Why would a feral cat move her kittens?

Cats will instinctively want to keep their kittens somewhere clean. That’s because strong scents can attract predators in the wild, and that will put the lives of her kittens in danger. If the nest is becoming dirty, then she might start trying to move her kittens to a cleaner spot.

Do feral mother cats move their kittens?

Mom cats move their kittens often and she may be in the midst of moving them and on her way back to these seemingly abandoned kittens. Or she may be out looking for food. It is not unusual for a mom to leave her kittens for several hours looking for food.

Do feral cats abandon their kittens?

Feral cats already are naturally untrusting of just about everyone and everything, and oftentimes, a feral cat will abandon their kittens if they’re off in search of food. This is similar to how other animal mothers in the wild leave their vulnerable young behind while they hunt.

Can a feral kitten become a house cat?

Can a Feral Cat Become a House Pet? You may have a chance of taming or domesticating a feral kitten. However, it’s not generally recommended to tame a feral cat — and it’s usually not possible to tame an adult one.

At what age do feral kittens leave mother?

Six weeks
Six weeks is the optimal age to take the kittens from the mother for socialization and adoption placement, kittens under 4 weeks of age should stay with their mom (if possible) so they get proper nutrients to survive and be healthy.

How long does a feral mother cat stay with her kittens?

It’s important to ensure that the mother has full access to her kittens while they’re small, as she’s the one who is best equipped to look after them. Kittens should ideally stay with Mum until they’re at least 12 weeks old.

Should I take feral kittens from mother?

5-6 weeks is the optimal age to take the kittens from a feral Mama Cat for socialization and adoption placement, and any time after 8 weeks for Trap-Neuter-Return (spay/neuter, vaccination, eartip, and return to their colony). For kittens of friendly cats, they should remain with Mama Cat until at least 8-10 weeks old.

Can a 1 year old feral cat be domesticated?

Many experts agree that feral adult cats simply can’t be tamed. They are wild animals, like raccoons. They tend to stay away from humans, hide during the day, and when adopted, are very difficult to socialize. Just like you would never try to handle a raccoon, you should never try to pick up a feral cat.

Can feral kittens survive on their own?

Many of these cats are feral or “wild” cats, the descendants of unaltered tame cats who were abandoned and gave birth to kittens who never had contact with humans. Although ferals are fearful of humans, they are still domesticated and ill-equipped to survive on their own.