Well, Mini-Me the feral who wandered in (well actually was dumped by her mom) around Christmas and promptly got pregnant around Valentine's Day, had FOUR lovely little kittens. She is in her 'tent' where she had been spending a lot of time in the last month, but then abandoned it for awhile. I thought she would give birth in a bush or under the house. Still, the birthplace might not be the spot she raises them. She might move them from place to place in much less accessible areas. Hoping she leaves them in the tent in the nice little high sided kitty bed.

They are probably about 2 ours old now. All cleaned up and crying nicely when I bothered them. 2 are white with black spots (it's in mom's bloodline). One is all dark gray and black tiger (like the dad). One is a white cat with tiger markings on head, tail, and back. Looks just like Ninja but he's 'fixed' can't be his. The 'dad' is a light gray tiger with one white leg marking. I assumed they would look like him, but none of them do.

There was one other cat that I saw 'with' her but none of the kitens look like him either. She must have been playing around when I wasn't watching. Ha. She favors the light gray. They go everywhere together. I'm hoping the kittens grow big and strong, but time will tell.

So exciting. Haven't had kittens around here for 8 years. Wow!

AWwww...congrats Sorta! If you get to know them now, maybe you will be able to get them fixed later. Do you have a feral program there?

Congrats Sorta.

We have a feral spay/neuter program. They do it for 10 bucks once a month at a local shopping center. They drive in a fully equipped motorhome that they call 'The Neuter Scooter'. Thank goodness for that. I'll try to 'make friends' with the little ones and then take them in for 'treatment'. Hope in all this, the mom becomes less afraid and I can get her too. Kittens are SO cute!

That is great, Sorta! Does the mom let you near her?

New kittens are so fun... I would give anything for such a feral service! I'm down to two barn cats, only one of which is a good mouser. They are 15 years old and without barn cats, my barn would be overrun with mice and other critters. A small feral female showed up here last November. I couldn't get near her, and she had SIX little kittens about 2 1/2 weeks ago. She is pretty tame now and I think I can get her in to be spayed after the kittens are weaned. Then I will have to start taking in the little ones! Yikes, is that going to be expensive!

Oh the joys of kittens! Good luck with taming yours, Draclvr. MOM won't come nearer to me than 6 feet on a good day. She hangs back even when food is there. It will take a long time for her. She was dropped off by her mom who lives on the street in back of me. Loads of cats over there but this one I guess mom decided should live here. Dumped and left, checked on her from time to time, but never let her follow her home. So little Mini-Me lived under my house near the deck and water dish. She was there for a long time before she decided that the kitty tent (up high on a table) might be a suitable place.

Gimpy, the injured gray who is now healed, took her as his 'girlfriend'. They stayed together, ate together. He followed her around and vice-versa. Then of course she got pregnant. NONE of the kittens look like him. Oh oh.

This morning, Mini-Me and the 4 babies were all happy in their tent. I fed the other Outdoorsies and then did my indoor chores. 1/2 hour later, I go out to peek at the little ones and Mini-Me has MOVED them. I knew she would, but she sure was fast. I'm guessing they are happily under the house through the hole in the mesh around the water pipe. It's where Mini-Me grew up. Oh well. Maybe when they are old enough to come back out, she will let me get close. I hate having unneutered or spayed kitties around. It's always a race to get them before they expand the population.

Last night however, a real SCARE. I turned on the monitor by my bed that looks at the feeding table and deck around it. I saw the sick kitty, Orange, hunkered down with 'something' between his paws and he was making movements like he had 'something'. OH NO! I throw on a robe, race out to the deck and see that poor sick Orange has caught a baby possum, who is of course very dead. I hate injured babies. Dead or just scared I can save. This one I don't want to think about. Ugh. Terrible sight, but HOW did the Orange manage to catch it when he can barely stand up himself? He's very weak. Hate to see it, but he will either perk up or not. Doing all I can to make him comfy. Expensive puree food, lift him to the table, although he can still jump up. I knew he was ill when he actually let me pick him up. Never did that in 8 years. Only head pets and very carefully. Anyway, here was Orange with the possum and I was SO relieved it wasn't a kitten. You never know with little ones. The males go after them sometimes.

So now I watch and wait for MOM to come out from wherever she's hidden them so I can keep track of their progress. Hope it's not under the house but it was so quick for the move. Darn her. Sneaky kitty. Sit and wait now, listen for cries, follow her around. I'm going to be very busy.

Congratulation Sorta!!! Have fun