Feral cats are defined as a domesticated cat breed that lives in the wild. Feral cats usually avoid contact with humans, and tend to be more aggressive than cats that have owners. Feral cats often travel in packs. In today’s article, we are going to discuss how feral cats are raised in the wild.
How Long Do Feral Cats Stay With Their Kittens
Despite popular belief, feral cats stay with their kittens for a long time. Feral cats usually stay with their kittens for at least 3 months. At this point, the kittens are almost always weaned and able to eat solid food. Feral cats will not purposely abandon their kittens, as it is in their natural instinct to stay and care for them. The main reason feral cats get separated from their kittens is because of predator or human intervention.
Why is it important for kittens to be with their mother
During the first 8 weeks of a feral kitten’s life, it is essential that their mother is there to care for them. The three main things that the mother cat provides for the kittens is food, warmth, and stimulation.
Food: For the first 4-6 weeks of a feral kittens life, they will solely drink their mother’s milk. This is because the milk provides essential nutrients and energy for them to grow and develop. At around the 6 week period, the kittens will start to be weaned as they are able to eat solid food. The mother cat will then start leaving the kittens by themselves as she goes and searches for food.
Warmth: Warmth is another essential task the the mother provides for the kitten. A kitten must have a body temperature between 100-102 degrees fahrenheit in order to be healthy. This is why it is very common for feral cats to lay on top of their kittens to keep them warm.
Stimulation: Lastly, a feral mother cat must stimulate their kittens in order to help them pee and poop. They stimulate their kittens by licking their butt and genitals. Kittens can usually poop on their own at around the 4 week mark.
What should you do if you come across a group of feral kittens
If you find a group of feral kittens, you should never take them right away. There is a good chance that the mother is out trying to catch food. It is important to remember that for the first 8 weeks of a kitten’s life, it is essential that they stay with their mother. If you notice the mother cat doesn’t come back for a day or 2, then you can intervene by offering the kittens some food. If the mother cat is still gone after 4 days, then there is a chance the cat was killed. At this point you can take in the feral kittens and start providing for them.
What is the right age to take in a feral cat
The perfect age to take in a feral cat is between the age of 8 weeks and 3 months of age. At this point, a feral kitten can still be socialized with humans, and learn how to live a domesticated life. If a feral cat is already 6 months or a year old, it will be extremely hard for them to become acclimated with you and your home. However, it is not impossible. You should start by regularly feed the feral cat, and there is a chance it will begin to trust you.
How long do feral cats usually live
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for feral cats to become separated from their kittens. As a result, around 50% of feral kittens die within the first year of their life. As a whole, feral cats have an average lifespan of around 3 years.
What is the main cause of death for feral cats?
The main reason feral cats die so young is because of malnutrition and diseases. Since feral cats don’t have vaccines, they are much more susceptible to diseases. Additionally, there are a lot more predators living among them in the wild. Feral cats are also frequently killed by being run over by cars. It is estimated that over 5 million cats get run over in the U.S each year.
