Catching Kittens?

[sourceninja]

I have a feral cat that gave birth in my backyard a few weeks ago. The kittens are now old enough they are eating food and still sometimes nursing. I want to catch them and find them homes.

I'm wondering the best way to catch them. I've looked at live traps but I'm afraid one kitten might spring the trap while another is in the doorway and kill it.

I was thinking about going the old box/string/stick and some tuna route. Any suggestions?

 

[spidey07]

Put food and water out. They'll come.

 

[Anubis]

Put food and water out. They'll come.

this

 

[lxskllr]

Have to tried talking to them? Sometimes they'll just come to you.

 

[Azraele]

Put food and water out. They'll come.

Yep, this. Coax them to you with food, but make sure you get them by their scruffs. If they're not used to human handling, they might put up a fight. Scruffing will be safer for both you and the kittens.

 

[Newbian]

Good luck...most people here on atot will never even touch a pussy.

 

[fleabag]

Good luck...most people here on atot will never even touch a pussy.

yeah, my pussy comes to me.

 

[JulesMaximus]

yeah, my pussy comes to me.

That's the only pussy you'll ever get too.

 

[Newbian]

That's the only pussy you'll ever get too.

Is that the cat version of leaving a landing strip?

 

[NuclearNed]

Bait the hook with a little cheese and/or peanut butter. Make sure you jerk the rod hard when they strike.

 

[gorcorps]

That's the only pussy you'll ever get too.

To be fair, he may get other pussy... it'll just be over-inflated

 

[Meghan54]

To be fair, he may get other pussy... it'll just be over-inflated

What.....about 350#?

 

[Gibson486]

What.....about 350#?

Too high and expensive....

Class 150# per ANSI B

 

[hellfreeze]

I was in a similar situation a while back. You can try an animal trap:

http://www.amazon.com/Kage-All-Trap-.../dp/B000BIX43Q

Afterwards you can keep them in an area that you frequent to get them used to you then attempt to handle them. When you handle them you want to bribe them with food.

If you have enough time on your hands, however, I would try to win them over with food. I had good results with Beggin' Strips for dogs. Break it up into small pieces and throw a small piece their way, each time shortening the distance so that they come to you.

 

[MotF Bane]

Yep, this. Coax them to you with food, but make sure you get them by their scruffs. If they're not used to human handling, they might put up a fight. Scruffing will be safer for both you and the kittens.

This.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Years ago I caught an entire litter with a saucer of condensed milk under a box propped on a stick. I caught them one or two at a time of course, but with a bit of patience it can be done. You'll need something with some weight attached to the top of the box or they might be able to squeeze out by lifting the box before you get to them.

 

[Newbian]

Years ago I caught an entire litter with a saucer of condensed milk under a box propped on a stick. I caught them one or two at a time of course, but with a bit of patience it can be done. You'll need something with some weight attached to the top of the box or they might be able to squeeze out by lifting the box before you get to them.

Sounds a bit like this:

 

[sourceninja]

We tried to coax them out with food the last few days. They will not approach the food while they can see us. They will play with us using string, but as soon as they are within reach the mother cat will make noise and they run and hide.

They respond to our voices and come out when we talk, they just won't get within 4 feet of us.

 

[Gibsons]

It's not hard as long as you throw them right

 

[phoenix79]

I'll let you borrow my 6' blood python. She'll catch them for you.

 

[sourceninja]

Well, I have caught 2 of the 4. I would have had 3 but the first one got away (and was a learning experience on how to not let them escape. I hope to get the last 2 this week then catch momma and get her to a local feral cat shelter to be fixed and released.

http://twitpic.com/1utq9r
The kittens are very friendly and love to be held and played with.

Also, we have been referred to a local pet store that will help us place the kittens in good homes.

 

[Azraele]

Aww, they're adorable. Good for you for helping them.

 

[PingSpike]

Super cute kittens!

I caught feral kitten when I was little once at my aunt's house. He got stuck in some plants trying to run from me and I snatched him up. Then he put up a fight while I was bringing him up to the house and slipped out of my hands into a big tray of water.

My aunt was a cat lady and kept him in the house after that. He pretty much lived under her kitchen sink and was a douchebag that wouldn't let anyone but my aunt pet him.

 

[sourceninja]

Super cute kittens!

I caught feral kitten when I was little once at my aunt's house. He got stuck in some plants trying to run from me and I snatched him up. Then he put up a fight while I was bringing him up to the house and slipped out of my hands into a big tray of water.

My aunt was a cat lady and kept him in the house after that. He pretty much lived under her kitchen sink and was a douchebag that wouldn't let anyone but my aunt pet him.

If they are any older than 8 weeks they will never be a normal cat. But if you can get them young enough (just old enough to be weened) then you can handle them and bring lots of people over to pick them up and talk to them and they will turn into normal healthy house cats.

 

[sourceninja]

Well, we caught kitten number 3 last night. I feel like shit for taking them away from their mother. I feel even worse knowing we couldn't get the last kitten last night and he was forced to spend the night alone as his mother wouldn't go near him out of fear we would find him.