Just over two weeks ago our local stray/feral cat brought her litter out of hiding. I knew she was pregnant and was trying to keep an eye out and then they appeared....7 of them. They were living under my elderly neighbor's porch for the first week but neighbor had an old cistern (well-type feature) behind her house and we had quite the event when someone had to climb down in and rescue the little guy that had fallen in. So Momma moved them to the shed at the back of the property. But we do live in a very residential area despite this description!
I've been feeding them and working the best that I can to socialize them. We have 4 cats ourselves so bringing them inside is not an option. Momma has really taken to me and will actually sit on my lap when I go out to spend time with the gang. Most of them have allowed me to hold them and will interact but are still incredibly skittish. We've had a solid week of bad storms at all kinds of random times through the day and night so that has not helped the situation. Friends come over and sit on the ground and talk with me to try and introduce them to other people but everyone - including Momma - runs from anyone but me.
I figure they are about 6 or 7 weeks old so they should find homes very soon if they are going to stand a chance at being pets. I've had plenty of people interested but things have fallen through - especially when I stress with people that these guys will need a little patience to gain the trust of someone new. But even if I find them homes - I'm not sure how this should work. Will Momma move them if she finds some of them go missing? I have never done anything like this before so I'm wondering about the best way to handle this.
I have reached out to every rescue operation that I've been able to find in my area but gotten very little response and even less advice. I'm just wondering what other people have experienced in this situation and what I should do or be on the look out for. Thanks!
I've been feeding them and working the best that I can to socialize them. We have 4 cats ourselves so bringing them inside is not an option. Momma has really taken to me and will actually sit on my lap when I go out to spend time with the gang. Most of them have allowed me to hold them and will interact but are still incredibly skittish. We've had a solid week of bad storms at all kinds of random times through the day and night so that has not helped the situation. Friends come over and sit on the ground and talk with me to try and introduce them to other people but everyone - including Momma - runs from anyone but me.
I figure they are about 6 or 7 weeks old so they should find homes very soon if they are going to stand a chance at being pets. I've had plenty of people interested but things have fallen through - especially when I stress with people that these guys will need a little patience to gain the trust of someone new. But even if I find them homes - I'm not sure how this should work. Will Momma move them if she finds some of them go missing? I have never done anything like this before so I'm wondering about the best way to handle this.
I have reached out to every rescue operation that I've been able to find in my area but gotten very little response and even less advice. I'm just wondering what other people have experienced in this situation and what I should do or be on the look out for. Thanks!