a quick hello

[DawnTX]

I gave you all a break for a few weeks. It’s been a little bit crazy at my house. We have adopted a small colony of calfs and unfortunately before we could stop it four out of five girls became pregnant. I love kittens, but there are so many unloved animals already in the world. It’s not fair. That being said they are coming or they are here now they are guaranteed love and protection from us and lots of yummy food for life. We are working on a catio next because we are surrounded by woods not safe for them and they have become somewhat domesticated which is a good thing.

Three were born in March mama has had them in the garage. We just saw them last week. They are gorgeous. She brought them back in the garage. She knows what she’s doing. Of course we are making sure they have what they need, including a nice clean crate with bedding

Two weeks ago was a strong test for my heart, because my heart was broken. One of our very young cats gave birth. We left her alone in the crate she chose. Later that day she left it, so I decided to peek. 😭 I found three lifeless, kittens, soaking wet. I scooped them up wrapped them in a warm towel. I didn’t know what to do. I set them back in the crate for a minute, and the mother cat came back in and joined him so I zipped her in and brought all of them inside. Mama looked terrified and upset. I held them in my hands and one by one I rubbed them on the chest area and stroked their little faces. Suddenly a miracle one little one stuck his tongue out as if in search for milk. I rubbed him a little bit more then spoke to mama cat. As I put him under her. A second little one did the same so I did the same. Sadly, the third little one never woke.

On a good note the two kittens that responded are doing wonderful although one of them appears to be a special needs. Her eyes are barely open. I don’t know if she can see and her little mouth is pursed. She looks a little different I call her special it’s OK she is smart. I speak to her every day. Every chance I get and she comes up to where I am sitting at the end of the crate, and she listens. Her little ears wiggle, and yesterday she laid with her front paws folded like big cats do She is so precious. I called her. Is she right now and she is black and white. The one I referred to as JR. Her brother is tiger and very handsome. He is going to be a little devil I think lol he climbs his mother and he even stuck his tongue in the water bowl already. Lol. What can I say? I am in love.

I have another little one. We are just waiting for her to have them. It’s very sad. These cats are only nine months old. They must be terrified. They don’t know what their body is doing. Kind of like us with a fib. I have a neighbor with cats she said they were fixed turns out she only claims two of the four and had them fixed even though all four are identical. We have also adopted them now and they will be fixed. They are big boys and older and you can tell they didn’t get much love but they are starting to enjoy it now. They are very good with the younger cats as if to teach them how to be a cat and watching over them. My big dog watches over all of them heaven forbid anyone or anything try to go near them. We have an acre of land and a garage for them pretty much

We have one more ready to give birth any second I hope unfortunately she’s a wild child and I can’t get her inside that hurts me but her mother is the one in the garage and they stay together so hopefully the kittens will be in the garage with the others.

Oh, FYI Those of you who know me know about the miracle of my pacemaker that did not exist until recently, which would have meant all I had to look forward to was heart failure even more than now. The only other stuff is transplant something they probably wouldn’t care of me at my age.

Well, here is an even better miracle, then my gift of life to me. The two kittens I just told you about that came back to life after being almost frozen, very cold and wet… They came back to life on Good Friday. Yes, I know the real story but we didn’t have a few days for them. Miracle babies I am going to pray now that the rest of them also come out healthy and safe and the mothers stay safe as well. They did not ask to be here. I already have appointments so as beautiful as they all are, they will be no more babies .

[Gumbie_Cat]

Glad to hear you’re still doing fine Dawn. That all sounds very busy, so glad you were able to save two of the kittens.

[DawnTX in reply to Gumbie_Cat]

thank you. As you know mother nature is in charge but I’m thankful I was here and I wish I had looked earlier. It’s very hard because the mother was very wild and young. I had one last year that kept putting her babies out in the driveway when it was 106°, she grabbed the last one surviving and ran off to the woods with it never to be seen again interesting. I have a gray and white cat that has come out of the woods. I’m wondering if it could be her baby a year later and maybe someone has been feeding it

I didn’t save the babies God took my hands. I have no clue what to do. I reacted like a medic I guess and I needed to keep mom with them thank heavens. If she had runoff, they wouldn’t look like they do now two chunky little monkeys. She has turned out to be one of the best mothers I have seen with kittens. If anything is good for the heart, it is being around all these babies right now. With my cats I call babies. Three are in the garage. Still guarded by the mom. She showed them to us once she is very smart and sadly experienced. This will be the last time. Any of them have babies I have appointments for all of them. We are not bad parents we inherited them. Unfortunately, the boys down the street found them before we could get them to the vet. My heart will rest much better once they are fixed then the boys will get done.

It is so nice to hear from you. You know it’s amazing before February. I would’ve been useless, helping the cats and doing anything with them now I am so alive again

[Windlepoons]

Wonderful. We need more kind souls like you in the world. We just have the one rescue (the cat in my profile pic). Although we have had a lot of rescues during our time. Up to 5 at a time but not quite up to your numbers. This one is a house cat which reduces the stress levels for AF!😊

[irene75359]

Ah, thank you for doing that! My friend looks after feral cats that live in the ruin next to her in Spain. She has had countless babies neutered and handles them from birth so they can then live in homes rather than the wild. Trying to catch the males is a different kettle of fish though, unfortunately a lot of the Spanish don't neuter their pets.

