Feral kittens found on farm - help..

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Chumsmum

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Two feral kittens have turned up on the farm over the weekend where I keep my ponies, they are currently residing in the barn. No-one has seen an adult cat around recently. They look old enough to be weaned but still babies, at a very rough guess around 8/10 weeks? They look healthy but haven't picked them up to check properly.

Not really sure what to do - farmer not really bothered by them being there but doesn't want anything to do with them, he certainly wont feed them or get them neutered when the time comes etc.

I 'think' they are still young enough to be tamed, I gave them some kitten food this morning and though very scared, one of them let me gently stroke it while it was eating.

I've tried the local charities for advice but no-one answering and all have messages saying their homes are full.. Will try them again later.

What's the best thing to do? I don't mind feeding them as I'm there every day but I just can't afford and don't want the commitment of any more pets (can't cope with the ones I already have..) plus is feeding them the right thing to be doing anyway? But I can't just leave them if they need help
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Any ideas on what to do - should I continue to feed them when I see them etc? Sorry to sound so dumb, I have cats of my own but haven't a clue about feral ones.

I'm on the Worcestershire/Shropshire border if anyone can offer a home?
 
I would contine to call the charities... You may even be able to get them 'done' free as well, via a charity so please continue to call them. Try some local ones, or the cats protection, RSPCA etc etc As they will be best to advise on what to do for thier care/future care etc
 
They could be an asset to the yard if farmer doesn't mind.

The Cats Protection League will help if you can get hold of them. They will pay for having them neutered at a local vets if you ask (they have vets they work with).

I would carry on feeding them & getting them used to being handled, as when truely feral they are impossible to get hold of without being trapped. If you can get them neutered by CPL, it will be easier for you to get them there & back.
 
I believe that Cats protection will come out and catch them, check them and neuter them. Presumably it doesn't matter if they are full if they could return to the yard and be yard mouse catchers once they've had the chop......

Phone up, when my friend discovered feral cats in her coal shed the cats protection set up a trap and caught loads of feral cats in the area, neutered them all rehomed the kittens and re released the adults. This significantly reduced the problem in that area.

Good Luck!
 
If you start feeding them they will stay and be brilliant mousers for you.

Our last 'feral' cat was put down 6 weeks ago. And was the last one of the three kittens that turned up 14 years ago.

Two people took responsibility for them - but the whole yard contributed to their keep, which included food and veterinary bills. They had beds in the tack room and had wonderful, happy and healthy lives on the farm.

They are sooo missed.

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Hi, if the mum has definately left them, them take them to the blue cross or rspca, if you turn up with them, they cant turn you away.
If you think the mum might still be about, give them a little bit of kitten milk, or at that age they could eat kitten food, but might not know how if mums not shown them.
If it where me I couldn't leave them.
 
Could it be that someone dumped them?

Only we had a 'feral' cat and 3 kittens at a friends farm, some guys rented a couple of units and they came across 2 of the kittens and took them home. I then found the cat and her remaining kitten in my hay store - I grabbed them and shut them in the stable and took some food down, the cat was not feral but quite obviously a tame cat that had for some reason ended up 'living rough'. We took them to my nans house (who doesn't have cats) where they stayed for a few weeks, and then a friend game them both a home.

Anyhow that lengthly ramble was to say that the kitten was not at all friendly, and it must have only been about 4 or 5 weeks old when I found it, wouldn't allow itself to be stroked at all, whereas the mum was the sweetest little thing ever - so if the kitten lets you stroke it, it doesn't sound completely feral to me.

Have you tried the cats protection league?
 
You definitely can't not feed them, they'd starve to death. Try Shropshire Cat Rescue, bit far from you but well worth giving them a call. Don't give them milk unless it's proper cat milk, try them with wet kitten food (as opposed to dry food). They sound old enough to be able to cope with solid food OK. It's possible their mother has just brought them round to the farm now they're a bit older, so keep a look out for her in case she comes back to them.

Some feral kittens will try to take your hand off (which is hilarious when they have tiny teeth and claws), others will hide while others are just too friendly for their own good and will follow you everywhere (I've had some of each sort)!!

RSPCA might well turn you away even if you turn up on the doorstep, or have them put down, you're best going to a rescue that has a no kill policy. CP or RSPCA will pay - or help towards - the cost of neutering though if they are ferals. It's worth asking them if they'll pay for a health check, too, although I don't know if a charity will do that.

I've tamed a cat in his late teens who was feral until then, so it's never too late to try to tame them
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Properly fed, and neutered, they will make great farm cats - BTW it's a fallacy that they won't hunt if they're fed as keeping them fed will make them more likely to stay at the farm.

Sorry, that's a bit bitty, not sure if I've covered everything there. I'd love some kittens but I've already got enough yard cats!
 
Thank you so much for replies - very helpful.

They certainly ate the dried kitten food okay but will get some wet food too. They also lapped water okay.

I've spoken to someone at Cat's Protection League who was lovely and I'm waiting for a call back
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I've also had a PM from someone on HHO who may be able to help me so fingers crossed a happy outcome
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cats protection league. and please please keep feeding them (they are only dinky and its not their fault) til the CPL oick them up. and ask friend relatives signs on boards to try to find them a nice home!
 
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