so i've been worrying and worrying about the kittens that live under the shed, right? since mama is scared of people, the babies would be scared of people... so how am i supposed to intervene there?
well, stray mamacat has been especially.. well, happy to see me arrive because she knows it's food time. the night before last, for the first time, she actually started coming over to my car, like "hurry the hell up, lady." i really get the impression that, after months and months of feeding her, she's finally caught on to my purpose in her life: i dispense food. i will not eat her babies.
well, tonight i reached under to put her food under the shed, i realized the babies were RIGHT THERE. i picked one up. she was in swat range, but she didn't do anything.
she sat and ate her food two feet from where i was taking her babies out, one by one, and scratching their chins and kissing their little heads.
they seem surprisingly healthy. they all have big bellies, unlike the wiry little kittens i have at home.
they are pretty unsure of me, but they don't seem to mind me too much. they eventually were playing out of my reach, but if i left my hand under the shed, sure enough someone would come investigate and get within grabbing distance.
mamacat, this whole time, just sat quietly and let me. :) when i put her water next to her food dish, she started making the unhappy-devil-cat noise, so she certainly don't want me touching HER, but what a relief that she'll let me touch those babies!
a couple of more weeks and they'll be ready to leave her. two months with the mama is ideal, but i'm worried about how much time they spend next to busy 441. we'll see.
anyway, i feel SO relieved now. :) i'm really proud, too; the mamacat trusts me!
