So we’ve been thinking long and hard about what’s the best right thing to do for Mama Kitty and her babies.
And we’ve decided to do nothing.
Wednesday evening, Jen had a heart-to-heart with Mama. Jen told her that her babies can’t stay in our yard and that if she insisted they do, we’d have to remove them. Sometime after that, she moved them.
Oh they still came back to eat. And last night they were having a grand old time at dusk just ripping and running and playing back by the fence. But they are now sleeping elsewhere, and I think we can live together with that arrangement.
This whole experience has taught me alot about animal rescue.
Like there’s alot of folks out there doing it, and yet there’s still a huge unfulfilled need.
And there are no good outcomes for feral cats.
I know what they face. And I know that if they live a couple years around here, they’ll have lived a long life. At least we’ll share our food with them. Mama will be spayed just as soon as Jen is available and can trap Mama on a day that the clinic’s open (thank you SOOO much Joyce Sykes for helping pay for that!!!). And if they live that long, these babies will also be TNR’d.
Would I like to be able to offer a better life to these kittens? Certainly. But I can’t. I also feel the same way about many of the children I see through the course of my work. I want their outcomes to be better also, but there’s not much I can do about that either.
But at least I can offer a little comfort to an otherwise harsh life. And that’ll have to do.
Dogpaddling Through Life 
Sweet Jenny. I think I’ve said to you before that there’s a special place in the Heart of the Universe for kind and compassionate people like you. You’re a blessing to the lives of those around you…especially the littlest ones of all.
Good for you! 🙂
Jen, you really cannot save them all. You have already rescued a house full of cats and dogs, and you will do your best by these kittens and their mom. That’s the best solution for all of you.
Yeah, she’s already a borderline hoarder.
Same here! We’re glad she finally got herself “spayed”.
Thanks very much for the decision Jen, Rumpy and all of your family. Like animalartist said you’ve already done all you can do for feral animals…I know and understand your dilemma though…but again thank you so much for feeding those kitties, Jen.
I’m glad things are working out the best they can with the Momma and her kitties!
Oh my beautiful friend dear Jenny. I wished to be near to you… Love, nia
A glass Half Full is better than one totally empty.
Bless you…..the solution you pursued is a win/win….and gives them a chance they wouldn’t have had otherwise. Yay!
Pam (and Sam)
Sometimes the hardest thing is to accept our limitations. You are doing what you can and whether it feels like it or not, you ARE making a difference.
We can’t save them all, but we can save one (or two, or three) at a time. 🙂
You’re right – there are so many rescue groups out there, but it seems when you need to help an animal, no matter where you call no one seems to be able to help. It’s heartbreaking 😦 Thanks for doing all that you can to help these kitties – you are definitely their angel 🙂
Rumpy, belly rubs you all and please give Jen some extra hugs from our mom. It must be tough on all of you! xo Berner Girls
those kitties are gonna defy the odds and stay with you for 18 yrs…just you wait and see. Cats are no fools 🙂
Jen, I’ve been wringing hands over this one – but unable to come up with any solution – this sounds the best. (You motivated me to write today’s post -and I’ve included a link to here)
You can only do what you can
Jenny you are the nicest person ever…thankyou for being so nice..
no one does the kind of things you do ..
hats off
You are doing everything you can, and like the one above me said, you can only do what you can.
That’s a hard decision to make. Thank you for caring about it, and sharing it with us.
I think you do an AMAZING job as it is… and although its a hard decision, I think that you are doing the best you can etc We would like to save all the animals of the world and Children.. But we have to also be realistic.. Love and Blessings ~Sue x
If we can save even just one it is a wonderful thing, but losing even just one is equal to this in heartache…doesn’t matter how much others or even our own heads tell us we have done our best and we can’t save them all, our hearts will always beg to differ won’t they…But take heart a little Jen…it is that unwillingness of our hearts to accept what to many seems inevitable that keeps us motivated to continue battling on to help them even though the odds of success are often stacked against us 🙂 And I think you have a great working solution here 🙂
You are welcome Jen – glad I could help. If I lived closer I would help you trap her.
Many people will be familiar with this story by Loren Eisley, anthropologist, science writer, ecologist and poet. It speaks for everyone who stops and tries their best for a person or animal in need ~
The Starfish Story
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said,
“I made a difference for that one.”
That’s very meaningful!
I’m glad Jen came up with a solution and Mama cat was sensible enough to go along with it. I agree “there are no good outcomes for feral cats” but there are better outcomes and this one is one of those 🙂
So true. So wise.
Jen and Rumpy, thank you for caring so much, and for doing everything you can for these cats.
I think Mom Cat knew what she was doing…stopped by to introduce the family, get a rest, then took them off to be out of your way. Hope you get her trapped and spayed then maybe you can get the kittens done one at a time…again…happy to help with the cost…just tell me how to get funds to you…be well, paw waves
You are a brave soul and you do more than a thousand people put together.
Oh, it is so difficult to make decisions when what yous want to do is not feasible. What yous is doing is for the best.
We honor your strength!
Kisses
Nellie
You are a blessing to the animal world!! (Love today’s picture!!)
You have a heart of gold and you make a difference!
I’ve made that same choice myself many times and know how hard it is. The thing is, they don’t know there’s a better life as an indoor cat so they will be happy being fed and cared for. Most of my current, fixed outdoor ferals are over 4 years old now. And several of them are now tame, they have beds, toys, food, pets…it could be a lot worse. You’re still doing a wonderful thing for them.
Thanks…. needed to hear that. 🙂
You are incredibly caring to help these cats! We wish there were more people like you out there.
Bella and DiDi
You care and sometimes that’s all you can do! Hopefully you can get momma spayed! Good luck!
YOU all are so wonderful and kind hearted . . . I think the ONE above will take care of the feral kitties. ~ abundant blessings to you!
As ye treat the least of these: we all know your hearts are in the right place. Raising paws in prayercircle!
Sadly we are so often limited in what we can do – but Jen you do what you can…which is so much more than others. so be at peace with that.
Any act of kindness towards these kittens and their momma is welcomed, I’m sure. And I suspect a lot of us would do more if we could. However, doing what you can is better than nothing at all, so kudos to you! 🙂
Good luck getting mama cat and know that you are a great person for all that you do! 🙂
The first cat that I got attached to came to my place on Thanksgiving 2006. I gave her food and water. She filled up and took off. She came back on Christmas Eve 2006. Wonder how she knew about the holidays…. lol. She stayed, but I couldn’t make her into an indoor cat. She was hit and killed by a car on Sepember 20, 2007. Zoey the Cool Cat was rescued the next day, and she’s 100% indoor cat except when she sits on my lap while I’m reading out on the back patio.