Feral kitten pack

Hey all,
I don't know if anyone else has spotted the pack of feral kittens in the woods behind Walgreens... looked like 4 grays, a brown tabby, and an ivory/pointed (siamese coloring). They seem to be doing OK, the white one had caught a mouse. They're very skittish and took off as soon as I got within 10 feet of them. I didn't see any adult cats around. I suppose I should call animal control to come trap them, neuter them and find them homes? Or does animal control already know....

 

Animal control will not bother. If they're not trapped very soon, then within 6-9 months you can expect 18-24 roaming in your neighborhood. And then after that, well, I'm sure you can do the math!

 

I'd do it, but I dunno how to trap kittens. Anyone want to start a feral kitten trapper's club? :/

 

I contacted Alley Cat Allies to see if they can put me in touch with local resources to assist. Hopefully I won't have to do this alone, because I frankly can't afford to get one kitten, let alone six, neutered - even at one of the discounted clinics....

 

I think I saw the mama cat today. She's the same color gray as several of the kittens, she seemed to be out on the hunt for food. I think I may start leaving some tuna around the area tonight and each night to try to get them used to coming there for food so that it'll be easier to trap them.

 

Well at least one of those kittens has moved into the wetlands area across the street from Harris Teeter. Lots of critters in there for them to eat.

 

I saw a grey kitten hanging out behind Glory Days last night - sitting under one of the cars

 

Thank you technosapien for caring about them! If it was me they would've been brought back to my house for hugs and kisses...after my stitches...since they are feral... :-(

 

I have a small "live trap" that would work for kittens/cats if you would like to borrow it.

 

Wacky idea:

If we can get these cats captured, we need to get them fixed. It is unfair to expect the trapper (technosapien) to foot the bill.

What about we find out how much it would cost to get these cats fixed and see if other residents would be interested in chipping in on the cost?

I have no problem throwing in a $20 or so for this good cause.

Would other members of our community be interested in helping fund this necessary activity????

 

I wish we could trap and neuter the deer in the area.

 

At least they have a hunting season for deer.

 

A fundraiser would be perfect but how does one get started? The cause has many benefits to the community and also to the discarded strays and their offspring (particularly if they're feral).

I have personally paid vet costs for 6 stray and ferals roaming our neighborhood and I believe that as a result, the population has been maintained, that is, until another dufus discards their unspayed/neutered kitten.

It's even more unerving to come home and find piles of feathers in my yard!

Anyone have suggestions or ideas!

 

Well the first thing is to find out who has the cheapest price for the procedures.

HSLC charges $50 for males and $100 for females

http://www.hslcva.org/spay_neuter.php

I have already written to the Loudoun CARE program to see if we could use their services.

Does anyone know know of any other low cost programs we might get a quote from.

I have the small animal trap as well as a dog cage that might work to keep these guys until we can transport them to the vet.

 

You could start by contacting any of the local vet offices; Stream Valley, Caring Hands and Ashburn Village Animal Hospital are all pretty involved in local community events.

 

I will do so on my way home tonight. If I get any good info I will post it here.

 

Just a heads up...many Vets will not entertain handling ferals - the only local Vet that does so successfully is Ashburn Village's group, and as for pmt. you must pay in full. Another way is to apply for a voucher (you would still pay $100) but it covers surgery, vaccines, deworming, etc. and then redeem it at the participating Vet's office. (the Vet could be in Fairfax County) The problem with this method is you would still need an appointment for the feral and trapping can be very hit or miss.

Low cost Vets will usually participate through Rescue Organizations only - so any program implemented would have to coordinated through a local rescue such as Humane Society of Loudoun or Friends of Homeless Animals or Ally Cat Allies, to name just a few.

 

Hey all
Great turnout in the forms.
I went to the spot I last saw mom and kits and left some food for them. I hung around for a while but they never showed up, I'll check back and see if they do. Hopefully if the food goes missing, it's the cats that ate it.... I'll go back each evening around this time to leave the food for them so when it's time to trap the little furballs they'll be used to getting food there around a particular time of day. I won't be around Thursday thru Sunday but my wife will help out too. We can afford to do 1 or 2 of the cats if we catch them. KTdid (and Alley Cat Alliance's Feral Friends) put me in touch with a local feral helper who is also willing to assist, and also wants to teach others how to do feral cat trapping and expand the Feral Friends network in Loudoun, if others are interested in signing on. Through her contacts we can get neutering/spaying done for $45 per cat.

I did get an email from the humane society, which said they have already trapped a few cats in that area, and I will call them back tomorrow to follow-up with them and see how they can help, as they said they're also willing.

My main source has been http://www.alleycat.org while doing my homework on this.

I'm off to scrub the smell of fancy feast kitten food off my hands....

 

I also have a large dog crate we can use, the dogs don't use it. I can set up fans and leae a door open to my garage to cool it off if we need a place to house the critters until they are treated. If the kittens are able to be socialized, and they're old enough to be taken from mama cat, perhaps we can find them good homes, and see if the new owners can handle the rest of the vet work, like shots, physical workup, etc. (unless the clinics already do all that for the adoptable kittens).

 

wait til national neuter day and get them all done for free