We had an adult male cat coming into our house who looked rather injured, so we started feeding him and mending his wounds when he got into a fight. It became such a regular thing that he soon brought another cat for feeding. It turns out that this new cat was female and pregnant but we treated her the same. Fast forward to a couple of weeks when we notice she’s not pregnant anymore but we could tell she was breastfeeding.
She decided to bring her little kitten along two days ago and we’ve been trying to get the baby acquainted with us and our cats and everything looked fine and dandy. We even set out a box with a cozy blanket outside for them. We can’t take them in so that’s the best we could do. They quickly started using it as a shelter.
Well, they came in this morning looking for food as usual. But just a few moments ago in the afternoon, my family member got home and found the little kitten maimed and unresponsive in the box. It had signs of injuries but worse of all his little leg had been amputated by something sharp. We think the neighbor’s dog got to him and killed him.
It’s so heartbreaking. Why would anyone do this to a baby kitten? I can’t even imagine how the momma cat feels because I’m sure she saw it. I don’t even think she’ll stop by anymore. I’m so angry and upset and I’m crying. Life is so fucking unfair.
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Sounds dumb but I watch my backyard ecosystem a lot. Like a LOT. I smoke on the back porch so like I say. A lot. I’ve carefully cultivated this nice little nature preserve and have watched the birds raise families. All families that return year after year and grow their own families. I recognize them and know their patterns and that’s helped me to feed them and their young at the times needed and in a way that minimizes their vulnerabilities. Same with squirrels, possums, etc.
It hurts when you see one of your babies fall prey to something bad. Hawk, neighborhood cats, nature, and worse, humans.
But I began to recognize that’s the price I have to pay to be involved. Realistically I shouldn’t be involved and in an ideal world humans would leave all animals be, but I live in suburbia and animals are sometimes dependent on us here.
But being involved is a precious thing and sometimes it just hurts. Remember that you’re likely right about the kitty falling prey to another animal. But don’t fault that animal as they are simply doing what they know. Just be ultimately grateful that nature recognized you as a safe person/safe place and that’s a pretty awesome thing. Let that thought lift you up when the dark underbelly of nature shows itself.
Nature is a cold hearted bitch. Worse than any person you have ever encountered.
Starvation, hunger, exhaustion, untreated injuries, fear, pain, and death.
Humanity is what we bring to the table. This whole fiction you and I get to inhabit where everything’s warm, everything’s clean, the store is full of food, someone comes to help you and take care of you if you’re sick or injured, humans made all that shit up, piece by piece.
Keep it going. Wild place is wild place. Human place is human place, and it’s pretty fuckin far from perfect so far. It’s good enough now that if you’re from the lucky countries you can see the heartless inhumanity in the natural world by way of contrast. But it’s for damn sure not done yet.
If she and/or the adult male return, see if you can connect with a local TNR group which can trap, neuter/spay, ear tip and release them. Better than doing it yourself so the cats don’t associate it with you, plus they may have donations to pay for it. When the cats come back, they’ll continue to hold the local territory without reproducing further, and will live longer because of less physical stress. I assume they’re too wild-minded to adopt.
My local one is Kitty Bungalow Charm School For Wayward Cats, which also sets up fostering for the kittens so they’ll become adoptable, and finds farm and business jobs for cats who aren’t afraid of people but don’t want to be pets. Your local situation may be different but it’s worth looking into.
Ah, thanks for the thoughtful reply! It shows that you care.
We managed to spay the female at the local Animal Control and she’s doing great. She just got done with her antibiotics yesterday and she’s running around as usual tipping over our potted plants. lol We’ll see what we can do and hopefully find a home for the other kitten soon.
So proud of you!
Wild cats are very rough on local ecosystems and I think it’s generally recommended not to help them in any shape or form.
This is such a bad take. Take them to a shelter so they at least have a chance at adoption. If that’s not an option available in your area, find out if there’s a TNR program that can fix the adults so they don’t do more ecological damage by continuing to reproduce.
Yep, I’m looking into both options! We can’t have cats outside like this.
Sorry, I meant not to feed them but shelter or adoption is always the best. It does seem very cold how I put it.
They’re feral, not wild. Wild cats (servals e.g.) live in wild areas of places like sub-Saharan Africa. You’re referring to feral domesticated cats. They’re out there because they’ve escaped or been released and continued to breed or were raised semi-feral like barn cats. We as a society are responsible for them.
Eh, if you’re going to take on a stray cat, work on making them an indoor cat. If you’re not ready for that challenge, don’t try to take on a stray cat.
I agree though that the downstream effects of feeding strays makes it a harmful thing to do, even if it is directly helpful to the cat. But you can still help.
