Stray kitten - feed or ignore?
 

Well I must first admit I've already been feeding it all week. It appeared
very bony when I first started, but looks more like a normal kitten now.

My concern is that this may be a female and that she will be bringing me
loads more kittens to feed if she is not fixed. (I am way allergic to cats
and couldn't have even one in the house) She runs away on approach, but
stays within sight if she expects I will put a bit of food out for her.
Suggestions?

"Ivanna" wrote in message
om...
Well I must first admit I've already been feeding it all week. It
appeared
very bony when I first started, but looks more like a normal kitten now.

My concern is that this may be a female and that she will be bringing me
loads more kittens to feed if she is not fixed. (I am way allergic to
cats
and couldn't have even one in the house) She runs away on approach, but
stays within sight if she expects I will put a bit of food out for her.
Suggestions?




Please trap the kitten and take her to a vet to be spayed and treated (as
needed) for worms, ear mites, etc. Continue to feed the poor little thing.
If at all possible, find someone who will adopt her and give her a good
(indoor) home.

Thank you for accepting this little kitten into your life.

MaryL

"Ivanna" wrote in message
om...
Well I must first admit I've already been feeding it all week. It
appeared
very bony when I first started, but looks more like a normal kitten now.

My concern is that this may be a female and that she will be bringing me
loads more kittens to feed if she is not fixed. (I am way allergic to
cats
and couldn't have even one in the house) She runs away on approach, but
stays within sight if she expects I will put a bit of food out for her.
Suggestions?




Please trap the kitten and take her to a vet to be spayed and treated (as
needed) for worms, ear mites, etc. Continue to feed the poor little thing.
If at all possible, find someone who will adopt her and give her a good
(indoor) home.

Thank you for accepting this little kitten into your life.

MaryL

Call your local shelter - they may have a Have a Heart trap you can borrow,
or tell you where you can borrow one. Even local vet's office may have one.

If you have a no-kill shelter near you, I would suggest contacting them
about taking in kitten and finding it a home. Explain what you told us.
More than likely they will take it in (although there may be a waiting list,
they'll let you know). They will then give kitten physical, worm it, treat
it, fix it and find it a home.

That is unless you wish to keep him, but I've got a thing about keeping cats
outdoors, which I believe they are safer there - my opinion only. I
understand not an option for you since you are allergic.

Good luck.
"Ivanna" wrote in message
om...
Well I must first admit I've already been feeding it all week. It
appeared
very bony when I first started, but looks more like a normal kitten now.

My concern is that this may be a female and that she will be bringing me
loads more kittens to feed if she is not fixed. (I am way allergic to
cats
and couldn't have even one in the house) She runs away on approach, but
stays within sight if she expects I will put a bit of food out for her.
Suggestions?

Call your local shelter - they may have a Have a Heart trap you can borrow,
or tell you where you can borrow one. Even local vet's office may have one.

If you have a no-kill shelter near you, I would suggest contacting them
about taking in kitten and finding it a home. Explain what you told us.
More than likely they will take it in (although there may be a waiting list,
they'll let you know). They will then give kitten physical, worm it, treat
it, fix it and find it a home.

That is unless you wish to keep him, but I've got a thing about keeping cats
outdoors, which I believe they are safer there - my opinion only. I
understand not an option for you since you are allergic.

Good luck.
"Ivanna" wrote in message
om...
Well I must first admit I've already been feeding it all week. It
appeared
very bony when I first started, but looks more like a normal kitten now.

My concern is that this may be a female and that she will be bringing me
loads more kittens to feed if she is not fixed. (I am way allergic to
cats
and couldn't have even one in the house) She runs away on approach, but
stays within sight if she expects I will put a bit of food out for her.
Suggestions?

Suggestions?

