For all you animal rescuers out there:

The cops shut down a meth lab across the street from me a few months ago (it was the best kind, really, we didn't know it was there!), and the woman who lived there was, obviously, kicked out of the house. Sadly, she left all her cats there. She has been feeding them all this time but now the house has been sold and the new owner, understandably, does not want responsibility for all these cats and the woman who used to live there can't care for them either. My neighbor and I have taken charge of trying to find places for these cats to live.

My question: How will we catch all of them?

We're planning on using live traps. There are either 8 or 9 cats in all. There are five adults and three or four kittens. Two of the cats are the mothers (one has a single kitten, the other has two, maybe three). I'm worried about catching the mom cats and losing the kittens because they won't come out without their moms (and I can't figure out where they're hiding). Will kittens go into the live traps without mom? My guess is no. One mom cat will let me touch her, the other won't get near me. The remaining three are somewhat socialable and one other adult is not. The kittens won't come near me either.

If anyone has any clues I'd be most grateful. I'm not so worried about finding homes for them. It's just getting them before someone gets impatient and does something unthinkable.

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2000

Answers

Don't know where you live, Portland ? But here in S.F. the SPCA has a great feral cat program.......maybe there is a similar program where you live. If not the SPCA here has info over the phone that might be of use to you (415) 554-3071. I've personally caught a mother cat via a humane trap........had her neutered......and while she was recouperating my neighbor caught her kittens........they got hungry ! and she caught them in the trap, no problem. I believe most SPCA's have traps available for a small deposit........Good Luck......and Thanks for

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2000

I am a volunteer at the local animal shelter and about a month ago, we had a similar situation - a police raid discovered a two bedroom rental house with 23 cats/kittens in it and 4 adult dogs. So there were a lot of cats to catch. If these cats are indoors (I couldn't tell from your message) the easiest way is actually to get two people and a sheet and throw the sheet over the cat and trap him/her in it. After some practice, it is the easiest method. If you do catch the kittens, be sure to have at least one mother cat (she will be most likely willing to take the other kittens under her wing) Putting food out for the mother cat and waiting and watching might lead the kittens out to see what Mommy is up to. Good luck

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2000

Well, I can't say too much for your specific situation, because I didn't have any real time pressures. But what worked for me to catch Mama and BOK...

Stay calm. Move fairly slowly and smoothly. Talk softly. If possible, don't really try to catch them for a while, just sit near where they will come and see you, put out some food, and try to pet any of the cats who come in your reach, without pressuring them (if they shy away, just stop immediately). But above all, stay calm, not afraid or agitated.

If the kittens are mobile, they would most likely come out of hiding if the mothers were captured, when they got hungry. If not (if you never see them walking around), I would probably wait a week or two, working on making friends with the adults in the meantime.

It will require a lot of attention and time, but I think you can do it. (If you could get the help of the woman who has been feeding them so far, it might be easier.)

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2000