I made this video for the Hants County SPCA showing Little C's babies (the Weasley's Cousins) playing with my iPad.
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After the "Weasley" kitties were lovingly in the hands of the local branch of the SPCA, we thought there wouldn't be any more little kitties to worry about.
Tiny and Patch were spayed via a local TN/SR program. Tiny's two surviving kittens were in the hands of a local vet who raises abandoned kittens (Tiny would have nothing to do with them) and who is adamant about the need to have pets fixed. Patch's babies (our Weasleys) had been fixed while in our care before going to their foster home to be put up for adoption. The last one left to do (and the hardest to catch) was Little C, who was signed up for the next TN/SR day - just a few days away. We felt a sense of accomplishment, and were settling into the feeling of "we're done".
We were oh so wrong.
Just days before her appointment Little C showed up with her little brood. That first night we thought there were only 3, but later we learned there were four. We prayed that they were boys (easier and cheaper to fix), then thought they were all girls, then were surprised very late in the game to learn one actually was a boy.
So, that first night in late August we were stunned. We spent everyday getting close to them. Feeding them under their own "home tree", setting a video camera up to watch them while they spent time under the tree. By the end of September I was able to pick up the one we called "Loucee" (named for her bright orange fur that reminded us of the famous red head Lucille Ball, whose birthday is in August, the same month we discovered the new little fur babies. Also spelled the way Desi would call to Lucy when he would announce his arrival home).
We had one, now we had to get the rest. We kept trying to get the others the same way I caught Loucee, but they were too timid. We resorted to a live trap. I really doubted we would be able to catch them with the live trap. They would walk around the outside, but never go in. During this time I did catch 6-10 cats, both Tiny and Patch, and a whole lot of neighbor's cats - all of who stayed clear of the back yard for quite some time afterward.
Finally I got lucky and caught Greydon (He's a beautiful grey boy. The name just fits him). Unfortunately the trap didn't close completely and when I picked it up and stated carrying it he was able to get out.
The next day, I tried again and caught Butter (The colour of browned butter. Plus, she just makes your heart just melt). That night she did a lot of dainty and quite hissing eveytime I tried to get close to her. That night, both Greydon and TC climbed to the top of the roof of our two story garage. It was like they were looking for her. The next day I got lucky again and caught TC (Stands for Tiny C. Named after her mom Little C. Who in turn was named after her mom CC - they all look so similar)
That left pour Greydon alone. Unfortunately I wasn't able to try and catch him the next day as we had severe rain but the day after (Halloween) was the day, and finally we had all four.
By this time Loucee was already very comfortable with us and very happy with her surrogate mommy Tks (our teeny tiny girl who had helped raise the Weasley kitties). We gave the other three time to get used to being inside and then reintroduced Loucee to them along with Tks, whom after a very short time they all accepted as a surrogate mommy.
It's been a great few months with them. They loved to steal all of the cat toys, taking them to their room (so we call these guys the Thieves).
Last week all four were fixed and Greydon, Loucee and Butter all went to their foster homes. TC is still with us temporarily while we wait for their to be a spot in a foster home for her. Just like giving up the Weasley's it's been rough giving these guys up. If I could keep them all, I would.
Once I catch up on the Weasley Kitties videos I will be making more of the Thieve Kitties.
