Momma and Kittens living in Hedge= Help!

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abmouse - 21 Jun 2006 18:24 GMT

I'm home on a medical leave and I discovered a momma and about 5 kittens
living in my hedge. Momma is just a youngster herself and after discussing
with my apt maintenance guy (and cat lover) we determined momma is a stray
who has been living at our apt complex for most of this year. I do not
believe momma is nursing anymore- kittens are adoptable age and are beginning
to accompany mom on short trips out of the hedge. My apt is ground floor
and only 15 feet from the hedge- my patio is easily accessible to the kittens
so I and feeding Mom wet food and kitten food and the kittens are also eating
some kitten food. I also have water out for them. Mom is aware of my
presence in the window and so are kittens. Not comfortable with me outside
yet though. I really want to eventually capture both Mom and kittens and
take to shelter but I am not sure how. My fear is that the kittens are old
enough that if I capture one the others will move. I have two indoor cats
(who are enjoying watching the show from the window too). I do have a
garage when i could put any "captured kittens" until all have been captured.
New at this... Please help.

Amy
Mukilteo WA

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Gail - 21 Jun 2006 19:02 GMT

If you cannot catch them by hand, boy or borrow a have a heart trap. Trap
them all and take them to a no kill shelter or find homes for them. You are
wonderful to care for them.
Gail

> I'm home on a medical leave and I discovered a momma and about 5 kittens
> living in my hedge. Momma is just a youngster herself and after
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> Amy
> Mukilteo WA

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abmouse - 21 Jun 2006 20:27 GMT

Any tips on catching them by hand?

>If you cannot catch them by hand, boy or borrow a have a heart trap. Trap
>them all and take them to a no kill shelter or find homes for them. You are
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>> Amy
>> Mukilteo WA

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WorththeWait - 21 Jun 2006 20:30 GMT

>Any tips on catching them by hand?
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>>> Amy
>>> Mukilteo WA

Hand catching takes longer, but is often less traumatic... they have to
become used to your presence as a neutral object. Spend time on the patio,
but don't look at them or call them. Just sit there, with the food & water
out, read, work your flowerboxes (If you have them!), etc. Be calm, move
slowly, you know the drill. It takes time, but eventually they will stop
seeing you as a potential threat, and come close enough for you to catch them.
If you're willing to wait longer than that, you may even tame the kittens to
be held & petted w/o too much trouble.

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Gail - 21 Jun 2006 21:26 GMT

Yes, a good step by step approach.
Gail

>>Any tips on catching them by hand?
>>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> to
> be held & petted w/o too much trouble.

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abmouse - 21 Jun 2006 22:03 GMT

Thank you! I acutally took a book out onto the grass today and put out wet
food for Momma- she wanted to come eat it so bad- but I was there- after much
discussion (she meowwed a lot) and me not really paying her any mind she
came onto the patio and chowed down on the food. I'll keep doing this and
hopefully she will let kitties come out to eat too. Thanks for the process :-
)

>>Any tips on catching them by hand?
>>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>If you're willing to wait longer than that, you may even tame the kittens to
>be held & petted w/o too much trouble.

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Candace - 22 Jun 2006 03:42 GMT

> Thank you! I acutally took a book out onto the grass today and put out wet
> food for Momma- she wanted to come eat it so bad- but I was there- after much
> discussion (she meowwed a lot) and me not really paying her any mind she
> came onto the patio and chowed down on the food. I'll keep doing this and
> hopefully she will let kitties come out to eat too. Thanks for the process :-

Awww, at least she probably isn't feral if she got that close to you so
soon. I hope it goes smoothly and you can get them all fairly easily.
It's not good that you are on medical leave but it's good that you will
have a little time to devote to this project. Good luck!

Candace

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abmouse - 01 Jul 2006 07:03 GMT

Ok, so I figured Momma out- She was a pet of a resident and was abandoned
when they moved out- she's very friendly- she lets me love on her and she was
coming running as soon as I walked out the door and she comes when I call her
"momma kitty". The kittens are getting big- but I haven't had any luck
getting them to come out near me. The past few days I haven't seen much of
mom or the the kittens= I think they are starting to travel around.

At what age do they go their separate ways? I am thinking the clock is
ticking on me getting the kittens. I could pick mom up and take her in the
house no problem, but getting the kittens is difficult.

>> Thank you! I acutally took a book out onto the grass today and put out wet
>> food for Momma- she wanted to come eat it so bad- but I was there- after much
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
>Candace

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bit-o-honey - 01 Jul 2006 11:17 GMT

> Ok, so I figured Momma out- She was a pet of a resident and was abandoned
> when they moved out- she's very friendly- she lets me love on her and she was
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> ticking on me getting the kittens. I could pick mom up and take her in the
> house no problem, but getting the kittens is difficult.

oh hell, get you blanket and have a picnic next to the bush

since mom comes to you, pet her.

hang out there have a picnic, toss the kittens some tasty treats..

they'll come around

what are you planning to do with the kittens

you should take them down to wal-mart and give them away

some old hard ankle on here will say, that is a dumb idea, and that the
cats won't get a good home, bullcrap! a home is a home is a home

better than going to a shelter if you ask me

Good Luck

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zigzag-man - 22 Jun 2006 22:13 GMT

> I'm home on a medical leave and I discovered a momma and about 5 kittens
> living in my hedge.

when mamma runs from you, take all her babies and put them in a box

set the box near your apt door, she will hear them crying for ninny

tie a string to the lid of the box... (slide the string through the
mail slot in your apt door)

put a sign on the box that says... "NO TOUCH THIS BOX OR YOU DIE"
(that way nosy neighbors won't foil your plan)

once you hear them stop crying, pull the string so as to trap the mamma
and babies

OR borrow a real trap...

What are you wanting to do with them?

are you able to keep her till the babies are weaned?

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