SURVIVORS

MEET THE LITTLE SURVIVORS

ANNIE (DK. GRAY), GRACIE (LT. GRAY), AND TIMMY (WHITE ON FACE)

The survivors of (please pardon my bluntness here) the cat massacre in my neighborhood are three young kittens whose mama and auntie were among the victims of an evil person's deeds. Momcat and her sister had hidden the little ones inside the large cat carrier behind the bushes in front of my house. They were obedient little kittens and stayed where their mama put them. The weather had become cooler, especially at night, so I had lined the carrier with soft towels and placed a thick towel over it for extra warmth, making sure a bit of the towel draped over the opening. Momcat found the carrier to be a welcoming shelter and apparently decided it would be a safe haven for her children. Thank goodness, she was right.

I'm doing my best to put the heartache of losing my furry feral friends behind me and trying to concentrate on the task at hand. It's my duty and privilege to raise these darling babies since their mama cannot be here for them. They're still very frightened and they miss her, but they huddle together and find comfort in being close to each other. I hold them and talk to them every day, while ignoring their hissing. Today all three began purring and it was music to my ears.

I'll give them another week to adjust to human touch, then take them to my vet for a check up and have them tested for feline leukemia and FIV. Once I know they're healthy - and they do seem to be - I hope to introduce them to Kelly and her kittens (if they've not been adopted) and allow the socialized kittens to teach the latest arrivals how to play and interact with humans. I can already picture the joyous chaos.