The phone rang late tonight and I heard a sobbing women on the other end of the line-
“Are you the lady who takes..aches cats?” she asked with a hitch in her voice.
“When I can.” I answered
Between sobs I got the story from her. There had been a cat in trouble at their apartment complex- she (the cat) was very pregnant and according to the woman “very feral.” So- she (the woman) opened up her front door and invited this cat into their home (she lives there with her invalid mother). Well the door shut and kitty went ballistic and shot over the top of the couch, clawing the mother on the head and arm- then scooted into the closet went into labor and produced 5 kittens! Now, even though a week had passed, the cat was still rushing whoever came into the room, growling, and attacking feet and ankles and both women were deathly afraid of her!
I sighed and told the woman I would be right over.
When I arrived, with all my gear including my net- I went into the bedroom where this teeny tiny little black kitty girl met me with gnashing teeth and hisses. She bluff charged me several times, and when I didn’t back off, she attacked my ankles, but I was ahead of her. I had my boots on and my jeans tucked down into my socks. All she got for her trouble was a mouthful of shoelace!
I had a dark sheet with me, and I dropped it over her and she scooted under the bed, dragging the sheet with her. I looked under the bed and saw the sheet winding it’s way through the bedsprings. The woman explained the lining was completely gone from the boxsprings. I grabbed the sheet and gently pulled- I heard her hiss, but I hung on and soon I reeled her in like a fish. She was all wrapped up in the sheet and she was not happy. I popped her into the carrier and then went to fetch her kittens from the closet.
There are five of them- two white ones (one with black ears and a black tail) a tuxedo, a mackeral tabby and a black kitty just like mom. They are about a week old. The woman explained she had tried to get close to them but every time she tried, she would get attacked so she finally had to give in and she had heard about me and called me.
I put the kitties into another carrier and thanked the Good Lord that this time I had a mom to do all the work- and I said goodnight.
They are now upstairs, mom is as calm as toast- and it looks like maybe one or two of them aren’t getting the all you can drink buffet- but I will know more about that tomorrow when she really settles in and begins to be a mom (if she is able) Right now they are in the closet upstairs and here is a photo of the new family-
If anyone could possibly help and contribute to this new family-well bless you-donations are always welcomed.
I think the women are going to adopt my Bristol kitty- they are going to sleep on it but the fact that she is declawed makes her quite attractive-
I felt so bad for the invalid mom- she had scratches all over her face and arm and she was terrified of this “feral” kitty-
O.M.G.
I so feel for the humans and the momma kitty and am SO grateful the woman did not call animal control! Momma must have been on full time panic mode not feeling she or her babies were safe and yet not being able to put off birth. Bless her tiny heart.
Marian in Houston
Thank you for taking this family in and I know if anyone can calm the momma down and get her to acept human contact it is you. She is quite pretty and I cannot wait to see better picture of her little ones.
ouch – though we can appreciate the good intentions. glad you were able to help and hope that momma cat ends up being a good mom and a nice girl.
Wow, that was quite the introduction for that mother-cat. Still, who could have predicted such sudden aggression, especially since she came in to the women’s home so readily. I had to chuckle when you wrote about Bristol’s lack of claw being appealing to the women. And yes, the human mother in this case must have been terrified. But a nice, calm, friendly cat will work wonders on her. I have voted every day for you and will donate a bit for the new cat.
She bit me this morning when I went to place food into her space. Thankfully, I drew my hand back in time not to be completely nailed- but she is a vigilant one, this black girl and no one will be visiting this family any time soon. She has lots to get adjusted to including Glory next door who nonstops meows all night. I am hoping Bristol goes to her new home today, so I can move Glory down into the bedroom and peace can reign upstairs for this new girl. I think I will call her Marlow and I will try and get better photos of her family when I am sure she won’t attack me or the camera! LOL She isn’t eating, but that is to be expected. Well she isn’t eating except for my hand that is!
Glory goes to the vet today- hoping she tests negative for the nasties
I agree w/ Marian, it speaks well of the lady that she called you instead of animal control. Some folks would take it personally that the ‘ungrateful’ cat went crazy on them, when really the poor cat was actually frightened out of her mind. I’m glad (…even if momma-cat isn’t yet …) that she’s now in your experienced hands.
So glad you were able to corral mom and the kittehs. That had to be frightening for those women, having an unknown kittie barricaded in their closet. Probably not what they were expecting when they opened the door to the mom-to-be. Purrrrrrring that the little momma settles in and realized she and her brood are safe now.