Like I need it...
By ElicBxn
@ElicBxn (63594)
United States
May 30, 2009 3:05pm CST
So there I am last night, checking the mail and what do I see dash across the front porch?
A kitten...
A little black kitten. So, of course, I have to go look for it.
Well, no luck last night, so we set the live trap and finally, about 1 a.m. we went to bed.
I woke up due to hydrolics at almost 7 this morning and, after dealing with that, I went to check the trap.
I then went to the roomie and announced: "We have kitten."
Not only the little black one in the trap, but the tabby I've been calling "The Gentleman Caller" and 2 more kittens, these both tabbys. I guess the reason I've had so much trouble with that name was because the tabby is probably "The Momma" not a gent at all.
So, we bring the trap inside, move the kitten (called prodding it) until it went into the cat carrier and set the trap back outside.
Well, then we had a friend coming to take her 2 kittens to our vet so when we went, instead of her 2 kittens, we now had 3 kittens.
Well, the black one we've dubbed "Brat" because she's a little spit fire, bit the vet - yes, she's a she.
And, when we got home, we had "The Momma" in the trap.
I bring that inside too, put both in my bathroom, open up both the carrier and the trap and leave them alone. Soon, The Momma is out of the trap and I can take it back outside to prime it again, and hopefully we'll have another kitten or 2 soon.
Now, these cats are ferals, and I'm not willing to do the work to "flip" the kittens, so if we can get them fixed we can either release them back into our neighborhood, or find a nice barn for them to live at.
Wish me luck in catching the other 2 kittens, and if they are a boy and girl, they are "Elmer" and "Emily" tho you have to be a fan of the old '70's show, The Tomorrow People, to get that one.
8 people like this
22 responses
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
30 May 09
Hi Elic,
Wow! what a lot of kitties, well at least they are been looked and thanks to you, St. El 'o the cats, you are so kind, and once ther are back out, hope they will be safe.
Tamara
4 people like this
@snowy22315 (180478)
• United States
30 May 09
I have a black cat that was given to me as a present by some friends who were leaving the state. He is really sweet and has been a great boon to our family. I really like the cat and find him to be a really nice and sweet cat. He is one of the best cats that I have ever owned and one that I am glad to have been given.
4 people like this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
30 May 09
I am glad that you are helping poor kittens to have place to stay and be healthy.
I wish more people are doing something to animals as you do...
HUGS
3 people like this
@ellie333 (21016)
•
30 May 09
Hi Elic, I hope you manage to catch the other two and have them done and then released as this way it does cut down the population of feral cats but in the corect way. My mother lives in Spain and they are overun with them but she did adopt and have spade the momma cat and she is in fact quite tame these days. Huggles, Ellie :D
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63594)
• United States
30 May 09
We were chatting with a lady at Walmart yesterday who was feeding 17 ferals in her backyard all fixed, except maybe one. We would like to get the babies fixed early so they can go out with mom and we don't have to worry about them again.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
30 May 09
Too bad I don't live near you. I'd to the work to flip them (my kids would love it but my husband wouldn't so much). but kudos to you for catching them and getting them fixed and taking care of them as much as you are able.
@ElicBxn (63594)
• United States
31 May 09
I think the kittens are young enough to be flipped, but so were the first 5, I don't know about mom, but even she could be flipped at least mostly, but I know I'm not going to do it, so I might as well surrender the fact that I'm not going to do the work.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63594)
• United States
30 May 09
I wish you could, but I really have learned (on the first 5 ferals) I don't have the inclination to try to flip them. But I do feel that if I'm willing to feed them, I should be willing to at least fix them and get them started with a round of shots.
2 people like this
@dreamweaverjan (3471)
• United States
30 May 09
Oh {{Elic}}, you poor darlin woman you; You have such a big old heart, I do hope
you can find a place for all of them; You just amaze me!!
good luck to you and the "new bunch" on your hands!!
3 people like this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
31 May 09
It's great that your catching and fixing them and then are going to find them a new home. At least they will still have a normal life. I hope you find a nice barn for them to live at.
[b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63594)
• United States
31 May 09
thanks, I try to give the cats a chance, and living on the streets isn't the way to do it, a cat might live 3 years unfixed, the fact that I know a couple of toms that made it to the 5-7 age, probably had more to do with the fact that they started off as someone's pet and were only on the street after they were grown, not like these babies.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
1 Jun 09
Your right, they don't live long outdoors...that's why I can't understand how some ppl can just chuck them out the door when their tired of them. I could never do that to Morgana...she is strictly an indoor cat. I hope you get extra blessings for being such a kind hearted person.
