The strays in my new 'hood.

Two more dead ones. I think Gabby was laying on them, I'm not sure.

I took food out to her about an hour ago and she followed me back to my back door, meowing and aggitated, so I thought I better look inside her shelter. I pulled out 2 more deceased kittens, and Gabby left.

So, while she was gone (and praying she'd come back) I laid the last live kitten on a clean rug and folded one end over her/him, pulled the shelter out from the tarp teepee and wiped it clean as quick as I could - it was raining - and put the clean rug and the kitten in the shelter.

I came inside and warmed up a rice-filled sock and by the time I took it to the shelter, Gabby was back in there and the kitten was nursing. I went ahead and laid the rice-bag up against one wall, away from her and the baby, just to give them a little extra warmth. I'll pull it out before I go to bed.

Either Gabby's not good at motherhood or the kittens have a genetic disorder or internal parasites or something.

Bonnie's yelling at me to bring them inside. I might do tomorrow.
 

Murrmurr said:
Danny is an old orange tabby who came for meals twice a day for 5 years when I lived at the apartment, so we brought him when we moved to the new house. He stayed, and he's been very kind to pregnant Gabby. He sleeps with her sometimes, and always lets her eat first.

He's keeping his distance now that the kittens are here, but he still watches Gabby. All the strays are staying away from her shelter. Not sure if it's because of Danny, but maybe so.
Click to expand...
You have a wonderful great heart Murr!
 

Mama Gabby is so skinny! I started bottle feeding her only surviving kitten four days ago because I figured he's not getting enough milk, or really poor quality milk. I gave Gabby some of the kitten formula in a saucer but she wouldn't drink it. She gags when I put her food down, and she's sneezing. She's really sick, but I can't bring her inside because Pixel could get sick.

I called the pet hospital. They said I could take her and the baby there but, feral or not, they want $2,000 now for emergency care, or $1,200 up-front and bank acct info to guarantee the balance and any additional charges.

I was actually considering this, because Gabby looks awful and she won't eat. She's doing the very best she can for tiny little Garfield (aka, Gary), but he's obviously at risk of dying, too.

So this neighbor lady comes over today, like maybe an hour ago, and she said she's been watching me with Gabby and little Gary, and she asks if I could use help. She tells me about this local cat-kitten rescue agency and how she does kitten-foster care for them, and I give her my email address so she can send more info...and while she's going on about this agency, I escort her through to Gabby and Garfield's place in my backyard.

Gabby came out of her hut to greet this nice lady, Blanca, and Blanca immediately freaked out a bit, praying in Spanish and God-Blessing bony little Gabby. Then I reached in and pulled out Garfield, and she says "Oh my gosh! Is ok I take them now...like, right now?"

Of course is ok! Gracias, Blanca!! Mucho Gracias!

Blanca ran home and came back with a carrier in about 20 seconds, and she packed up Gabby and li'l tiny Gary to take them directly to her contact person at this agency. She said Gary will immediately go into foster care and Gabby will no doubt be put on emergency antibiotics and go into their respiratory ICU. When she's strong enough, Gabby will be spayed and returned to my backyard all vaccinated and stuff. When Garfield's old enough, he'll be placed for adoption.

I gave Blanca the kitten formula and Gary's bottle, and all the gratitude I could express. I hope she emails me about their progress. That would be cool.

I'm SO relieved. And I love my sweet-hearted neighbor, Blanca.
 
@Murrmurr
Bless your neighbour, Blanca 🥰 Sometimes, the right thing just happens. This is one of those times
You've done so much for Gabby and little Gary. I hope they both do well under veterinary care. My heart
aches for the ferals who fight to survive "out there", on their own.
 
Last edited:
Murrmurr said:
Mama Gabby is so skinny! I started bottle feeding her only surviving kitten four days ago because I figured he's not getting enough milk, or really poor quality milk. I gave Gabby some of the kitten formula in a saucer but she wouldn't drink it. She gags when I put her food down, and she's sneezing. She's really sick, but I can't bring her inside because Pixel could get sick.

