As I was approaching the parking lot one early morning last September (I think) I saw a previously unknown tabby carry a kitten across the road, through the parking lot, and down the hill behind my Dumpster Cats' feeding station. Quite a long run for a momma with a mouthful of kitten, and she had to stop to rest 3 or 4 times before eventually disappearing over the edge of the hill. It was dark and since I was in my car I had to keep quite a distance away, so the only view I had of the kitten was in silhouette as momma ran in front of my lights, but I'm guessing that the kitten looked about 4 weeks old.
Ok, so now I know that I have a breeding female and at least one kitten that will need attention. Sadly, about 2-1/2 weeks later I found a nursing tabby dead in the parking lot, apparently hit by a car. As far as I know (bear in mind this one was a surprise to me) there are no other breeding or nursing females and, even so, I don't believe that there is a typical colony community back there. The terrain is rugged, to put it mildly, and having tried before to find a sick cat down there I knew the odds of finding kittens were slim, but I did search, but without success.
Fast forward to last Monday. Glancing out of the window as I'm coming down the back steps to leave the building I see 3 young cats who could very well be about 5 months old, playing along the edge of the back parking lot!
Which brings me to my question. Could the kittens have survived? Or is it more likely that there is another breeding female?
Ok, so now I know that I have a breeding female and at least one kitten that will need attention. Sadly, about 2-1/2 weeks later I found a nursing tabby dead in the parking lot, apparently hit by a car. As far as I know (bear in mind this one was a surprise to me) there are no other breeding or nursing females and, even so, I don't believe that there is a typical colony community back there. The terrain is rugged, to put it mildly, and having tried before to find a sick cat down there I knew the odds of finding kittens were slim, but I did search, but without success.
Fast forward to last Monday. Glancing out of the window as I'm coming down the back steps to leave the building I see 3 young cats who could very well be about 5 months old, playing along the edge of the back parking lot!
Which brings me to my question. Could the kittens have survived? Or is it more likely that there is another breeding female?