One day around 2007 in the spring, my wife and I were sitting outside enjoying the day, when we saw a mother cat and her two offspring- both females- in our driveway. The kittens were maybe four weeks old, still nursing from their mother. None of the three looked the same. Momma kitty was grey and white striped. Her kittens were both calico, one a beautiful gold and black color, who we named Goldie. The other kitten was mostly black with a few patches of tan so her name became Blackie.
We immediately fell in love with all three of them, and took them to the vet for shots, spaying and an exam. We then brought them home to a life they loved. They preferred to live outside, so we made them comfortable in our garage, where they are fed and have a comfortable bed to sleep on, they can also come in out of the weather.
Momma kitty was and is so sweet, she allowed Goldie and Blackie to nurse anytime they wanted. The kittens grew quickly, but continued to nurse almost every day as Momma let them any time they wanted to.
After about a year, I heard a faint meow coming from the empty lot next to our home. Upon investigating the noise I saw a tiny black kitten by himself wandering in the woods. I tried to catch him, but he quickly eluded me in all the underbrush. The kitten returned the next day, and had a brother with him.
We finally were able to gather them up as they were alone with their mother no where to be found. The two beautiful little males were famished as they had no food source available to them. We brought them to the mother cat we had found the year before, and she accepted them as her own, and began nursing them along with her two kittens, who had grown tremendously through their first year of life.
Momma kitty became the two small kittens’ mother, as all four now nursed from her. Momma was so sweet and caring for her adopted little boys, and it was very heartwarming to see such dedication to them.
The black kitten we named Punkin, and the other kitten who was a combination of black and white with grey striping, and also a little larger than Punkin, we named Theo. We had Punkin and Theo neutered along with all their immunizations, and they all settled in happily to become a family of five, living a very wholesome and comfortable life.
Unfortunately Punkin wandered away from his family one night in 2009, and we haven’t seen him since, but chose to believe that someone took him in as their own, and gave him a good home, as he was very sweet and outgoing.
The four cats who still reside here are as close as ever. They play together, eat together, and lie around in the yard relaxing most of the time taking life very leisurely.
We have thoroughly enjoyed them being here, and they love the freedom of the life they lead. All of the kittens love their momma and show their affection to her daily rubbing, licking, and nuzzling her.
We have been so blessed to be a part of the mixed family of cats made possible by the most caring, and nurturing mother cat we have had the privilege of knowing.
The way they have settled in assures us that they will live long, happy, and healthy lives, always together, and loving each and every day.
This is yet another example of how effective the trap, neuter, and return (TNR) process can control cat colony populations and allow them to live without disturbing the neighborhood!