I called the pet hospital. They said I could take her and the baby there but, feral or not, they want $2,000 now for emergency care, or $1,200 up-front and bank acct info to guarantee the balance and any additional charges.

I was actually considering this, because Gabby looks awful and she won't eat. She's doing the very best she can for tiny little Garfield (aka, Gary), but he's obviously at risk of dying, too.

So this neighbor lady comes over today, like maybe an hour ago, and she said she's been watching me with Gabby and little Gary, and she asks if I could use help. She tells me about this local cat-kitten rescue agency and how she does kitten-foster care for them, and I give her my email address so she can send more info...and while she's going on about this agency, I escort her through to Gabby and Garfield's place in my backyard.

Gabby came out of her hut to greet this nice lady, Blanca, and Blanca immediately freaked out a bit, praying in Spanish and God-Blessing bony little Gabby. Then I reached in and pulled out Garfield, and she says "Oh my gosh! Is ok I take them now...like, right now?"

Of course is ok! Gracias, Blanca!! Mucho Gracias!

Blanca ran home and came back with a carrier in about 20 seconds, and she packed up Gabby and li'l tiny Gary to take them directly to her contact person at this agency. She said Gary will immediately go into foster care and Gabby will no doubt be put on emergency antibiotics and go into their respiratory ICU. When she's strong enough, Gabby will be spayed and returned to my backyard all vaccinated and stuff. When Garfield's old enough, he'll be placed for adoption.

I gave Blanca the kitten formula and Gary's bottle, and all the gratitude I could express. I hope she emails me about their progress. That would be cool.

I'm SO relieved. And I love my sweet-hearted neighbor, Blanca.
Click to expand...
Thank goodness for your caring neighbor. Both of you are very special people, I have great respect for those who care about animals. You have a big heart, thanks for all you do. 💙
 
I loved reading this thread, you are such a kind hearted man, I wish everyone was like you. Luckily we do not have feral cats here only on the farms and no stray dogs, thank goodness. The rescues tend to bring the animals in from other parts of Canada.
 
RobinWren said:
I loved reading this thread, you are such a kind hearted man, I wish everyone was like you. Luckily we do not have feral cats here only on the farms and no stray dogs, thank goodness. The rescues tend to bring the animals in from other parts of Canada.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Robin. I grew up on a dairy farm and we always had as many as a dozen cats around, all descendants of the same female, ol' Pollyanna. She was a super good mom and so were all her daughters. But, they were really healthy, you know? Fresh rodents, fresh milk, and sometimes, fresh fish innards.

Sacramento County, where I live, doesn't have as good a feral rescue agency as it should, but my neighbor says there are a few really good private organizations.
 
Blanca came over today. She said Gabby is all well now, and she's fostering her until she recovers from her spaying. Just knowing she was well enough for the surgery was good news. But her kitten didn't make it, though. It died soon after it went into the ICU.

Anyway, Blanca wanted to make sure it's ok for her to release Gabby in my yard. I told her yes. She'll release her in a couple days.

Meanwhile, she said another neighbor spotted a large orange cat with an injury on its face, and I said "Danny? I think that'll be Danny!" She showed me a photo the neighbor took with her phone, and yeah, it's Danny. And just as I told her that, he came walking up to get some of the food I'd just put out. I hadn't seen him around for almost a week.

Blanca backed off and I bent down to say Good Boy and pet him and all that. He cringed when I touched him because that injury hurts, I'm sure. So anyway, Blanca said don't let him eat yet, and she went and got a trap. I put the food dish in it, and Blanca tossed a towel over it to make it feel like a safe place, and then she backed way off and Danny went in, tripping the trap.

He's on his way to the vet hospital now. I'll probably see him back here in a few days or so. He's a big guy, and a tough one. He'll be neutered, finally. Danny is at least 6 years old, an old-timer in feral years. Paxton (my little foster son) named him Daniel Tiger, and we called him Danny, for short.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top