Here is Mattie, with her four little ones and YES! My emails have been resurrected from the dead! So I can finally show you the family. Pigeon decided that this family needed further investigation and went up the screen door on our bedroom (cat proof screen) and crept over the wooden barrier and Mattie hit that door so hard, Pidgeon flew over the top of the barrier and scattered down the hall! I was in the room at the time and told Mattie that she may not be able to produce much milk for her babies, but she sure can produce the love and protection. I thought she was going to fly right through the screen itself.
Mattie’s two boys are Mack Dabby, and Smokey Joe, they are both mackeral tabbies. Her females are Siamese mixes Flash and Foggy. The babies are quickly gaining weight, and Mattie’s coat is less oily then it was on arrival and she has gained one pound. We are feeding her five times a day a variety of different foods because she is way undernourished and so young to be having to deal with the babies. But she is a fierce mama!
On a much sadder note, Tripp died this morning. he was under the couch and didn’t move when I did my food call. I thought he was just asleep, so I let him be- but than Kota started whining and scratching right where Tripp was laying. I put Kota in his cage and laid down on the floor, reached under the couch and pulled Tripp out. He was warm- but he was gone. I have no clue what happened. I had the difficult task of having to tell Mike that Tripp was gone and then I went and laid Tripp back in the forest and covered him with ferns and fronds.
I came back to the house and Pigeon (his brother) jumped on my lap and wrapped his paws around my neck, I told him about Tripp’s passing as well. Right after I stopped crying into his fur, he stepped off my lap and laid down on the armrest. People tell me all the time, that cat’s don’t feel emotion. I totally disagree- this is a sad kitty, mourning the passing of his brother.
Wonderful news about Mattie and the young ones. It’s good to know that they are gaining weight. Clearly, mum is strong, with the right incentive.
I am sorry about Tripp. It’s sad that many animals want to be alone when they die. I suppose it is a protective instinct that prevents them from being attacked at the last moment. What do they think of at that moment? Do they know they are dying? So very sad, but it’s the way they must want it. And yes, of course cats feel emotion. They feel it deeply.
Godspeed, Tripp.
I, too, believe that cats know and feel emotion. I’ve been around them pretty much my entire life, and have gotten attached to several for many, many years. So sorry to hear about what happened with Tripp. Our hearts go out to you.
I call it going to ground when cats isolate from others and just close their eyes. Some cats have great regeneration powers and after the long sleep, they can recover to a certain extent and continue on. Others just don’t have it in them to try.
Tripp was active and loving the night before. Jumping on our laps, sharing his time between us, which in retrospect, he had never done before. He generally settled on Mike’s chest for the duration. When he jumped on my lap, I was surprised and just gave him lots of love and attention. I thought it might be because we stopped all medication on him about a month ago. Instead, we opened up the door for him to go outside and just be a cat. He loved it outside, would return every night- sleep through the night peacefully. I had hoped that in working his demons out in the daytime this would help him in the long-run.
We decided against a necropsy because they generally leave more questions than answers and are expensive. Plus he was not sick in the critical sense. He lived a short life, but he exited on his terms and brought closure to his feline friends and to us. He will be missed tremendously
awwww so sad, RIP Tripp you lived a hard life but in the end you knew you were loved and you knew where it was safe to lie your head down for that eternal rest.
ok leaky eyes here
so good to hear about the babies gaining weight and glad they have a tough mama to protect them.
So sorry to hear about Tripp. Your comments to John remind me of a friend who takes care of ferals and strays, and has an open door policy. She’s told me of the many times when ferals who avoided humans for years, suddenly walk into her house and die within a few days, found curled up in a blanket or beddy in a corner or in the basement. She is happy to provide that final refuge for them. Sending you hugs and purrs for Angel Tripp.
I am sorry for your loss of Tripp. I know, after my now over 60 years of living with a cat, that they most certainly do feel emotions. And are not that hard to read once you’ve learned a particular cats expressions. Some are more “nurse” kitty than others, but they are most definitely not an “aloof” species. I have been blessed by their presence in my life.