Please, Why?

Sorry, I don't know where to put this.  I did my usual routine this morning, up at 4, cleaning house at 5 and then out the door with the feral dry food at 7.  Everything seemed ok.  Then at 8 AM I opened the front door with the wet feral food.  Everything was strange.  A few cats were waiting on the porch but not the usual number.  Then they came from the garbage bins.  I took a few steps forward to check.  There was a cat carrier and a bag of cat food.  The carrier was opened.  I went to check further.  Didn't see a cat but some food at the carrier's opening.  Couldn't tell if it was just food or someone threw it up.  I looked further in the carrier.  There was a blanket or something there, picked the carrier up and checked more.  A furry thing.  A kitten, a dead kitten.  I was upset.  Very angry.  Everything went into the garbage container.  Food and all.  I could use the food but not the memories.  How dare people!  A few more steps and that kitten could of been left on my door steps, they could of knocked on my door and maybe I could of saved it or at least given it decent end of life care.

And how do I know there was only one kitten in that carrier?  It was opened.  Which brings another question.  Will my feral females, two of whom were terrific mothers, take on kittens that don't belong to them?  One is acting a bit different now.  If she is hiding a kitten or two, I'd like to know if she needs me to leave anything special out for her so she can feed it/them.  She hasn't had a litter in years but I'm sure hasn't lost her touch.  I am horrified at this.  People either don't think or they don't care.  Or I don't know what they were thinking.  I don't think they meant to leave a dead kitten.  It was so tiny.  It must of lost it's mom and just died from not having any care.  That was what it seemed to me. 

Anyway thanks for listening.

AK

Oh boy. My first reaction was sadness, then anger. People just don't think sometimes. Maybe they were in a bind, maybe they were just plan mean. Whatever the reason, it would appear that you have been identified as someone who will take responsibility, so be prepared for more of this.

I did notice that you said the female hadn't had a litter in years. I hope that's because all of your ferals are spayed or neutered. If not, you should probably attend to that ASAP. Between new kittens from your current group and the possibility that other kittens (and maybe a mom) survived, you are going to see an uptick in numbers soon.

It does seem sometimes that those who care are the ones who are dumped on. We can only keep up the effort and hope that our example is followed. Good luck with this.

The colony is TNR'd.  I'd like to keep it that way.  I've had several mostly grown cats dumped here over the years.  Cat Welfare took two off my hands after some begging a year ago this past winter.  And a semi grown kitten, I found a home for.  Miss Nemo, the cagey female, took a year and half to catch to TNR, and she's blind in one eye.  But she's a good mother.  I wonder if she hasn't kidnapped a kitten or two.  I don't think a mother came with this drop off as the carrier was small.  And no strange cat has been seen by neighbors or me.  I've listened for kitten sounds and haven't heard any but the cats are following a path beyond where the opened carrier was left so I am concerned.  I did wash the area.  I don't know if that was necessary, but it was for me.

I feel sad.  I didn't know the little baby but I miss the little kitten that could be sitting in my lap now.  All they had to do was walk a few more steps, climb a few stairs and knock on my door. 

AK

Oh, wonderful to know you've already taken care of the S/N issues.  I try to assume that people aren't really mean (and sometimes am disappointed).  But hopefully, the people who dropped the kitten just didn't realize they could knock on your door.

I know you would have taken care of the kitten and it is so sad.  But you are doing the right thing.  Blessings on you for all you do ...