I need advice. How do I help these feral kittens?

[Skip Intro]

There is a Hess station near me, and near the dumpsters next to the station are a mother cat and some solid black kittens. They must reside in the woods next to the station, but when I go there for supplies (beer usually) they are hanging around the dumpsters. They must be starving and I feel so bad for them. I buy cat food now, almost every time I stop, and walk over to the dumpsters and leave it, and I see them as I'm leaving run over to it. I've been told by some of the workers that the manager will call the cops on me if he catches me feeding them. I had no idea it was against the law to feed hungry animals.

Anyway, I know there are feral cats all over, but I can't just ingore them. So my question is - how do I catch them? And then what do I do with them? I've called the county animal control several times, and they've told me these guys are on the list to be taken caught, then turned over to the humane society, but that they have a big list and they'll get to them when they can. It's starting to get chilly here, and I don't want to wait. I want to help them. How do I do that?

Any thoughts?

[Flaxbee]

1. check out Alley Cat Allies: www.alleycat.org

they have a pretty comprehensive site with a lot of information. They should also have a list of animal care organizations affiliated with them (hopefully there will be a few in your area) that you can contact.

Humane traps are a good way to catch them, but you need to talk to someone who knows what they're doing .. and the people at Alley Cat Allies really do know what they're doing (though the main office can be hard to get in touch with - cruise around their website for their affiliates).

Good luck, and thank you for trying to care for the sweet little things. It would be great if you could catch mommacat, too, and have her spayed....

[flvegan]

4. Heartily seconded.

[Runcible Spoon]

2. get a have a heart trap, sometimes the human society will lend you one

trap the mother and see if you can catch the kittens. Spay the mother and release her, unless your shelters think she is a good candidate for adoption. Try to socialize the kittens and get them homes. If you need help with any of this, look up rescue groups around your neighborhood. In the long run, spaying/neutering them is the very least you can do for them.

[applegrove]

3. When you get them take a photograph of the whole littre, make a poster and hang

it at your local vets & humane society offices...and say free to a good home.