Kitten...

[smudgley]

Originally Posted by Moli

She said they think the two week period from 6-8weeks is the crucial time to try to turn them around....
I will no doubt be looking for advice from you Smudgley when this little one arrives...

100% agree on that!

The ideal thing IMO is to trap the pregnant ferals if the space is available & bring them into a safe place with the mittens, then you can handle the mittens from really young, but put them back with mom for most of the time. I've done this with several litters in fact - I'll just go & find a photo of the first 2 feral kittens I reared with their mom.

[Moli]

They re at the mo, trying to trap a lot of the adults and have them neutered, some go back to where they came from..

[smudgley]

Here's mom, 7 months old feral with one of the kittens.

Here's the same kitten prior to rehoming

here's the other one

[Moli]

Thanks Smudgley, fantastic to see the difference in them, how old were they when you rehomed them, and did you rehome mum too???

[angieh]

Originally Posted by Moli

Its not one of mine unfortunately, just a picture I found..

What a pity Moli - never mind, perhaps the little feral kit will be as photogenic. Maybe he/she will have those little tufts on the top of his/her ears???? I LOVE those! Look forward to pics!!!

[smudgley]

Originally Posted by Moli

Thanks Smudgley, fantastic to see the difference in them, how old were they when you rehomed them, and did you rehome mum too???

They were 9 weeks when they went. As friendly as they come as they'd been well handled.

Mom went back to the feral colony she came from, I didn't attempt to try & bring her round, it's not fair. She was 7 months & really frightened. But I fed her & that's it, no eye contact, just a gentle voice as I popped my hand in to steal the babes for some handling, she never moved. It's not nice for them to be in such an unfamiliar set up when they are feral, that's why I don't try & do anything with them, just leave them in peace & socialise their babes.
The day I released her, she was so happy, she looked round at me and I swear she smiled at me (ok, tears filling up now in my eyes... I think I've got something in my eye ) but honestly I let her out the basket & she looked back at me & stopped for a few seconds & said "thankyou Smudgley, I'm home & I'm happy"

ETA - Just read this & thought I better clarify. She came in the day she gave birth, she reared her babies as any mom would and was with them all the time. But I took them away from her for handling sessions each day from a young age, then popped them back with her. She was spayed & returned home.

[Moli]

I can understand how you felt Smudgley, thats what they do here return the mother to where they came from...after she is spayed of course...

[smudgley]

Originally Posted by Moli

I can understand how you felt Smudgley, thats what they do here return the mother to where they came from...after she is spayed of course...

Really mixed feelings, it felt wrong, but it felt so right too

Have done it many times since & they are always happy to go home again.

Luckily we don't have too many feral colonies to deal with & when we do, they are never very big. There is a big one near here that the CAT77 group are dealing with & we are financing the neutering for them. There are at least 50 cats there. But more like 60 / 70.

[Fran]

You've got me welling up now But what a lovely story Smudgley

[Moli]

Its their way of life, and as you say, she would not have been happy any other way.....Although its still very sad to see them go...