Stray Momma & Kittens - part 1

We have the pleasure of living in a very rural area, which we love most of the time. Gene's least favorite thing is the smell of the fertilizer the farmers use, which always coincides with when I open the windows for fresh air. Being in the rural farmland area, barn cats are a very standard thing around here. The downside is that they don't always get spayed or neutered, and we all know this is a huge issue on many levels. That being said, the guy across the street from us has a yard where all the stray pregnant mommas feel safe and always have their litters.

About 5 months ago, a mom and her litter of 4 showed up. (Monkey, Buddy, Mr. Gray (aka Poe), and Missy) Our neighbor's daughter comes over and feeds them once they have been discovered in his yard. She sends pictures to me; they are all adorable and super friendly (including mom, who is friendly and comes up for pets). We find ourselves with 4 kittens ready to explore the land outside of the yard they were born in. One day, as they all frolicked in the middle of the road, a quick decision was made to catch them and put them on our sunporch, followed by the standard vet visits, including the spay/neuters. I immediately reached out to FB looking for potential adopters for some kittens. We found homes for all 4 (YAY! We won't be taking in an additional 4 kittens at this time). Now we just have to get them fixed and up-to-date on shots.

We got them scheduled for the spay/neuters the day we leave for vacation. This way, they will be all recovered from the surgeries and ready to go to their new homes by the end of September! This is quite a surprise, as we struggled last time we had kittens that needed homes. Needless to say, that makes us humans happy, as we won't be burdened with more food and litter costs for these cuties!

In that time, one has been adopted out to someone who wanted to get the neuter and shots done at her own vet. (Less costs for us this way!) So we have Missy - a cutie calico, Buddy and Monkey two tiger-striped with white. They are quite the trio - hate being separated. They lasted all of 24 hours with their hoods on (e-collar) after surgery. Just too playful and those things get in the way.

Fully recovered, they have gained access to the "main" house, which is always a crapshoot regarding how that will go. It can go super smooth or crazy and chaotic. We are on the crazy/chaotic end. Smokey, a senior cat, isn't thrilled about the kittens. She gets right in their faces and hisses to let them know how she feels. Dobby is sad and walking around like she's not the baby or the favorite anymore (so far from the truth, at least regarding being the favorite). Roughy is mad that there are more cats and can't even be happy that this means he gets his "Sunporch" back.

The paws are flying as everyone gets accustomed to the three temporary kittens. Lots of butt sniffing happening, and the face that follows when they realize it's not a butt they have smelled before is hysterical. (But seriously, why is it only okay for animals to sniff each other's butts?)

Shouldn't be too long now before life settles down and the kittens go to their new homes.

Are you still wondering about the Momma/prego situation? Catch us next time for the dets on that!

Till our tails cross again,

Melanie

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