[DawnTX in reply to irene75359]

That is wonderful about your friend. Most of the ones we have now have been in and out of the house, etc.. Actually we have one girl we really need to catch but she is about to give birth any second now I think she is so huge but you cannot get near her to help her. Her mom gave birth last month in the garage. I’m hoping this little girl at least follows that. It was our neighbors cats although they claim they are not theirs. They had two of them sex the other two are not loved or treated the same but they are all identical. It’s sad that they only picked two to love. We have taken them under our wing now. You can already see a difference in them. All it takes is love. One is a very boy , but he deserves love also. He is beginning to accept it. The other one recently got quite an injury on his eye he actually lets me clean it and medicate it. He is not thrilled, but there is no aggression. I believe he is daddy cat here. Cats were all black and white. Well now we have tigers. ❤️🥰 it will all sort out they need to be fixed. It’s the only thing fair for them and the unborn. There are too many unloved animals already in this world if I could pick one thing for my bucket list it would be every animal have a loving Home

[Kevinder23]

Beautiful story😘 ❤️

[Peacefulneedshelp]

We also look after stray and feral cats, often they adopt us after they feel they can trust us.

[DawnTX in reply to Peacefulneedshelp]

absolutely and when you get there trust there is no greater gift

[kocoach]

Cats are so wonderful. I've had a feral cat colony of 26 at one time but only four left now, most of them passed away due to kidney failure which my vet said is the leading cause of death in cats. They're all buried in my backyard. I have one now who I nursed since he could fit in the palm of my hand, a siamese mix who is around 15 years old now and He is one of the best companions I have ever had. Good luck with your new family and hope they will be as much of a comfort to you as mine were and are still to me. Have a Blessed Day

[DawnTX in reply to kocoach]

Yes sooner or later it’s saying it is the kidneys shut shut down it takes them from us in reality. It’s a bit like us. All of the ones I have lost had kidneys shut down. It’s just the way the body seems to work. This is not my first rodeo we had a group of over 20 near the business as a friend. Long story short, wild dogs after hurricane began killing them. So she took half and I took half home. Of course we made sure the families stayed together. Moms and babies etc. I am trying to do what we do then and get them all fixed. I had five left and one in the hospital leaving them with a trusted friend supposedly who had them all euthanized. Even now I can’t talk about what was done to me and them. She told people they were abused OMG when I had no money I would take what I had fo got food and share it with them. I could get chicken and fish fish and boiled it for them. I would have given my life for them. My friend who I share the cats with from the beginning take one of the cats because she was special-needs so thank God she saved her. I got her back. I just lost her in November she was 14. Even now I cry. My babies. It was a long story about the crazy person. Until these little ones came into my life I have felt so empty. Yes, I still cry for mine. I let them down. I trusted someone with their lives. I think they are smiling at me now about this little family. Sometimes I do believe what happened five years ago is what broke my heart. I don’t think I ever loved anyone like I did them. Thank you so much and they ask for nothing. Big hugs coach. Thank you for your story.

[jeanjeannie50]

Talking about kittens Dawn, you've brought back memories that have made me cry.

When I was about 10 or 11 I found a kitten on the farm where we lived. I took it to show my dad and asked if I could keep it. Our border collie a sweet natured dog had recently given birth and my dad took the kitten and put it amongst her very young pups and yes our Lassie let her feed from her. I was delighted and would often go out to the outside shed to see my kitten. We had another dog called Nell who was left at the house when we moved there, when not working she had to be kept tethered to her kennel as she was snappy and most unfriendly. One day I put my kitten back amongst the pups and went indoors. I don't know why but I went outside again fairly soon and Nell had something in her mouth. I went over to talk to her and to my horror it was my kitten. I shouted for my dad and he came running, but my kitten was dead! The poor little thing had obviously tried to follow me. I was heartbroken and can feel the pain as sharp now as I did then.

Thank you for your kindness to those cats and kittens you have gently nurtured.

Jean xxx

[DawnTX in reply to jeanjeannie50]

omg you brought me to tears. The ones we have a little wild ones that my cousin has fed. He lived under the RV he used to live in and brought them with him. We have been trying to get him so we can have them spayed and neutered. We also inherited a few cats and like potato chips you can have too many. I have one about to give birth any day now. We have been trying to fix spots for her but of course she will most likely pick an odd one lol she started nesting in my dogs, crate pad. He went over to her and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. This one is very young and I’m worried about her. She’s only nine months old. The two babies who were born on good Friday are doing well? I am trying to figure out where I can put them with their mom so she can get out of the crate and stretch and legs. Keep them safe. I think I have idea. The one outside is very wild. I would love her to come inside, but I doubt it can happen. She looks like she should’ve already given birth. We have a tent for the cats to play in with a tunnel etc. it has a tarp over it for the rain and a bed inside my cousin saw her in there. I am hoping she goes into the garage. Her mom is in there with her kittens born in March. yes we had quite an explosion. She is also nine months old. It’s amazing they all came from the same litter of what a difference and personalities.

JR and Kissy born on good Friday look healthy although Kissy is special. I don’t know if she has any vision but her hearing is good. She listens and wiggles her ears and comes as close as she can to me in the crate. Such a precious doll I didn’t realize JR is smaller than her. Most of the cats are very petite except for the neighbor boys who are huge. Please send a prayer with the rest of the babies are healthy and the moms also. I am too emotional to deal with this. Lol I haven’t slept well for four nights. I will be glad when they are all born.🥰 call I am still thinking of that horror. How awful for a child especially big hugs.

[Peacefulneedshelp in reply to jeanjeannie50]

that is so sad. So sorry

[lwm1198]

Bless your heart - and your pacemaker too.... for being such a kind person and caring for those cats.

[mary70]

A beautiful story and your loving care shows that you truly value your responsibility to provide the best for your cats - ❤️

[DawnTX in reply to mary70]

They are innocent little creatures they didn’t ask to be born. Somehow somewhere people dumped them, and it doesn’t take long for them to grow the family. What they do for me is amazing. It’s not what I do for them. I melt when I look at them and the love that they give is incredible. They ask for nothing. Thank you for your kind words.