Someone left a box of kittens and a pregnant mom on our porch last night. It dropped down to 39 degrees last night! I didn’t know the box was there and this morning when I went to let Brandi out of the house, she wanted to go out the front door (not normal for her). I let her out and she ran over to the box, started pawing at it and whining. I knew it wasn’t a good thing.

I picked up the box and carried it inside. There were 5 kittens (about 2 weeks old) and a pregnant (anxious mom) inside. Three of the kittens had already had their Bridge pass stamped. I worked for a few hours bringing the other two back- they are barely here. The family is at the vet right now- the kittens for evaluation- mom is getting spayed.

The remaining kittens are bone thin. Mom was friendly enough for me to examine her. She has had multiple litters this year (her tummy is almost hairless around her nipples! But she is bone dry- no milk- no more. Do I have room for them? No! Do I have the resources to care for them- barely. But I cry for the three who did not survive: a small golden boy, a tuxedo kitty and a tortie. Mom is a torbie. The two surviving kittens are both girls a mackerel tabby and a white kitty with black ears and a black head (a miniature Hope).

I was determined despite our huge vet bill that this queen would never have to deal with kittens again in her life. She looked like she would have them tonight. Now, she won’t have to worry about it. People don’t understand the stresses that a nursing mom faces, and like the Tortie Aurora, this torbie looks to be under a  year old. This should have NEVER happened on so many fronts!