[b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]
1 person likes this
Thank you for the best response!!
[b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
31 May 09
Wow ElicBxn,
This sounds like my nieghborhood. I may have to hire you to catch my brood. HA, kidding - or maybe I'm not kidding. Seriously, though, I do wish you all the best with the kitties. It's a wonderful thing you're doing. I wish there were more people like you. I need your type in my neighborhood to help me out as my kitten population grows. I can only do a little at a time.
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
31 May 09
Thanks for the tip. I've checked into TNR. My community is too stupid and backward for anything so practical and loving. I'm thinking about rounding up the cats that I can and bringing them to one of my surrounding counties that have that program.
All the best to you.
1 person likes this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
30 May 09
[b]Oy veh, Elic! My stars & whiskers! Good luck finding them homes. I mean it; you do not not NOT need any more flealines!!
Um...that said, do I get to see them? (Yes would be a good answer... 
)
Maggiepie[/b]
)
Maggiepie[/b]
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
3 Jun 09
Getting the kittens fixed is the right thing to do. You should also try to get the mother fixed.
@momtrying2makeit (3270)
• United States
27 Jun 09
Seems like you have a big heart ElizBxn. I am not sure I would be able to take care of every stray that comes my way but this is kinda of how I got the latest cat in my house.
I had this neighbour who wanted a kitten so bad and had asked her grandma if she could but see her grandma does not like cats. They gave it a shot for about a week and than they were gonna get rid of it. So the little girl came over to my house and asked me to take the kitten on. We named her Gucci which I am still not sure if she is female but I believe she is. So I see that taking on a cat or kitten or any animal because someone else will not is a big step but I see you are one of those people and I have a lot of respect for you because of it. Take care and happy mylotting to you as well. 
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
3 Jun 09
You know what? You need a video camera so you can chronicle these little adventures and put them online somewhere for other cat lovers and rescuers to watch. You might even get people who want to donate to your cause as it must be unbelievably expensive feeding all those furry little mouths.
@AndrewBoi (369)
• Philippines
17 Jun 09
Kittens are abondoned especially the female ones because when they grow up, they bear lots of babies which would be difficult to feed, handle, and clean. Maybe it's easier to throw them away than finding them owners or what.
Cats or kittens should properly taken care of. Im glad there are people like you who are wlling to help our animals.
@Bevsue (251)
• United States
31 May 09
Yipes! I am having the same situation. A momma cat and her four babies are living under my storage shed in the back yard. I just read some info online that says if you take them to the animal shelter they will automaticaloy put them down because feral cats are so difficult, etc. I don't want to do that but really don't want five cats.. nor do I even have the time to deal with this now...yuck.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 May 09
I have never heard of that show hon, but good for you for catching all these animals, I hope they can find a good home, I really do. You are a blessing my dear. But tell me are you ever afraid of bring in disease or fleas into your home.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
31 May 09
That's great that you're trapping them and plan to get them fix so no more kittens will be born, whether you do release them or not. Somehow, somehow though I have a feeling you just might keep the black kitty and try to "flip" it----I DO know how black cats are your favorites, right?
Did you catch the other two??
Did you catch the other two??1 person likes this
@aikhong (661)
• Malaysia
31 May 09
Oh it's so kind of you to spend time and efforts to help those poor kittens. I think it will be fun and it's kind of satisfaction for you too. Wish you good luck in getting another two more kittens, and then they'll be named by you. :)
I think you're doing this very well, but there're still many more poor kittens and pubs that need our help. Wish that there will be more animals-friendly people like you to help out those poor little animals. Cheers!
1 person likes this
@AnneDePalma (19)
• United States
31 May 09
What a cute story. We had feral cats in our backyard years ago. The mother was a Calico Cat, which I called Callie. She only had one kitten and I was feeding them in the backyard when the remnants ofHurricane Hugo hit (we lived in upstate NY then). The next day, the kitten was gone and the Mother was alone. I still hope that someone saved the kitten. But the Mother stayed on and she had another litter of 3 kittens that we named Huey, Dewey and Louie. Two were Orange striped and one them was a Calico. We kept them in our garage (my husband and sons are allergic to cats), but then winter was coming and I couldn't bring them indoors, so I found out about a Lady that took in feral cats and had them spayed and neutered and found families for them. I called her and she came out with live traps that we put cans of Tuna in. We caught them all and she took them. She called a few weeks later and said that the Mother and 1 kitten were pregnant and we would have had more kittens, so I was glad that I was able to give them to this woman to find homes for.
1 person likes this
