July 14, 2016
So full? Remember that?
About 4 weeks ago, while walking Birdie, I heard, is that a cat? A harsh broken sound, like a cat, or a bird doing a bad imitation of a cat. It was hot and very dry. I resolved to ask FoffDad to listen for it. He is better at the bird noises than I am.
The next morning while walking Birdie, I heard it again. And I saw, on the top board of our black fence, a black and white puffball of a kitten, clinging with all it's strength. It was the source of the strange screechy noises. Unfortunately, when I went towards it, it hustled down the fence board back into the forest. Feral. Crap.
So of course, I put out cat food. And water. I figured out that both had to be placed on the top of fence posts, as she would not leave that top board of the fence. The screeching became more normal kitten meows. The food disappeared regularly. We fed her twice a day. (FoffDad decided it was a her, based on face structure.) She would sometimes wait for us on the fence post. I think the first two weeks she stayed on the top rail, scooting back and forth like a Holstein tennis ball.
She looked ill at first. FoffDad wondered if she were deformed, her legs were always scrunched beneath her to cling to the board. But after two weeks, we could see that she was much better. She even began to leave the fence. When she stood or stretched, it was clear she was normal.
We had The Talk. At one point, contemplating FIV?FLEUK positive possibility, FoffDad said "Let's just leave her where she is and feed her. That's better than having to euthanize her if she is positive.". It took me 24 hours, but I got there. "There is a reason that won't work. If it is a she, she will have kittens in less than two months. That is why we can't just leave her in the forest. ". At 61, I have finally mastered Facts of Life 101.
So we put out the Hav a Hart trap. We let her get used to it for four or five days feeding her on top of it, and the first day we set it with food in it, she walked in and tripped it within 5 minutes.
Noah's Ark again stepped up to the plate. She was negative for FeLeuk and FIV!!!! They did the spay. The vet communicated through the tech that "I think this kitten can be socialized in a week or two, so you can bring her back then for her second vaccine.".
So now, in the guest bedroom that has been cat free, is a dog kennel. With a small kitten, hiding in the box placed for that purpose, on top of a eggcrate pad bed. She has her own litter box, water dish, food dish. She has just won the kitty lottery. She just does not know it yet.
