Feral Kitten.

[searchlight]

There's a mum and 2 kittens where I work and I've been feeding them. One kitten lets me stroke it and likes to play. Mum and the other kitten back away when approached. Mum doesn't seem to be bringing food home for them although they get milk and food from other staff as well. I've thought about taking the bonded kitten home as a pet but don't know whether that would be an acceptable move. Or should it be left as a feral cat with me making less and less visits. Will it learn to feed itself in spite of receiving food from humans?

[Islay]

If you are going to take the little one home then do it soon. There is a small timeline where a semi feral can be turned. These will not be true ferals as they are coming near you. Contact cats protection so that they can trap the mother and kitten they will then neuter and return the cats to their spot.

[seekeerz]

well, I guess it raises a number of questions ...

are you able to give this kitten a good life ...do you have other animals already... roughly how old is the kitten, is it ready to leave it's mother ??

I believe that one less feral cat on the streets is a good thing, at some stage they may all come to an unfortunate end for any number of reasons, but I don't think the mother will fret too much if one kitten goes.

your comment ...//don't know whether that would be an acceptable move //

acceptable to whom ??

but I'd raise another query ....you go to work, so the kitten would be alone during this time ...,that's not fair to it when it has has another sibling ...would you be prepared to have another kitten for company ??

[Peaspeculiars]

Hi Searchlight, I guess no-one can say for sure if the kitten will become less feral if taken home, but if it's any help, I currently have x2 1 year old cats whom were rescues from a farm at 10 weeks old (as the farmer used to shoot any excess cats) by a rescue centre.
Themselves and their parents were completely feral and they wouldn't come near us for a couple of weeks once we had brought them home and installed them in a nice warm safe room.
It took a long time, quietness and patience to get them to come out from their hiding places - but after spending as much time as possible with them before and after work each day and teaching them that humans are ok after all, it worked out.
They are now very cuddly and playful cats who love being outdoors, come to a call and get on with our older cat without issue (the older cat was also a feral kitten who was dumped in a box a few years back - she's turned out fine too).
If the cats are left, yes, they would be able to eventually fend for themselves somewhat, catching mice & birds and going through bins, but what if you ever leave the offices and they become dependant on your kind tid-bits? What would they do then, and what would happen if they get injured? If they grow up feral, they wouldn't let anyone near them to help.

I know you aren't daft and care about them, but I can't tell you what to do - In an ideal world, I would try and catch the mum and kittens and take her to a vets to see if she is microchipped. A lot of pet cats can be extremely wary of other humans, so they may possibly be owned - Check this as a first point of call.
If not owned, and if it was me, (and only if they appear to be old enough to leave mum - eating solids, about 8-10 weeks old) I would take the x2 kittens home as pets. This isn't for everyone though as kittens really do destroy wallpaper/ sofas/ curtains and these will need litter trays providing/ emptying - and will need a lot of time spent to get them tame.
The mum will continue to breed more kittens if left, and the kittens too eventually, so perhaps you could get in touch with a local sanctuary and see if they can assist? They may be able to take all three on and neuter them all.

[Peaspeculiars]

Ooh, and Ps - If you do decide to try and catch them, please be careful and wrap up arms in a thick fleece top, wear gloves and watch your face & eyes - as they are feral, they will more than likely lash out if you try and pick them up, so make sure you have a couple of cat baskets (One for mum, and one for the kittens).
In retrospect, it may just be easier to contact a rescue centre (Not the RSPCA, a local one will be more likely to assist and neuter/ re-home) than trying to do it all yourself.
All the best x

[wildwood]

Cats do not bring their kittens food, excepting suckling them. They will guide the kittens to a secluded spot and give them their kills and at the same time teach them how to get food.

If the friendly one allows you to stroke it, by all means take it, provided you have all the necessaries for a pet. We had one that lived for 22 years.

Feral (semi) cats very in trust. Many years ago we had a young cat that made itself at home in the factory were I worked. It would come right up to food offered but would never let anyone touch it.

Please do as others have suggested regarding neutering the other mother/kittens.

[searchlight]

Thanks for all the answers and any which may come later. There's a lot to think about and consider.

[searchlight]

By the way I won't select a best answer because they're all constructive and helpful. Thanks again.

[ummmm]

Do you know how old they are?

[MissLead]

If it's any help, we had a feral cat visit us many years ago now - she wouldn't be tamed - she lived in a barn nearby - the owners of the barn (smallholders, but not country-born) kept pigs (in appalling conditions) and sheep (who were starving half of the year) and told us the cat had had kittens. They thought it amusing when I scrambled over the debris to the barn to feed her whilst she was feeding the three kittens. Once they were weaned, we managed to tame two of them quite easily - the two male ones - by dint of attracting them indoors one day and keeping them overnight. The third kitten was smaller and tabby, like the mother and she didn't stray far from her side. Eventually the little tabby kitten became tame too - I seem to remember the mother cat bringing her to the back door and prodding her with her paw whenever she tried to retreat. Anyway, all I can say is that we tried to find homes for 2 of the kittens - accepted that they already had a home (with us) and they all had different personalties and were really good companions to each other and to us. The mother never became tame but we continued to feed her.

[searchlight]

That's interesting mislead. I've thought about taking the bonded kitten home but worry what effect it would have on the sibling left behind and the mother for that part although I don't think she would be bothered. However the kittens get on brilliantly with each other and I imagine there's a lot of opinion as to whether it would be fair to them to split them up. I'm trying not to get too deep in a debate about cat welfare because I would simply like to give one kitten a good home while not feeling guilty of separating a family. I know that puppies from the same litter get split up and go to different homes and that is the norm. Is it the same for a family of feral/semi feral cats?