This morning when I went to the grocery store, there was a young girl standing outside in the pouring rain (and wind). My heart sank as I walked closer and noticed she had a small orange kitten in her hands and a cat carrier at her feet.
Approaching her, her eyes lit up and she thrust this baby into the rain and said “Wanna kitten?” I hustled into the shelter of the roof so the kitten wouldn’t get so wet and I took the little one from her and snuggled him. He was a beauty, he was orange and white, reminescent of my Prowler girl. He was all of about 5 weeks old and should have been snuggled down with mom, not produced as a sacrifice for a smitten kitten shopper!
I asked how old the kitten was and glancing down into her carrier saw at least 4 more, one pure white, one off beige and the others shadowed in the back.
“He is seven weeks old” she proclaimed. I looked at her and that is when I lost it. I didn’t take him or any of the others, but I lectured her about spaying and neutering and told her these kittens were in no way 7 weeks old but more like five! I could tell I hit her with the truth because then she became defensive (not what I wanted) I had kept my tone gentle and tried to deliver my lecture with love, even though part of me wanted to throttle her for bringing these wee ones into the cold.
I think at the end of the exchange, I got through to her though, because when I came back out,she was putting the kitten into the carrier and preparing to leave. She simply did not want to believe that some crazy cat person had told her the kittens need to stay with mom till they are at least 12 weeks old!
I feel sad for the kittens left to an unknown fate. Sad for the fact that I am full up and I couldn’t extend my home to just a few more rescues. I don’t know if dogs are being adopted right now, but most certainly kittens aren’t. People are to worried in these troubled times and are unwilling to take in any extra mouths to feed.
Even though it broke my heart, I had to say “No” and walk away.
It’s tough to think what people do with their cats, I know. 3 years ago I had just adopted what was to be my 4th cat, having recently lost an older cat to illness. I wanted a little zip back in the house again. I went back to the shelter I had adopted from before and at an adoption day, picked up Sawyer. I only had him about 3 weeks when a friend of a friend reported that her teenage daughter and friend had just brought home two kittens they had “found on the railroad tracks”. They were trying to force feed them half and half when my friend demanded that they give them to her. She already had her hands full with 4 dogs and a cleaning business so I took the brother and sister home. They were only 3 weeks old! Who knows where they came from or the fate of any siblings, but they are 3 years old now and happy and healthy. Oh if I only had the room to save them all….
I know Val and it isn’t going to end anytime soon. I just had to say no and walk away. I wish I had the room, I wish I didn’t have active sprayers who every time I bring another cat in, they reestablish their right to this home by spraying the walls.
I have to say, I love your creative names for these cats. Next time, I do have room and I can adopt one- can I use your brain to pick out the appropriate name? I am about tapped out.
I’ve been more creative lately due to watching entirely too much TV! I have Stevie (for Steve Irwin), Sawyer, Mr Eko and Ana-Lucia (TV show Lost), Deagol (Lord of the Rings). Outside I have two feral sisters named Clarice and Cora who were characters from a movie called Gormenghast , they were crazy identical twins and these two are identical tabbies.
I also have others with silly names like Pickle and Fafi. At one point I had so many I ran out of cat names and adopted one from the SPCA that I named SP!
I know what you mean about the sprayers! I have a stray that actually was the resident of the house I bought that they left behind, neutered, declawed and starving for 6 weeks when their house foreclosed. I met him while renovating and he stayed with me. But, every time I try to let him in he pees or poops on something. So, he’s on the patio with an Igloo and a heating pad! The neighbor threatened to kill him for digging in their garden! Love your blog! I’ll be back!
Hi I’m from Washington State. A die hard cat lover from a young age, I recently took on care for a colony of atleast 30 cats/kittens. Finiding your site was a nice treat, becaues i’m starting to feel like I dont know how to help all of these cats. Thanks for blogging for all of us cat lovers….god bless!
i truly never had a clue how important it is for the babes to stay with their mom for as long as possible — until i started caring for my ferals. those extra few weeks make all the difference in their health — thank you for educating that girl!
I too live in WA state and care for a feral colony. I’ve been at it for 3 years and face so many challenges sometimes I don’t know how I’ll will continue. But I do. I would love to join with others in my area (seattle) and share stories and support. Thank you for having this blog.
As far as I am concerned, I would like to see others in the PNW share stories, tips and concerns here on my blog at any time. I try to write every day but lately it has just been tough to do. I got sidelined by the swine flu plus caring for my husband’s needs.