Happy Autumn, Team TNR!

I hope September finds you shining with a sense of possibility. Autumn always feels like a second New Year, with the bonus of a golden glow over everything.

Maybe it’s the body’s memory of back-to-school, but there’s a feeling of beginnings everywhere, as sure as the crisp air that fills our lungs.

Those beginnings have us hitting the books at Tabby’s Place, as the last days of summer offered up an education. You’ll recall that, this time last month, we had just welcomed four feral-born kittens from two litters. Motherless Jelly and Jam were found at a power equipment company, while wriggly Squiggly and Wiggly were trapped along with their mother Maggie Mae.

Socializing kittens is a learning experience every time. They are as individual as the hummingbird heartbeats that thrum their tiny ribs, as precious as the light in their eyes. What “works” to make one baby feel safe may bounce right off the next. While many feral toddlers learn to trust us, others may never be at peace indoors.

Our goal at Tabby’s Place is the best interest of each exquisite, individual cat. For Jelly, who arrived with a severe eye infection and a wounded paw, the first order of business was physical healing. Thanks to you, our brave boy received exceptional medical care, and today he’s as hale as a sunflower.

But Jelly and his brother Jam have struggled to feel our warmth. Our Behavior Team has been working with them tenderly, assigning a band of angel volunteers to spend time with the boys. As of this update, we are carefully weighing the options for Jam and Jelly.

Selfishly, we are all smitten and would like to keep them indoors forever. But if they remain unhappy, they have a safe outdoor home ready and waiting to welcome them. These are the most difficult decisions of TNR work, but rest assured we will do whatever is most loving for the boys.

We face the same decision when it comes to Squiggly and Wiggly, who have likewise resisted our attempts to convince them the indoor life is a smorgasbord of love. If only they would listen to their mother, Maggie Mae! While her kittens struggle to accept human attention, Maggie is a magnet for cuddles and kisses. We can only hypothesize that she knew a great deal of kindness outdoors, while Squiggly and Wiggly had no exposure to people during their critical early weeks.

Come what may, love will lead every decision. That has everything to do with you, dear sponsors, and I can’t thank you enough.

But our biggest thanks — and the biggest new beginning — have to do with a certain ginger gentleman from one of our TNR colonies. At the peak of the summer swelter, Mandarin faced the fight of his life.

At first, caregivers simply noted a slight head tilt that was not there before. In the words of one volunteer, Mandarin was “looking at the world sideways.” But his condition worsened, and he developed neurological symptoms.

Thanks to you, Tabby’s Place did not have to hesitate. Our TNR cats are as much “Tabby’s Place cats” as any kitty in the building, and they deserve every chance to thrive. You enabled us to rush Mandarin to the emergency vet, who diagnosed an inner ear infection that had nearly reached his brain. He became our newest Linda Fund cat, and quick treatment resolved the abscess and saved his life.

Today, Mandarin is recovering — and rejoicing in love! — in the foster home of the caregiver who first noticed his symptoms. He will soon return to school — I mean, Tabby’s Place — to matriculate as one of our resident cats.

We’re not yet sure whether he will always have a head tilt … but we’ve promised him that love will always keep him right-side-up.

As you know, dear sponsors, TNR is a never-ending education, with as many graduation paths as there are cats. Thanks to you, we can ensure that every precious kitty lives a life of love and dignity.

Thank you for being such beacons of beautiful beginnings. May September fill your hearts with joy!

With love and gratitude,
Angela