Happy August, Team TNR.

Last month, we were cuddling kittens.

This month, we’ve been working on the railroad.

OK, we’re still cuddling kittens. (Galumphing hordes of kittens, and their mamas.) Until there are no more un-neutered cats, there will be kittens, and we’ll be there for them. But this month, it’s the grizzled grown-ups who are front-and-center, those older, less universally adored adults. And it just so happens our August endeavors have centered on…the railroad.

You may recall that we’ve conducted TNR at a tiny local railroad for several years now. With the help of the amazing Lambertville Animal Welfare and many devoted friends, we’ve spayed and neutered all the cats on both sides of the tracks. In more recent years, our main railroad revelry has involved follow-up care for aging, injured or otherwise needy TNR “alumnae/i.”

If you spent any time around the railroad, you’d get to know the sight of Fluffy. With his massive mane and moon-sized eyes, the big brown tabby was a spectacular sight. And “sight” was all you’d get to savor, for Fluffy was not in favor of being touched.

So when Fluffy turned up with wounds on his paws and chest, we knew it would take great gobs of grit to catch him. Through the saintlike patience of volunteer Lori, Fluffy’s plans of permanent freedom were foiled, and the old tom was trapped. Now our vet team could treat him, heal him, and re-release him to the railroad he relished.

Not so fast.It seems Fluffy has a case of eosinophilic pododermatitis. This inflammatory disease affects his foot pads, causing them to become swollen, easily ulcerated, and quick to bleed. Rambling the railyard, poor Fluffy was constantly exposing his tender paws to all kinds of poke-y, pierce-y things, wounding himself over and over. To make matters worse, the raw area on his chest also seemed to be due to a chronic — e.g. likely to continue — issue.

This was not a cat we could, in good conscience, return outdoors. And so Fluffy has become a full-time, indoor Tabby’s Place resident.

Frankly, Fluffy disapproves of our decision. If he could, he’d book it out of here AMA. But he can’t, and we’re hopeful he can’t elude our love forever. Whatever it takes, however long it requires, we’ll love this brave boy in the ways he needs — and he’ll know he’s cherished.

We do have some precedent for these high hopes. Just consider Tina. For years, Tina lived side by side with Fluffy at the railroad station. Several months back, Tina showed up with a scary blotch on her nose. It turned out to be a dreadful diagnosis: skin cancer. Again, here was a feral cat who could not be placed back outside…not if love had anything to say about it.

Well, not only did love speak, but love won. Today, Tina — formerly foaming-feral Tina — is loving life in a foster home. She’s turned into a snuggle bug, and she’s medically doing marvelously well.

Love is working on the railroad, friends.

Thank you, more than words can say, for making this possible. Most people in this world wouldn’t pause for a scraggly railyard cat like Fluffy or Tina. But you’ve chosen to give them your support and your heart, and you will forever have our gratitude.