neutering ?? help please!
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2016 10:53 am
Hi all, I'm new on here and need some advice please. Ive been feeding a stray cat in my garden for the last year or so - she must have been someones pet once as she knows how to use a litter tray and loves cuddles and being picked up. She had a litter of kittens somewhere a couple of months ago but kept them well hidden til last week when she turned up with just the one (presumably the only one to survive) who is about 8-10 weeks old and still feeding from his mum.
Now I have about six tom cats harassing her in the garden, all day and all night - I'm assuming she's on heat. I've absolutely had enough of the horrendous noise and fighting, and the fact that my own cat is terrified to go out into his own garden. I'm wondering of the solution is to get her neutered? I cant afford to pay for this but it looks like none of the local animal charities will help unless we are on benefits which we are not. So my questions are:-
1) will anyone help with the cost of neutering a stray if we are not on benefits? Cats protection are supposed to be getting a volunteer to call me but I've heard nothing from them. She's not my cat and I can't afford it on my own.
2) if she were to be neutered can she be returned to the garden straight away or would she need post op care? Given that her kitten is still feeding,(and extremely attached to his mum, though he is able to eat tinned food that I put out for her) is this a bad time for her to be taken away for the day? If its left any longer theres obviously a chance she will be pregnant as I believe she has been mated already by several cats.
3) Much as I love her, she is very aggressive to my beautiful gentle tabby boy and I cant have her to live with me. I also dont want her kitten to grow up feral. Is it possible to socialise the kitten so that he could live with me?
Sorry for all the questions - I feel so torn and confused.
Any advice very gratefully received.
Now I have about six tom cats harassing her in the garden, all day and all night - I'm assuming she's on heat. I've absolutely had enough of the horrendous noise and fighting, and the fact that my own cat is terrified to go out into his own garden. I'm wondering of the solution is to get her neutered? I cant afford to pay for this but it looks like none of the local animal charities will help unless we are on benefits which we are not. So my questions are:-
1) will anyone help with the cost of neutering a stray if we are not on benefits? Cats protection are supposed to be getting a volunteer to call me but I've heard nothing from them. She's not my cat and I can't afford it on my own.
2) if she were to be neutered can she be returned to the garden straight away or would she need post op care? Given that her kitten is still feeding,(and extremely attached to his mum, though he is able to eat tinned food that I put out for her) is this a bad time for her to be taken away for the day? If its left any longer theres obviously a chance she will be pregnant as I believe she has been mated already by several cats.
3) Much as I love her, she is very aggressive to my beautiful gentle tabby boy and I cant have her to live with me. I also dont want her kitten to grow up feral. Is it possible to socialise the kitten so that he could live with me?
Sorry for all the questions - I feel so torn and confused.
Any advice very gratefully received.