Happy October, Team TNR!

Here we are together, in the centerpiece of autumn. I hope this golden season finds you as giddy as a gourd and as peaceful as a pumpkin.

We’re grateful to you all year, but October puts an exclamation point on our admiration. This month has a way of reminding us — abruptly! — that outdoor life is no hayride. That first cold night comes as a shock. But thanks to you, our feral sweethearts will not shiver.

“Feral sweethearts” — now, that’s a phrase I could only say to people like you, who treasure every cat. And because you do, some timid teenagers are starting to realize that they are treasures.

This time last month, we were struggling over the best way forward for four of our older TNR kittens. What matters most at Tabby’s Place is each cat’s best interest, a path as individual as a paw print.

Usually, the cats guide us clearly. Feral adults who have never been socialized to people, and who remain unhappy in our care, will thrive in safe outdoor colonies (and continue to receive medical care from Tabby’s Place). Itty-bitty kittens can learn the language of trust, going on to be adopted.

But what about the “tweens,” teens, and others who are on the fence about indoor life?

The prescription is simple: patience.

Simple, but not easy.

Which brings us to Squiggly, Wiggly, Jelly, and Jam.

While there is no hard and fast limit on the “age of socialization,” these youngsters were trapped a tad too old to trust us easily. No problem: we have a Behavior Team with hearts of gold, and valiant volunteers trained in the art and science of tenderness. Together, they would convince our anxious arrivals that (a) they are safe, (b) they are loved, and (c) nobody here intends to eat them.

Taming feral kittens is not for the faint of heart. Sad-eyed Jam would spit in the face of sweetness, while wriggly Squiggly was known to strike. Walking past our Kitten Room, I would often see the bottom half of a volunteer sticking out from under a piece of furniture, laying on their belly while blinking at their assigned kitten. As patient as a schooner of saints, they would never force their affection or rush the first touch.

But although it is unpredictable, socialization at Tabby’s Place is not haphazard. Volunteers take meticulous notes on each kitten’s progress. The Behavior Team adjusts the strategy accordingly. What matters most is peace for every kitten. The goal is not lap cats, but happy cats.

Even if that means putting them back outside, with caregivers who adore them just the way they are.

We had nearly reached that decision for our feral foursome. But baseball is not the only field where you can catch an October surprise.

Dear sponsors, I am thrilled to share that Jam, Jelly, Squiggly, and Wiggly have decided love is worth their time.

All it took was … well, time.

Squiggly and Wiggly have always followed one another’s lead. First, Wiggly accepted a few cookies … and then a few pets. Soon, he was requesting snuggles even when there were no treats in sight. Wiggly’s five-star review of humans convinced Squiggly, and today both smidgens are sold on our love.

Jam and Jelly proved more challenging. This was a case for one of our most experienced foster families. They welcomed the timid tabbies into their home, and that was just the ticket. Jelly and Jam, too, have now begun melting into miracle mushballs. (That is also the name of their rock band.) In the videos below, you can see some breakthrough moments with their foster family.

Thanks to you, all four kittens can face this fall with rising courage.

I will close this month’s update with one final treat. You may recall Marmalade, a bashful senior found on the grounds of a prison. Initially anxious, she bloomed in our Community Room, chirping for attention. We were thrilled to have her with us, but we knew her age would turn away most adopters.

Fortunately, she only needed one. As you can see, Marmalade has found the home of her dreams.

When love rules the calendar, everything unfolds on time. Thank you, dear sponsors, for making this possible. Your generosity is the golden thread throughout the year for every cat in our care.

May October astound you with joy.

Love, your correspondent,
Angela