A year ago, during the Holiday Fires, a mama cat gave birth to several kittens during the inferno. When the fire passed over  her- she laid on her newborns and gave her life to the flames, so that some of her babies could live. There were two survivors.

Left to themselves, hungry and I am sure terrified, they went in search of mom’s milk bar but only found ashes, soot, dirt, small pebbles to eat. When they finally came to our rescue, they were so hungry that even being so tiny, their growls for food were ferocious. First time pooping them, showed me the true horror of what they lived through. All that came out were ashes, gravel and dirt. They were so ill, they spent 48 days at the vet (total) not cumulative. When they got back into our rescue, I could see that they were changed. Magoo was scared of everything, and Ash, well she was very fearful of hands.

It’s been a long year’s journey for these two. They were adopted out (we were very forthcoming about all the issues these kittens were showing in their behaviors) but the people insisted they could handle it. Thirty days later, they were back. When I asked why the kittens were being returned, I was told “They pee in our shoes.” I had initially told the adopters that the kittens pee on and in soft things. I don’t lie to people when it comes to issues that kittens have. But, I guess it was just to much..

So I knew, they were here for Life and that we were going to be challenged in all directions concerning their PTSD symptoms and behaviors. Sadly, I was not wrong. But they (and we) have come a long way together, with a longer way to go. They live inside my home, I still rarely see them during the day, they will come out at night, but they won’t sleep on the bed. Magoo no longer hides underneath the bedding, and Ash has stopped trying to find a hiding place that is smaller than she is to hide in. But. she still will slap my hand away every time I try to pet her.

Here is a look back in pictures: