Happy belated Valentine’s Day, Community Cat sweethearts.

As you know so well, the life of an outdoor cat isn’t all chocolate truffles and roses. That goes double for feral-born babies. Solid data is hard to come by, but I’ve heard it estimated that scarcely half of all kittens born outdoors make it out of infancy.

Those are grim odds…but you’re our odds-breakers.

With your help, this has been a winter of triumphant love in Tabby’s Place’s TNR program. Our feisty trappers finally made major progress with the wily feline colony living at the local women’s prison. Thanks to you, we were able to trap, spay/neuter and release nine of our feral friends there. Our vet team treated this baseball team of buddies for any injuries or dental issues, and they’re beginning a happier, healthier, kitten-less chapter of life under watchful care.

Where there are this many feral cats, of course, there will be kittens. Little Kylo and Athena were terrified when we trapped them — but, being itty-bitty, they were easily convinced that human affection (not to mention the warm, cushy indoor life) was worth accepting. As of this update, both Athena (pictured here) and Kylo are already on hold with adoptive families.

As often, this feral colony also contained some super-friendly adults. We don’t know whether gentle Eno and beautiful Antimony had some positive interactions with people as babies, but whatever the reason, they are as sweet as pudding — and so they’re settling in at Tabby’s Place rather than returning to their colony.

If you’ve been keeping track, that’s a lucky thirteen cats you’ve helped us to nurture from the prison colony this winter: thirteen lives loved, changed, and very likely saved from the ravages of winter.

What’s that you say? Not quite enough good news? OK, then, how about a bit of follow-up on some TNR alumnae?

Remember Chloe, the courageous “older mom” we met last May? As you may recall, Chloe wanted nothing to do with the indoor life, much less our attention…but she had severe heart disease. We struggled with the dilemma of whether to return her outside — where she’d be monitored by a loving family, but likely succumb to her disease in time — or keep her at Tabby’s Place — where she would likely have a longer life, but hate every minute of it. We opted for the former…and this month, we received a report that Chloe is absolutely thriving! This brave girl continues to flourish in the face of her dire diagnosis, and her family loves feeding her and watching her frolic outdoors, just the way she likes it.

And how about little LuEllen, the three-footed baby who commandeered our hearts last month? As will come as no surprise, our tiny trooper is already on hold to be adopted — with two fellow Tabby’s Place cats! LuEllen will join friends Oy and Margo in her forever home.

Dear sponsors, all of this good news is only possible because of people like you. Every day, every hour, we are indebted to you for your faithful generosity and love. Thank you from the depths of my heart!