Li'l Mama Jr.?

Li'l Mama

So back in San Diego we had a li'l stray cat adopt the family. She was a bit skittish, though, and never really let any of us get close. But she kinda hung out around our front yard... and it wasn't too long before we realized she was preggo. So we dubbed her Li'l Mama.

As her due date neared, she started letting us get close to her... she probly realized she was gonna start needin help pretty soon. So we set up a li'l box for her, complete with a blanket to curl up in, near the front door. And sure enough, that box became home to a litter of kittens. We promptly moved the box to the enclosed back yard when we discovered one of the neighborhood VERY large dogs pokin his nose in the box shortly after. Li'l Mama was definately on our team by then, and was very comfortable with us around her and her kittens.

Pop was overseas (in the Navy) at the time... I remember this because we really wanted to keep one li'l grey fuzzball we named Ferdinand (after the explorer). But Mom didn't want to surprise Pop with a new member of the family when he got home from his cruise without consulting him first, so she wrote him about it. Unfortunately, mail was so slow back and forth to the ship that by time we got his letter back saying he was perfectly fine with the idea (no surprise, considering he's a HUGE animal lover and kept the house well stocked with pets during my entire childhood), we'd already found a new home for Ferdinand... along with the rest of his siblings. I think we even found a home for Li'l Mama, too.

Another Orphan?

Well, it looks like my neighborhood (albeit a long ways from the first one) has again been adopted by a possibly preggo li'l orange calico. I knew about her a few weeks ago when my neighbors were out front giving her some food. They're the ones who think she's preggo, though I don't see it. But I also haven't felt for it, either.

We're not sure if she already has a home and is merely being friendly and/or mooching for food... or if she's homeless. I didn't see her again for a while until yesterday morning when I went to take out the trash. And there she was, all kinds of friendly and yappin up a storm. I got the impression she was pretty hungry as she was pokin a little urgently around some of the other trashbags on the street, and proceeded to puke up a rubber band.

And it frosted over that night for the first time this year, so it was COLD out. I felt really bad for the li'l thing, if she really is homeless out in the cold, waiting for peeps to come outside to feed her. So, softy for a furry face that I am, I grabbed the box I'd just put out full of cardboard recyclables at the curb, transferred the recycle stuff to a paper bag, and wrapped the box in a big plastic sack to keep it from getting soggy. I wedged the box under a chair that sits right next to my front door, with the opening facing the building and tucked a blanket inside. And, of course, set out some food and water.

She was definately hungry, as she immediately snarfed on the food. I don't mind continuing to feed her if necessary, but I'm worried about the cold... afraid that the box won't really be enough when it REALLY starts to get cold this winter. It was a completely different matter to be able to put out a box in San Diego. I really wish I could bring her in, but Ms. Pukesalot would have a double decker cow... and she's fixed.

Options

I consulted Mom on the matter, and she believes the li'l cat won't survive the Winter outside, and has suggested that the only option is to take her to the Humane Society, or a local organization called Second Chance. Unless I can confirm that she actually does have a home around here, and then I don't really need to worry about her at all.

On the one hand, I know what the Humane Society does to animals it can't find homes for, because they have to make room for more that come in all the time. And Second Chance... well, if they can take her, that'd be great. But when I was (briefly) considering finding another home for Ms. Pukesalot a few years ago, Second Chance was out of foster homes and all they could have done was stuff her in a cage indefinately.

On the other hand, the Office Manager is on the Board of the Humane Society, so she may be able to find out some options if it comes to that. She says that cats are highly adoptable... especially friendly ones, so mebbe the li'l girl might have a chance.

Personally, I'm wondering if there might be some kind of outdoor heating blankets or something I could find. Yeah, it's probly a silly idea, but seriously... how do wild animals survive out in the cold? How about dogs kept outdoors? It's a thought, anyway.

Amway, the weather's turned a bit warmer again for a li'l while, so I'll just keep an eye out... see if she uses the box at night, an indicator that she may be, indeed, homeless.