It Really Did…
This was meant to be a happy post, about how we recently had two of our now totally tame male kittens neutered. It was something I wanted to get done and dusted; one, because I just wanted to get their surgery over and done with (I’m a worry arse) and two because they are getting older and I didn’t want them straying and spreading their seed only adding to the already too many feral cats struggling living rough.
But that wasn’t meant to be…
Well, We Did Get Them Done…
And they were recovering nicely.
Our regular vet neutered them and it was like they’d had nothing done. It was amazing to see (especially after it took the best part of two weeks for Alphie, our little Yorkshire terrier, to come right after he had ‘the Op’. He didn’t get his reputation of being a wuss for nothing!).
One day last week, Collin (the most curious one of the kittens kitten) decided to stray next door (where they have three dogs) and never came back. The silly thing is Mother cat and the kittens are aware of the dogs, I know because I’ve seen them watch the dogs when they are in view.
Then On Saturday…
I went out and came back to a rather stressed Mother cat, and I knew something bad had happened. And I was right, as there in the middle of the neighbours drive was the lifeless body of furry Gammy.
Now that was a surprise, as Gammy was always the first to run for cover ( I only had to drop a peg whilst hanging the washing out and he was off like a shot).
Between us and the neighbours garden is a a two foot wide wall that is about five feet high on our side and drops down lower on theirs (I would say six to seven feet), for at least half of the wall is a thick hedge of fur trees. What I didn’t realize is that the fur trees are in a raised section and I am pretty sure next doors boxer dog took Gammy off the wall, I saw her try it later with another kitten and the penny dropped.
We have now put a ‘wall’ of crates along the top of the wall to help prevent the kittens going there and to make it more difficult for the dogs to snatch any more of the kittens.
It Left Me Feeling…
Sad. As we are doing our best by Ugg and her kittens. We have grown quite attached to them too.
Telling our vet when she rang to inquire about them was sad too. She said it has happened to her too, when she has kindly taken on kittens that were in need of a home.
We Will Now…
Wait a couple more months before having the females spayed. Marion (our vet) has seen them and said they are a little small to get pregnant and to be honest at the moment I am a little wary about throwing more money at kittens that may not make it. We’ll just have to see if the two remaining (both female) kittens are wiser then the others.
I am also wary about being too attached to them as it’s heart breaking to lose them, but I’ll take my chances there. I love being greeted by little bundles of rattling (purring) fur balls every time I go out back.
If you are reading this and passing judgement on the way we’ve looked after Ugg and her kittens then please read on:
Ugg (the Mother cat) was a feral cat that bought her kittens to live on our back balcony, we had her spayed with the help of a local charity and have fed, de-fleaed and wormed them all out of our own pocket. We payed (out of our own pocket) for the kittens to be neutered and we will pay for the females to be spayed when the time comes.
We have put a couple of boxes and bedding on the back balcony for them, even though they can get into the garage for shelter and warmth. We cuddle, play and love them all (although the Mum we just stroke in a calm manner!).
There is no possibility of them being house cats we have four dogs) and due to the amount of feral and non feral cats on the island, when we put word out, no one wanted or could give them a home.
We didn’t want them, but we now love them and are doing our best by them.
© 2015, Debbie. All rights reserved.
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