I have a colony of ferals that I have been feeding & sheltering for about 2 years now. After much time & patience, the adult females will let me pet them, rub their bellies and even sit on my lap
They have let even let me handle their newborns while they watched. I have taken-in two litters and two kittens I have kept...the rest were successfully adopted out
I am working with a local agency to have all trapped, spayed, neutered and realeased back in my yard.
In the interim, Blinky, one of the adult females had a litter approximately 2-weeks ago. Late afternoon, I finally found her litter of 4.
Here is where I really need some suggestions: 1. Do I bring in the kittens and bottle-feed until they are of age to be adopted? Or 2. Should I leave them with the mother until they are a bit older?
My thoughts are this: the longer they are outside (even though they will have their mother) they are susceptible to disease, other strays (toms), other animals, heat, etc. and it will get really tough to socialize them.
As mentioned, I have taken two litters in and although it was emotionally and physically draining, it was so well worth the labor-of-love to have beautiful, healthy, social kittens in the end.
What do you think?
I am working with a local agency to have all trapped, spayed, neutered and realeased back in my yard.
In the interim, Blinky, one of the adult females had a litter approximately 2-weeks ago. Late afternoon, I finally found her litter of 4.
Here is where I really need some suggestions: 1. Do I bring in the kittens and bottle-feed until they are of age to be adopted? Or 2. Should I leave them with the mother until they are a bit older?
My thoughts are this: the longer they are outside (even though they will have their mother) they are susceptible to disease, other strays (toms), other animals, heat, etc. and it will get really tough to socialize them.
As mentioned, I have taken two litters in and although it was emotionally and physically draining, it was so well worth the labor-of-love to have beautiful, healthy, social kittens in the end.
What do you think?