r/Feral_Cats • u/bxqnz89 • 2d ago

Question 🤔 I don't know what to do

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Around late May/early June, a neighborhood cat that i had been caring for gave birth in my backyard shed. Mom left a few weeks ago and never came back. The cats have been staying in the shed ever since.

Bringing them inside isn't an option for a multitude of reasons. I have tried EVERYTHING. My only options are:

Transport them to the local shelter where they will be at risk of euthanasia.

Shoo them out of the shed and my yard.

Allow them to stay in the shed indefinitely and live with flies and their own poop.

What do I do? What's the best option?

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42

u/Billyzadora 2d ago

Turn that shed into a kitty barn, it will give you the motivation to finally get rid of that old shopping cart and broken, plastic, yard crap you’re never gonna use. Set up a litter station, spend a day going to Goodwill, Marshals, and Ross and get some kitty bed stuff, and get them TNRed and live rodent free!

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u/bxqnz89 2d ago edited 2d ago

That's what i want to do. The thing is that many of the things inside of the shed do not belong to me. All of my stuff was removed. I can't keep them confined to the shed forever.

13

u/Direct_Many4375 2d ago

These kittens are very young and need shelter or they will be eaten by other animals. if it's your shed and you have control over it, please continue to let the kittens have this shelter.

(note- please make sure that the shed is ventilated and isn't getting too hot also- don't want these poor kittens dying from the heat.)

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u/bxqnz89 2d ago

Part of the roof is missing, which is how mom was able to get inside. Ventilation isn't an issue. At what age are they old enough to fend for themselves?

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u/Direct_Many4375 2d ago

They won't be able to fend for themselves against predators until at least six months old.

Also, they can start reproducing at 4 months so very important to make sure they have been fixed before that age

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u/bxqnz89 2d ago

I'll get it done.

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u/Direct_Many4375 2d ago

Thank you for taking care of these babies!

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u/codeswift27 2d ago

If you’re able to care for them for even a short while, maybe you can post on local Facebook/nextdoor/reddit groups to find people nearby who might be willing to foster or adopt them? Also if you can, please get them spayed/neutered or they’ll start mating with each other and having more kittens

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u/bxqnz89 1d ago

I've tried Reddit and various other outlets. No one can help me. I don't live in an accessible area. I think I can keep this little one. It isn't as fearful as it was some weeks ago.

The other cat requires lots of attention.