Read the Introduction, to get the general picture of my interaction with the alley cats, and the Summary, to put the stories on a timeline.
I wrote on the last Diary post what I've done two weeks ago, until Saturday morning. But the week was not done... I had to go south just for half hour but it would have been an hour drive each way. As it was passing close to the colonies, my husband offered to drive me as he wanted to go that way himself. And both of us being there, we planned to try to trap the young kitten that we kept seeing.
It wasn't easy. This is a very shy kitten that comes last from a garage to eat, and runs back into the garage at the smallest noise. We spread food around so the other cats were busy eating and not trying to go in the trap themselves and we put food in the trap and the trap very close to the cats entry/exit into the garage. The trap open door wouldn't allow the trap to touch the garage, so the little one got out and avoided the trap and went to eat with the others. We brought in the big guns... the fish, yes we came prepared, with different kinds of fish cans and I even brought the can opener! We put the fish can in the trap but now all the cats wanted to go there. We kept scarring them away, but the little one was getting spooked too. It took a while of dancing, but somehow he got in. The trap door closed with a bang and he got so scared and started to jump around in the trap. It was very sad, really. We put the trap in the trunk of the car and cover it, that supposedly will help the cats calm down. While waiting I tried to pick up a friendly grown kitten but it started to get agitated just as I was getting to the carrier. My everyday coat got like 5 holes in it. As we were driving the little one kept fighting to get out of the trap, and managed to spread some fish into my car trunk. Yeap, the car still smells. The inconveniences of cat trapping...
We fed everybody, but quickly so we can get home asap. The little one was calm now. Home, we put him in the closet, with dry and wet food, water, litter box, clean towel... and a box, so he can hide and feel safe. And he did hide in the box at first, but ate soon enough and he kept eating and eating and... eating. He was back into hiding as soon as we open the closet door. It took him few days to trust us, and few more days to get friendly, but now, he's favorite place is on my lap. He is around 4 months old, he seemed smaller because he was skinny. We called him Oscar as we found him around when the Academy Awards were happening and he is very stylishly dressed up in black and white. I've let him roam free few times but he hid. So he's back in the closet. I want be able to find him quickly, because he has an appointment for admission for adoption at Org T for tomorrow, Friday!
I'll also take Hagrid to the appointment, again, if you remember he was refused at the first appointment, but he was literally just few hours in the house, and he was scared... For now, I've treated his head wound and finished the antibiotics, and also was able to put the mites medication in his ears. I told you I've put on his skin the flee medication after we came from the veterinarian. He stays by himself in a room because he tested FIV positive I cannot mix him with my other cats. And because I kept giving him medication, I'm not his favorite person, but he loooves my husband. I feel he's kind of lonely...but not unhappy, don't worry. And he eats all day long, and he's looking so much better. I play with him few times a day, and my husband also. Anyhow, I think Org T can do better for him from now on then we can. Hopefully they'll accept him. They do accept FIV positive cats, other shelters don't.
Now, the bestest news! At Org T, Genie got adopted as soon as she came from her foster home (they kept her a little in foster because she was crying and they, as us, weren't sure if it's fear or she was hurting from being attacked outdoors). And, drum rolls!!! Hope and Oki got adopted... together! I'm so happy! I was very worried for Oki, he wasn't relaxing in the shelter. They were let out from the cage into the room, but he was still hiding. At least people could see him. My husband visited them twice last week, myself just on Saturday morning, and they've got adopted Saturday afternoon. I'm sure he'll have now few more weeks/ months of stress, but he has his sister and he'll come around eventually.
My husband continued with the feeding, a little more then usually, because we had 3 cold days and nights, so we feel the cats should have enough food, and hopefully then, they won't roam around too much and can stay sheltered.
As I suspected, it is bitter sweet to write this blog, because while I'm happy I'm helping so many of the alley cats, the more of them I see, the more pain I see. And I do get attached to every single one I bring in the house, but I have to give them up so I can help others. It is painful to let them go, even if I know they'll be fine.
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