Happy spring, Team TNR.
Yes, I’m technically rushing the calendar here. But c’mon: is there really any question that the season of life and great green hope is upon us? After all, there are crocuses peeking through, longer days under warmer skies…and feral cats everywhere.
Although kitten season hasn’t yet burst into bloom, we suddenly find ourselves busy and bustling with free-roaming friends. A TNR project at a local youth correctional facility brought quite a surprise. Based on reports, we expected a fairly straightforward colony of truly feral adult cats; we would spay/neuter them, treat them for illness or infection as needed, and return them to their safe home there. All very tidy. As always, we are very silly humans.
Since when does “straightforward” have a place in the world of TNR?
It seems the colony was teeming with teenagers: youngsters under a year old, still kitten-faced and wonderstruck. But the real shock was that they were friendlier than teddy bears. These “feral” teens were rolling, purring, and reaching for us through the bars of their traps. We had ourselves a field of “friendlies.”
And so it was that a “fairly straightforward” TNR project brought seven new residents to Tabby’s Place: Scofield, Veronica, Susan, Maricruz, Sara, Katie and Fernando.
We’re thrilled that we can pave the road to forever homes for these darlings. The Springtime Seven were thrilled to be “sprung” from the correctional facility, and they’re busy lavishing their love on our staff and volunteers; it will surely be no time before they’re all adopted.
Well, “no time” may take a little extra time for two of the teens. In the cases of Katie and Fernando, it’s doubly fortunate that Tabby’s Place arrived when we did. These brave not-quite-babies both bore serious wounds.
Katie’s case was the most serious, and remains unresolved as of this writing. Poor Katie had developed a retrobulbar abscess, an infection behind her eye, which required a visit to the emergency vet and treatment with IV fluids. We are immensely grateful that this little girl came to us when she did. Left untreated, her condition could have caused her to lose her eye, or worse. We expect a full recovery for Miss Katie, followed by the full embrace of a forever home.
A forever home is already waiting for Katie’s friend Fernando. This sweet boy arrived at Tabby’s Place with a fractured carpus (wrist area), requiring surgical intervention and many days of frequent bandage changes in our in-house Hospital. But Fernando is such a love monster that he managed to steal a visiting family’s hearts even while recovering, and they’ve put him on hold for adoption.
Meanwhile, back at the correctional facility, the Springtime Seven’s more feral friends have returned to life as usual…almost. But, we trust they won’t miss their “missing parts,” much less the litters of kittens they won’t be having. The colony is in good hands — and, if any of its cats should get into any sort of trouble, we’ll be there.
It’s an honor and an endless joy to be able to be here for cats like Katie, Fernando and their friends. Thank you for making this madcap labor of love possible, dear sponsors. Happy, happy spring to you!
Your correspondent,
Angela
Postscript: In light of the arrival of COVID-19 in New Jersey, Tabby’s Place is currently closed to the public except by appointment. Please click here for our official COVID-19 response.