them there, but someone else wanted to be rid of them. If I had known, I would have brought them home. They were tame enough at that point to where I could have done so, but I left them where they had called home because I thought it kinder. I never imagined anyone would trap and take them. Every day I could kick myself for that decision.

These kittens are half-grown, but they're really coming along. I was able to place one It took some patience and a few days, but he's settled into his new home and loving it. He has a playmate and they chase each other through the house and sleep together. And the owners are excellent, responsible people who really wanted him. That is what I want for all my guys. Responsible, loving owners. And if it doesn't work out, they can bring the kitties back, no matter what the age or circumstances.

I had a feeler from someone who thought they might make good barn cats, but I really want indoor homes for them and with all of the Lost Pet notices I see and all of the kitties that end up at our shelter (a kill shelter), I don't want to go that route. I know I am a bit fanatical when it comes to my little guys, but I love my kitties and take good care of them. I want them to have the best possible lives. I'm not trying to "get rid of them"—I want them to be happy and make their owners happy.

Seymour

 

[Seymour]

We have a very large feral cat population where I live and I have a big heart with a soft spot when it comes to cats. I’ve taken in many and found homes and some of those homes were with me. People started dropping off pregnant cats or young kittens at my house and for a time it was overwhelming bc I had more cats than homes for them. 3 kittens showed up the same day, larger and older and very feral. We started by putting food outside for them. Then by the door, then inside the door, and slowly in the kitchen with the others. At first they’d remind them they were outsiders but very quickly they were taken in and my older cats who were mothers loved on them as if they were their own and that’s when the others fully accepted them. They were still weary of us humans though. I felt like they longed to engage with us but were afraid. I started putting their food down and when they’d come to eat I could pet them and they would purr and put their tails and butts up. I started doing that when I’d feed them then would slowly call them to me or sit still in one place for awhile and they’d come to lay. They’re not all the way there yet but they are making great progress.

I have my cats who have been with me many years and will forever some were from the pregnant mothers dropped off at my house when we couldn’t find homes or one fell through and we would form a bond. I feel my cats all have a special role in teaching the feral cats to trust. The mother cats especially. We’ve gotten them all fixed which is a must around here bc there are just so many homeless cats and it’s just as important to fix the males bc of that. I never want to be a part of the problem that makes this such a large issue where I live so every one we home is fixed first or has their appointment made and paid for before leaving. Since I get so many fixed we get a reduced rate and it only costs 20 for males and 30 for females.

It’s wonderful your community has someone like you and I’ve also seen the dark side of this and it’s horrors it puts the pressure back onto us for sure to make sure we arent putting our babies into the hands of monsters who do those things. Nothing here ever happens to them either. There was one person poisoning all the local feral cat colonies. Including one my daughter and I cared for by my husbands shop. I will never forget the day we showed up to care for them and seeing the horror in her eyes. It was heart wrenching. Especially when local authorities did absolutely nothing to stop it. They didn’t have the resources to look out for someone doing this at the cat colonies according to them but I assure you they have more numbers in our tiny town than cities have in theirs and most of them higher salaries too but that’s because they focus on traffic violations and that’s it. All it would have taken is scoping out 1 or 2 colonies to see who was doing it and the sheriffs office had 5 colonies all within 1 mile from it. I won’t go down that road though.

I hope you find them a great happy home, I’m sure they’ll start to warm up once they trust that you’re the one caring for them. I would also look into any local groups who care for and home them and you could call your local spca and animal control number to ask them for info of some and they will likely know a few. I know our local animal control has started working with the local groups to help find homes and they’ve stopped euthanizing ever since. Facebook may show local groups if you know of any local lost pet groups on there you can ask them. You don’t have to say why or can say you’re looking to contribute so people don’t automatically assume you’ve got kittens your homing. I’ve known some people to buy cat houses and set their backyard up to keep them warm and fed through winter and cool and fed through summer when they can’t have them indoors and the cat houses are very nice and the cats are very happy, she still spends time loving on them and socializing. It can be done for sure. I wish you the best of luck.

Thanks so much for sharing your story. I hate that you lost a colony like that. Such a horrid thing to do. I hope that people like that receive a visit from the same evil they perpetuated. That may not be nice, but I can't think nice things about the kinds of individuals who would harm cats or dogs.

I also use food as a bridge to taming ferals. It works, but it takes time. People like you are what makes me believe there are angels on earth. Thank you for all you do.

Seymour