Precious and her precious Kitten

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This morning, as I was on my way to sit as a hostess in a Show House, I went to feed the cats in the “nursery,” only to find Precious’ little kitten looking a little lost and alone. I looked around for Precious and could not see her. What I did find, looking down at me, was the little orphan kitten I had seen skulking around the dumpsters – obviously it had found the food source. The kitten was calling me. Then I heard a yowl and stepped into the car park and saw Oscar, stalking around a car and trying to get underneath. I bent down to see and there was Precious. She figured out, a few months ago, that to prevent the males from mounting her, a safe haven was beneath a car.

What was I to do? I couldn’t believe she could be in heat again so soon. I tried to distract Oscar – not a chance! The little fluff ball of a kitten had come to the boundary of the “nursery” and the car park and was standing there looking for its Mama. When Precious spied her kitten, she became emboldened and dashed out from under the car and raced over to her kitten. Oscar dashed after her, but once Precious was protecting her little one, she turned into a tigress and was fearless. Oscar backed off with surprise showing all over his handsome face. I wasn’t sure what to do but worried that the situation would become very difficult for Precious and her little one. The orphan upstairs was also in distress.

I made a quick decision and ran back upstairs to retrieve my cat carrier. I had no problem getting the little kitten inside, but Precious didn’t want to go in as she was suspicious. The alternative, though, was Oscar’s lascivious attention. When I got back down there, Oscar was in a standoff and Tom-Tom had been drawn to the ruckus. A beautiful gray cat, lucky to have been adopted as an outdoor pet, had been fixed and fed regularly and also owned a collar (great prestige!) I turned my attention to getting Precious and her kitten into the carrier. Precious tentatively put her nose and front paws inside the carrier a few times, and then she would break away and run at Oscar. I had put her kitten into the carrier a couple of times but it kept venturing out again, wanting its Mama. Precious came to look inside once more and I quickly pushed her in and popped her kitten in after her. She thrashed about a bit while I carried her to my car and put the carrier in the back. I hurried upstairs to try and get hold of the orphaned kitty. It was staring at me wide-eyed, on the other side of the wooden barrier that forms the banister of the walkway. I couldn’t reach the kitten and when I tried, it bolted off around the corner, totally frightened.

I went back inside and left messages at two of the local shelters. I was pressed for time as I had to be at the Show House at 10 a.m. At this point it was around 8:00 a.m. and I knew that none of the veterinarians nearby were open yet. I got myself ready for work and knew that Precious would have a chance to calm down in the dark and quiet of the car, as she had her baby with her and no other cats or humans harassing her. I had to calm myself down as I was anxious too. Oscar was extremely disgruntled that I had spoiled his fun and taken away a prospective member of his harem. He kept on calling plaintively and even nagged at me when I got home after 6 p.m.

I got myself ready for work and prayed that I would get a response to my messages. None came – it was too early on a Saturday. I made the decision to take Precious and kitten to a nearby vet who had helped me with an orphaned kitten once before. As I started toward my car, it began to rain. Great! Just when I needed good weather – now the carrier and I would get wet.

The vet is close by and I found a small umbrella I keep in my car for such a situation. With umbrella in hand, I opened the hatchback. Precious and her kitten were sitting safely and quietly in the carrier. She gazed at me through her beautiful eyes. She has grown to trust me and I am sure she sensed that I was removing her from a difficult situation. I arranged to leave her and her kitten at the vet for the weekend. She would get her shots. I will contact the MASH unit from The Cattery at the beginning of the week. They offer low cost vaccinations and spaying for feral cats.

The receptionist at the vet is a woman I like very much – she is compassionate and kind. She said she would be able to find a home for the kitten, but that it was unlikely that she would be able to find a home for Precious. Apparently people don’t like to adopt adult cats. I adopted my cat, Mr. Hobbes when he had been abandoned by previous tenants at the apartment complex in which I have lived for over a decade now. Mr. Hobbes was skinny and starving and he had mites and worms, but after a short time with me, he became sleek, shiny, happy and healthy and is now a majestic cat. As a matter of fact, the first night that Mr. Hobbes realized that he had been adopted, he jumped onto the bed and snuggled between my now late-husband and me and started purring, and I swear that a tear ran down his cheek. That cat had waves of gratitude emanating from his little body. He has never done that again, but the day before my husband had a fatal heart attack, Mr. Hobbes, who is not a lapcat, hopped into my husband’s lap and kneaded for two hours when I went off to college. He had never done that before and has never done it since. I am certain that cats can sense when someone is ill and at death’s door, and respond accordingly as if to say goodbye!

Precious is a sweet and friendly animal and I am hoping that somehow, someone will want to give her a home. By then, she will have had her shots and be fixed. I don’t know whether I will be able to catch the orphaned kitten – I will certainly give it a try. That leaves the males who have not been neutered nor have had any shots. I will most likely be in this part of the world for about another month-and-a-half and I am keeping these cats in my prayers and hoping that somehow, they will become adopted! I need to figure out a way to catch the little orphaned kitten that is frightened and alone and somehow get help for that one, too! Sadly, the shelters in this city are overflowing with animals – it is a huge problem which I think needs to be addressed with education and funding, as the shelters and animal control do offer services for strays at reduced costs.

I haven’t even written about Mamacita and her two fast-growing kittens. I think I will name the cream one with the dark patch on its nose “Smudge,” whilst the other looks like “Patches” to me. Mamacita is a nervous animal as she has had a pretty hard time and quite a number of litters. She has grown to trust me over time and I know she wants to move in with her growing babies. Mr. Hobbes is not too amused, although he played “footsie-footsie” on the window pane with one of the kittens the other day. Mamacita does not trust other cats with her precious little ones and is ready to attack at the drop of a hat! I don’t know what would happen to her if I managed to trap her. The lady at the vet said that if the animals are wild, the vet won’t handle them. I don’t know what to do about these two kittens either. If anyone has any suggestions or can help in any way, please either leave a message beneath this hub, or message me privately.

I really want to help these animals if I can, before I leave these 9 months of summer in South Texas for 9 months of winter in Canada. I would hate to simply abandon these fabulous feral felines. If populations of feral cats are simply fixed, there would be no more burgeoning populations that ultimately find their way to animal control and euthanasia. It’s such a waste of precious life. I’m praying… will you also?

Don't you think the cloud behind which the sun is hiding, looks just a little like that precious kitten? it's paw is up and waving...