The title is a metaphor, there is no actual cat factory in this story. But sometimes, it feels that way..
So just a recap, my kitty was a rescue from a storm, as I’ve written about a few times. Water was rising, no mother in site. Normally I wouldn’t take a kitten so small but my Dipper was in trouble.
Now, I know Dipper must’ve been the product of one of my “neighbor’s” cats. I put quotes because when animal control passes by, the neighbors claim they don’t own the cats, but they feed them and let them inside sometimes so I’m honestly not sure the truth. I have no clue which of these cats would even be Dipper’s mother, because during the storm the cats weren’t around and they all stayed gone for a day or two after. (Neighbors feed them on porch and way in their back yard too so sometimes the cats don’t come around the front where my house is for a few days). Sometimes I fear that I was wrong for taking my Dipper and start to feel sad, since his mom must be next door.. but he was trapped under a vehicle crying in the rain, and since then I’ve given him all he needs so I try not to drown in the guilt.. Well, anyhow.. These cats have babies constantly, and sometimes end up on my side of the yard. It doesn’t bother me that the cats venture over, but I can’t help but feel sorry for all the babies who are born every few months just to get sick and lost.
Well a few weeks ago I found three babies in the small shed type thing we keep our lawnmower in, and mama was right next to them, so I wasn’t worried. The next day she had moved them, and I didn’t hear their meows anymore so I figured their mom had found a good place for them and I felt a little better. Today, I go outside to say goodbye to some visiting family and we were bombarded with cries. After only 30 seconds I spotted a kitten. Looked like the one I saw weeks before and figured mom was around and caring for them. Went inside for awhile and when I went back outside I heard the crying again. I got worried because it had been a few hours, and after locating the baby again I noticed there was no sign of the mother still. But, where there was no mom, there was the two other babies. They’re feral of course, run to my feet but when I offer my hand to smell they sniff, hiss, and run. I put milk out, no takers. I figure that the mom may have weened them and took off, exactly what I think happened to my Dipper. I feel so bad, I want to help them but I don’t have a place for three more kitties.. my dog just had puppies and with our financial issues I just can’t take in three more babies. ((guilt overload )) It hurt my heart to leave them outside, when I went to lock the screen door I noticed they had came cuddle up on the steps, abandoning their stack of wood in the backyard. They seem sweet, just scared. I want them to have a chance at life too, and would love to care for them but they can’t even live around my Dipper without catching ringworm from him.. I just don’t know what to do. I’m conflicted.. and disgusted to be honest at how these poor cats are born just to suffer because my neighbors won’t get the adults fixed. I’m sorry for such a long message, I’m just sad and dont know how to handle this. I’m sorry if anything I said made me sound ignorant, I’m new to all things kitty and I’m trying to learn the best I can. I love these animals, all animals actually, I just want the best for them.. Any advice?
So just a recap, my kitty was a rescue from a storm, as I’ve written about a few times. Water was rising, no mother in site. Normally I wouldn’t take a kitten so small but my Dipper was in trouble.
Now, I know Dipper must’ve been the product of one of my “neighbor’s” cats. I put quotes because when animal control passes by, the neighbors claim they don’t own the cats, but they feed them and let them inside sometimes so I’m honestly not sure the truth. I have no clue which of these cats would even be Dipper’s mother, because during the storm the cats weren’t around and they all stayed gone for a day or two after. (Neighbors feed them on porch and way in their back yard too so sometimes the cats don’t come around the front where my house is for a few days). Sometimes I fear that I was wrong for taking my Dipper and start to feel sad, since his mom must be next door.. but he was trapped under a vehicle crying in the rain, and since then I’ve given him all he needs so I try not to drown in the guilt.. Well, anyhow.. These cats have babies constantly, and sometimes end up on my side of the yard. It doesn’t bother me that the cats venture over, but I can’t help but feel sorry for all the babies who are born every few months just to get sick and lost.
Well a few weeks ago I found three babies in the small shed type thing we keep our lawnmower in, and mama was right next to them, so I wasn’t worried. The next day she had moved them, and I didn’t hear their meows anymore so I figured their mom had found a good place for them and I felt a little better. Today, I go outside to say goodbye to some visiting family and we were bombarded with cries. After only 30 seconds I spotted a kitten. Looked like the one I saw weeks before and figured mom was around and caring for them. Went inside for awhile and when I went back outside I heard the crying again. I got worried because it had been a few hours, and after locating the baby again I noticed there was no sign of the mother still. But, where there was no mom, there was the two other babies. They’re feral of course, run to my feet but when I offer my hand to smell they sniff, hiss, and run. I put milk out, no takers. I figure that the mom may have weened them and took off, exactly what I think happened to my Dipper. I feel so bad, I want to help them but I don’t have a place for three more kitties.. my dog just had puppies and with our financial issues I just can’t take in three more babies. ((guilt overload )) It hurt my heart to leave them outside, when I went to lock the screen door I noticed they had came cuddle up on the steps, abandoning their stack of wood in the backyard. They seem sweet, just scared. I want them to have a chance at life too, and would love to care for them but they can’t even live around my Dipper without catching ringworm from him.. I just don’t know what to do. I’m conflicted.. and disgusted to be honest at how these poor cats are born just to suffer because my neighbors won’t get the adults fixed. I’m sorry for such a long message, I’m just sad and dont know how to handle this. I’m sorry if anything I said made me sound ignorant, I’m new to all things kitty and I’m trying to learn the best I can. I love these animals, all animals actually, I just want the best for them.. Any advice?