Howdy everyone! I just made this account because i've exhausted all other options and thoughts and wanted advice from someone who is hopefully more experienced than me at this!
On my 22nd birthday, I woke up and immediately let my 3 dogs out in the backyard. To my surprise, I saw a little kitten run away and hide underneath the house behind my home. It is an abandoned home and i haven't seen anyone there in the last 2 years. I put all of my dogs in after doing their business but kept an eye out on the kitten. I'm not a big cat person, but i am a huge animal lover and right away I felt the need to ensure the kitten was safe, healthy and feed. I was shocked to see the kitten, as there is a cat that lives in that same house, whom i was sure hadn't been pregnant ( i also think it's a male) and he/she has been the only cat that I have ever seen in that territory. As the day progressed I saw a total of three kittens, and later in the evening I saw what I assumed was the mother of all three kittens. I tried calling the animal shelter to see if they could do something about it, since it was my birthday and I had friends over and a weekend fully booked. They said to called them back two days later, on a Monday, and they would help me set up traps for the catch and release program we have in our city. I feed the mother, the three kittens and also the other adult cat that has practically adopted me as it's owner (he/she loves to come to my yard so i can pet it, and even cries to come inside sometimes!). So Monday finally arrived and I woke up early to check on the kittens and sadly they were gone. All three kittens and momma had left. I kept a look out for a few days but there was no sign of them, until a few days ago. I woke up and again took the dogs out and found myself with the same three little kittens, running for shelter underneath the old house. I have now spent the last two days determined to capture the kittens, so that i can take them to the vet where they will fix them, and give them their shots for free and release them back if they are too feral to go to the animal shelter for adoption. I want to help the kittens, and help control the huge stray cat population we are battling in our city, however I don't know what else to do to get these cats. They are now super fast and agile, and extremely scared of humans. I have been super gentle with them the past two days, feeding them every day and giving them water. I have even exposed them to myself petting the other adult stray cat that now lives with them too with the hopes that they can trust me enough to at least get closer. I have tried grabbing them while eating, trapping them in my own back yard but nothing seems to work! I live in a small city and we have no pet control, and nobody really is devoted to animals besides the animal shelter. Is there any thing else i can try? Should i even keep trying? I don't want the kittens to end up at the animal shelter if they will be put down for not getting adopted, but I don't want them out in the streets, or reproducing either. I have even considered keeping one after it's fixed and vaccinated because I truly care for these kittens and want them to be heathy and happy. I'm also a college student and can't afford to feed five cats everyday, because I have three dogs and myself to cook/shop for.
Any advice as to what I can do or should try would be amazing. I am willing to do anything for their safety. My best bet for help is the animal shelter, however it's such a small city that they are not opened everyday or at convenient hours, nor have the staff or volunteers to do much. I worry that the cats leave and the next time I see them it's too late to help them.
Thank you!
<3 Chochy
On my 22nd birthday, I woke up and immediately let my 3 dogs out in the backyard. To my surprise, I saw a little kitten run away and hide underneath the house behind my home. It is an abandoned home and i haven't seen anyone there in the last 2 years. I put all of my dogs in after doing their business but kept an eye out on the kitten. I'm not a big cat person, but i am a huge animal lover and right away I felt the need to ensure the kitten was safe, healthy and feed. I was shocked to see the kitten, as there is a cat that lives in that same house, whom i was sure hadn't been pregnant ( i also think it's a male) and he/she has been the only cat that I have ever seen in that territory. As the day progressed I saw a total of three kittens, and later in the evening I saw what I assumed was the mother of all three kittens. I tried calling the animal shelter to see if they could do something about it, since it was my birthday and I had friends over and a weekend fully booked. They said to called them back two days later, on a Monday, and they would help me set up traps for the catch and release program we have in our city. I feed the mother, the three kittens and also the other adult cat that has practically adopted me as it's owner (he/she loves to come to my yard so i can pet it, and even cries to come inside sometimes!). So Monday finally arrived and I woke up early to check on the kittens and sadly they were gone. All three kittens and momma had left. I kept a look out for a few days but there was no sign of them, until a few days ago. I woke up and again took the dogs out and found myself with the same three little kittens, running for shelter underneath the old house. I have now spent the last two days determined to capture the kittens, so that i can take them to the vet where they will fix them, and give them their shots for free and release them back if they are too feral to go to the animal shelter for adoption. I want to help the kittens, and help control the huge stray cat population we are battling in our city, however I don't know what else to do to get these cats. They are now super fast and agile, and extremely scared of humans. I have been super gentle with them the past two days, feeding them every day and giving them water. I have even exposed them to myself petting the other adult stray cat that now lives with them too with the hopes that they can trust me enough to at least get closer. I have tried grabbing them while eating, trapping them in my own back yard but nothing seems to work! I live in a small city and we have no pet control, and nobody really is devoted to animals besides the animal shelter. Is there any thing else i can try? Should i even keep trying? I don't want the kittens to end up at the animal shelter if they will be put down for not getting adopted, but I don't want them out in the streets, or reproducing either. I have even considered keeping one after it's fixed and vaccinated because I truly care for these kittens and want them to be heathy and happy. I'm also a college student and can't afford to feed five cats everyday, because I have three dogs and myself to cook/shop for.
Any advice as to what I can do or should try would be amazing. I am willing to do anything for their safety. My best bet for help is the animal shelter, however it's such a small city that they are not opened everyday or at convenient hours, nor have the staff or volunteers to do much. I worry that the cats leave and the next time I see them it's too late to help them.
Thank you!
<3 Chochy
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