I would trap her using a hav-a-hart trap. You can rent one from a hardware,
feed store or animal shelter for $3-5. If she's a small kitten, you can just
use a squirrel trap. Use stinky wet cat food for bait. This is what the trap
looks like http://www.havahart.com/nuisance/cat...rescue_kit.htm You
don't need the kit. Some vets spay feral cats for free. I would vaccinate her
also. I would then contact some rescue groups to see if you can find her a
home. If everyone is full you can at least give her a little cat igloo outside
to sleep in and leave some food for her. Thanks so much for caring for her. You
will be saving yourself a lot of headaches with tons of kittens showing up at
your door.

Suggestions?

I would trap her using a hav-a-hart trap. You can rent one from a hardware,
feed store or animal shelter for $3-5. If she's a small kitten, you can just
use a squirrel trap. Use stinky wet cat food for bait. This is what the trap
looks like http://www.havahart.com/nuisance/cat...rescue_kit.htm You
don't need the kit. Some vets spay feral cats for free. I would vaccinate her
also. I would then contact some rescue groups to see if you can find her a
home. If everyone is full you can at least give her a little cat igloo outside
to sleep in and leave some food for her. Thanks so much for caring for her. You
will be saving yourself a lot of headaches with tons of kittens showing up at
your door.

Finding another home would be great, but if you can't -- there are many
spay and release programs. You might contact a few animal groups and see
what you can find out for your area. The Humane Society also may be able
to give you some numbers.

I would keep feeding her, at any rate. I just can't stand to see a cat
starve, and it sounds like you can't either!

Rhonda

Ivanna wrote:

Well I must first admit I've already been feeding it all week. It appeared
very bony when I first started, but looks more like a normal kitten now.

My concern is that this may be a female and that she will be bringing me
loads more kittens to feed if she is not fixed. (I am way allergic to cats
and couldn't have even one in the house) She runs away on approach, but
stays within sight if she expects I will put a bit of food out for her.
Suggestions?

Finding another home would be great, but if you can't -- there are many
spay and release programs. You might contact a few animal groups and see
what you can find out for your area. The Humane Society also may be able
to give you some numbers.

I would keep feeding her, at any rate. I just can't stand to see a cat
starve, and it sounds like you can't either!

Rhonda

Ivanna wrote:

Well I must first admit I've already been feeding it all week. It appeared
very bony when I first started, but looks more like a normal kitten now.

My concern is that this may be a female and that she will be bringing me
loads more kittens to feed if she is not fixed. (I am way allergic to cats
and couldn't have even one in the house) She runs away on approach, but
stays within sight if she expects I will put a bit of food out for her.
Suggestions?

"Mary"...
Suggestions?

I would trap her using a hav-a-hart trap. You can rent one from a
hardware,
feed store or animal shelter for $3-5. If she's a small kitten, you can
just
use a squirrel trap. Use stinky wet cat food for bait. This is what the
trap
looks like http://www.havahart.com/nuisance/cat...rescue_kit.htm
You
don't need the kit. Some vets spay feral cats for free. I would vaccinate
her
also. I would then contact some rescue groups to see if you can find her a
home. If everyone is full you can at least give her a little cat igloo
outside
to sleep in and leave some food for her. Thanks so much for caring for
her. You
will be saving yourself a lot of headaches with tons of kittens showing up
at
your door.

Ok, I will have to locate a trap, as all of you have suggested. I'm not
sure if the kitten was dumped or if the mom was a stray. The kitten doesn't
seem to trust people and runs into the woods at the back of our yard if
anyone approaches. I just hope to catch the kitten and not the squirrels,
chipmunks, and bunnies that are frolicking around the yard. TONS of
kittens!?!

The nearby city has a humane society, but I believe that they kill animals
that are not claimed. It would have no chance if they believe it is feral.
If I catch it, I will find a no kill shelter or take it to the vet myself.
I can't handle feeding it and then taking it in to put to sleep/death at the
shelter. At least if it gets fixed, it won't produce more animals that are
just out there starving, getting sick, and getting run over by cars.
Thanks for the link to the "havahart" trap.