To read part two, just click here.
...and thank heavens it was a patient trapping coordinator that called me as we continued through learning about the TNR process.
The biggest information she gave me was that the kittens have to weight at least 2 pounds before they can be trapped.
Because of this she recommended we wait until after the first week of August to get the cages.
If we catch the kittens and they are too small, the vet will not spay or neuter them. Apparently, the cats become leary of the traps then so it becomes much more difficult to catch them the second time.
When it gets close to that time another person will contact me who will make an appointment to come to our home with the traps. She will show us when and how to use them.
I'm very nervous about that whole part of the process.
We don't want to hurt them and we don't want to get attacked.
Once they are in the humane traps we then transport them to a participating vet who will examine, spay or neuter each and then mark them.
We will pick them up from the vet and bring them home.
Because of the anesthesia they will not be able to regulate their body temperature for 24 hours and it is recommended we do not bring them inside.
Apparently we will place all the cages together, cover them with damp sheets and blow an electric fan across the cages to keep them cool.
Not only will our temperatures be in the high teens in early August we will also be in the middle of monsoon season, so this should be quite interesting.
As of this writing I believe there may only be two or three kittens left.
The smallest black one hasn't been around in a week or so but, again, it is really difficult to see them. They are fast and shy and rarely come out at all into the side yard.
We have not been seeing the Mom much lately either although there were a bunch of bird feathers by and in the water dish when I went out to feed and water them this morning.
I won't have any more news on trapping the cats for about a month but after we get our instructions I'll let you know what's happening with them.
Our Grandlittles are quite fascinated with this process. They are planning to help with the trapping which will be a good thing.
I learn as I get older how little I actually know. There are so many things in the world that I am unaware of at all. Feral cats is one of those categories.
I believe that all knowledge is good knowledge. I just hope this whole scenario ends well for the little wild cats.
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11 comments:
Be careful. The traps capture other animals besides the ferral cats. My parents have caught raccons and skunks. Not a fun time when that happens.
When we lived in CA, we had them, two years in a row. We didn't have trapping capabilities then. We just waited until they moved on. Unfortunately, we also had visiting coyotes, so nature sort of took over. Kudos to you for having the desire to help them out!
I hope it all goes well.
=)
Good luck... and BE CAREFUL!
I think it is a wonderful thing to help these feral cats. I hope it goes well!
hugs,
Linda
That TNR plan would make me a little TNR....that is totally nervous and reluctant. It does sound like you will have lots of help and I'm sure you will do great.
Hi Jenny! You need to meet Lorna my friend. She just finished capturing all the kittens and their mom and the Tom! WOw! In the process she caught a young racoon. Boy was he mad! But Lorna is like a feral cat whisperer and she calmed that raccoon too! After he was fed and knew she meant no harm she left him go and away he went! LOL! But she had to release mom once because she could not get that final kitten and that kitten needed mom. Now they all went safely to the vet so hopefully all will be better with them. It is quite a fascinating process and Lorna has had very good results. Best of luck! Hugs Anne
I don't always get every post with the follow by email option, so I am glad I saw this one. I wish you luck catching the kittens when the time comes. Sounds like quite a process. I have my fingers crossed that all goes well. :)
A complicated process. Hope all goes well.
I like when you say grandLITTLES. I love this descriptive.
This is good knowledge and I'm happy you are sharing it with all of us. Such a heartbreaking situation though; seems they have a sad life.
BUT, YOU are doing a great thing!!
XO
You are not only doing a great thing for the cats. You are also providing a public service by telling people about the whole process.
I already told you that my wife has been involved in this stuff for quite a while. She also hand makes covers for those traps/cages.
You get MAJOR karma points for what you are doing.
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