A stray/ feral cat gave birth in my garden 6 wks ago. I brought them into the

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amethystfish

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patio right away and have been? taking care of them. Momma cat has been very good with them, almost overprotective. They are almost weaned and learning to use the litter box. The problem is that they are very skittish. From day one I've made a point of touching and holding them, and while I'm accepted, I think they'll have a hard time living with someone other than Momma. I go out and play with them several times a day, but they are still quite nervous around people other than me. How do I get them ready to be given away. There is 5 of them and they play real well with each other, but how do I get them to be more people oriented? They run to me when I bring out dinner, but if I go to pick them up, they back up or run away to the corner of the patio. They're so cute - will they ever be social enough to given away? And I really don't know what to do with MommaCat - she will be out of her mind when they leave and she is NOT a friendly cat at all - very suspicious of humans and only an ouside cat. Help! Thanks
 
this link is about taming Feral Cats.. and wild kittens..

http://www.gomestic.com/Pets/Taming-Feral-Cats-and-Wild-Kittens.76035

I have tamed many wild kittens.. born wild.. really wild... caught wild.. infact I have two of them here with me now... and have rehomed many......
anyhow the link is good -read it.. act NOW...

slow does NOT work.. you need to act now..
 
As for Mom, what I would do is get a live trap, capture her, get her spayed at a vets office, and then release her in your backyard. I would do this once the kittens are completely weaned. You might even want to call your local Humane Society and see if the have a spay and neuter program for feral cats. This will prevent more unwanted kittens in the world. Borrow the live trap from your animal control, or humane society. And let the vet know the cat will be wild, and that you will bring her in when you catch her.

As for the kittens it sounds like you are doing a very good job socializing them right now. If the kittens are still nursing, keep them with MOm. But once they are completely weaned, I would actually take them and bring them inside, where you can spend more time socializing them, and getting them used to being indoor cats. Kittens start to be weaned at 6 wks of age, and at 8, they should be completely weaned. So aim for the 7 week period to bring them in. If you wait to long, they will likely disappear.

You should really wait until the kittens are 12 weeks to find new homes for them because kittens are still learning how to be cats and play nice at that age.

Other things to consider kittens- are very easy to socialize up until about 12 weeks of age - usually you can get kittens under this age loving you in about an hour. Also, the Mom cat must trust you very much to let you play with her kittens - usually a mother cat will move them if she feels threatened.

Good Luck and I hope this helps!
 
kittens adapt to family life with there owners...as long as they are loved ,fed and watered..as for mom if you can put food out for her every day..you never know she may come in your house one day and will settle...i had a stray do that once,it was summer time so i had the door open,but as soon as i went to shut it he ran out..eventually he got used to me and the door shut he did stay..unfortunately i went on holiday and left my sister watchin him and my own cats..when i got back he had taken over the house and my cats were frightened of him... i did find him a good home with my mom..
 
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