Need Advice - Kittens

[GOPFighter]

My wife and I live and work in Washington DC but have a weekend cabin in West Virginia. The cabin is on a mountain with other cabins scattered about. We go to the cabin almost every weekend. Two months ago a feral cat came by with two cute kittens. They played on our deck all weekend...and of course we fed them.

Well the next weekend the two kittens were still there - no sign of Momma cat. Even though we couldn't get close to them we put some food out and they ate ravenously.

Seven weeks later and they're still here! One of the kittens is almost entirely domesticated, he (she?) is very affectionate, jumps in my lap, climbs all over me, and loves to be petted. The other is still very skittish but always comes when we call.

We're totally in love with these two kittens, but they are feral cats and live outdoors and seem just fine when we're away. The problem is: they are feral cats, but they are now very dependant on us. This is pretty wild country (for the east coast anyway), and the winters out here are brutal (we're at 4,000 feet). Last year we had a 49" snowfall - on top of 14" inches already on the ground. If these kittens weren't dependant on us they would probably go down to the valley for the winter, as the other feral cats (and they still might). I'm afraid we've interrupted their normal instincts though and it might end up costing them their lives.

"Adopting" them would be tough. The drive back and forth is four hours and the shy one would freak out - even if we could catch her and get her in a cage or carrier.

Winter is coming and I'm wondering if anyone else has faced anything like this?

[madmax]

1. Wow they are beauties!

I love the one sitting in the background. Is there an animal shelter somewhere near your cabin? A nearby town?

[KittyWampus]

2. I've Domesticated VERY Feral Cats

Older cats even.

They will actually adapt better if you put them in a cage. You slowly work your way up to touching them & then petting them... just don't look directly into their eyes.

If you can afford to keep them, please consider.

I can give advice for trapping if you like.

They are beautiful creatures!!!

[KittyWampus]

4. Post Script

Allowing feral cats to breed is the worst option.

It's almost more humane to shoot them.

A feral cat, if it lives, lasts about a year... long enough to give birth to one or two litters.

2 cats turns into 50 cats in a short period of time.

Wild animals, disease, starvation get them.... really not a pretty picture and I dislike thinking about it.

[GOPFighter]

8. I agree

We're trying to find a way to have them neutered/spayed and a rabies shot regardless of what else we do.

"Wild animals, disease, starvation get them.... really not a pretty picture and I dislike thinking about it."

Yeah, it's always on our mind. Animals in the wild live a tough life.

[SOteric]

3. Wow, - what cute little kitty-faces.

You want to get in touch with SoCalDem. She's had experience with feral cats and kittens. She'll be a good resource.

I have an acquaintance here in town that works with a group that 'foster's' feral cats in an attempt to achieve a tranquil domestic relationship. They've had an excellent success rate, so I know it can be done. I just don't have the 411 on their methods.

[lynndew2]

5. When I was young My Father caught a feral kitten

at my Grandfathers and brought it home. It could not be tamed. We named it FANG cause thats what it did whenever it could. After 1 month he drove it back and released it back into the field. That is my only experience with feral kittens and it was bloody for all of us.

[GOPFighter]

7. LOL

Fang! Love it!

These kittens are pretty laid back compared to Fang.

[nomaco-10]

6. If one of them is sitting in your lap, I suspect

he/she is more domesticated than tou think. Sounds like he is very bonded to the skittish one and maybe thinks it would be disloyal to turn his back on him, but there's hope for him too if he comes when you call. Good idea would be to try to cage them, take them to a vet and have them spayed or neutered if you can. You might be able to keep one or both at your home (not your vacation home) or find one or both another home. Winter is coming and they really need homes soon. Good luck, they are beautiful kittens.

[DoNotRefill]

9. They're not feral...

I have a feral cat. She hides from people, and if you get too close, she'll spit at you and run. If you catch her and pick her up, she'll urinate on you. Needless to say, we only pick her up when she has to go to the vet.

Sounds like you've got some new pets.

You might want to check into a time-release feeder system, and provide them with a sheltered, dry space to get out of the elements.

[Don_G]

11. You Described My Cat

She's not Feral...just disappointed that her first owner abandon her in mid-winter along with her second adoptee--my Mom--at her death.

Having said that, she tries to please me and worries when I'm gone....

[Don_G]

10. SoCalDem Has The Most Experience

I just wish her husband hadn't taken her on a trip to Tahiti for a private second honeymoon when this "cat" question appeared.

Personally, I have an opinion but I don't think I'm informed enough to give you valid information one way or another.

Scarlet_Owl and several others can give you advice. You might want to PM them for an informed opinion.

[yellowdawgdem]

12. possible kitty door

Hi,
I agree that it'd be good to get them both altered or whatever the term is- and try taking them home with you. But another possibility is to make a kitty door in your vacation home, so they can get in and out. And leave plenty of food for them. Overall it'd be better to just let them get adjusted to your regular place, and since they are pretty friendly already, I'd bet they'd adjust after a month or two.

[REP]

13. Adopt Them

After seeing those pictures, I'm pretty sure that's the answer you want. They're darling.

Taming feral kittens isn't that hard, and it sounds like one of them has done all the work already. I've adopted and tamed feral cats and kittens; it mostly takes patience, toys and food. I've ended up with loving cats that no one believes were ever wild. So has my mother; five of her six cats were so wild she had to hire a professional trapper and now they are extremely friendly and spoiled fat-ass housecats.

Look at those sweet little faces! They want to live with you. The shyer one will get over her car trip.

If for some reason you really can't take them, contact Alley Cat Allies for more ideas.

[davsand]

14. Any cat hopping your lap is not feral, IMO.

They may not be well socialized yet, but that is not a "feral" cat by my standards. If it was me, I'd take them home with me simply becasue you have at least one that trusts you already. That is a great start!

As for taming them? A few things I learned about wild kitties as a kid with a lot of barn cats:

1. Never look a cat in the eyes or stare at them. That is seen as aggressive behavior by cats.

2. Keep them fed and be the only person doing it. Use wet food (eew--I know it can be nasty) and do it at specific times of day. They associate food with you at that point, and you are less of a threat. If they are young enough, they will come to see you as a Mom replacement.

3. NEVER touch a wild cat on the back of the head where it attaches to the spine. That is where they apply a killing bite on prey and if you touch them there too early, they will freak out.

4. Move slowly and use soft voice with them. Avoid loud noises and sit still for a long time in the same room with them. Sudden movement is to be avoided if at all possible.

5. Be advised that litterbox use may be an issue for them. Cat instinct is to bury body waste, but if they have been outdoors that may mean dirt or dry grass or pine needles--wahtever your local ground cover is. THAT is what you start with in your litter box ,and you have GOT to keep it clean and in a low traffic/private area. Once they start to use it you can mix the old filler with the more traditional catbox fillers.

6. Catnip may not work on younger cats. Try it now, but if it has no impact on them try again in a few months. Use catnip on things like scracthing posts and places where you want them to play.

Good luck! They are such pretty animals and I bet they will be well worth the work they might take.

Laura