u/semi_aquatic_cryptid

Hey there - a week ago I posted about a feral mama I spay/abort TNR’d who was hit by a car.

I mentioned her baby kept coming by - a little orange runt from her litter last summer that - based on color and a very quick look the only time I handled them as a kitten - I assumed was a boy…

Whelp - she’s a mama! I just found these kittens in my yard inside old cat carriers so I quickly closed them but then talked to my neighbor who said they’ve been in her yard and there are three babies.

I don’t know how old they are and I don’t know what to do! I only trapped two of three kittens and not the mama or the third.

I’m 98% sure these babies are going to be between our yards for the next little while because that’s where this orange mama was born and me and two of my neighbors are feeding them wet cat food and chicken and treats.

I want to adopt at least one of these kittens, but I don’t want to distress mama and babies too much and I also don’t want to TNR mama while she’s nursing.

I’m thinking I should let them out and get proper traps to catch the whole family this week, if the babies are old enough to be fixed.

What should I do?

I just finished Katabasis and loved it, probably because it reminds me of parts of the book that’s been my favorite since middle school - The Amber Spyglass. Apparently, I love the combination of old university campus setting but with a journey into hell and some young love on the side.

I’m looking for that flavor of setting, but plus heavy philosophical ruminations on life, death, religion, sin, human relationships, what it means to be human, epic journeys, mythology, and characters who are analytical and intelligent and learn a lot about themselves in the journey. Doesn’t need to involve Hell per se, but an other worldly journey is my jam! I also loved Piranesi which has some similar flavors of academic themes and otherworldly experiments mixed with classical mythology. Please tell me there are more books that feel like this!

This is Oliver. I found her in my backyard with a litter of kittens a few months after my heart cat - also a tortie - had to be put down at age 17.

My four year old son named her Oliver and we fed her and her litter since last summer. I was hesitant to TNR her and waited too long but she and her family kept coming to be fed and get the very occasional quick ear scritch and we loved them all dearly.

A few months ago, she looked pregnant and I tired to catch her but then didn’t see her for weeks. She came back skinny with no kittens so I think that litter died.

At the beginning of April, she came around more and was clearly pregnant. I was able to catch her and was so torn about what to do but with reading advice on here I opted to spay/abort with a local org.

After three days of letting her recover I let her go and she never came back to my house to eat - i know she felt like I betrayed her trust. Her kittens come around, but she stopped. I saw her in the alley a few times which helped me feel like i did the right thing.

This morning, I was on my way with my kids in the car to celebrate mother’s day with my mom, and when I turned on the main road, I saw her body in the center median. I knew it was her immediately.

I went back to confirm and my partner moved her off the road but I have nowhere to bury her (live in an apartment), and I’m absolutely heartbroken.

I wanted to keep her and let her have her kittens with me, but my partner flat out refused. I wanted to adopt her for the last year but my partner refused.

I’m angry and sad and feel like if I hadn’t traumatized and scared her she wouldn’t have had to travel far afield in search of food because she would have had nightly kibble and wet food at my house like always.

I’m broken.

I wanted to TNR her kittens but I don’t want them to die the same way. I’m so so so so sad and I can’t stop thinking about her and crying.