An awesome October to ya, Team TNR!

All early indicators point to awesomeness in the Tabby’s Place galaxy. As kitten season winds down for another year,* we’re focused on fine-tuning for our feral friends.

But then again, fine-tuning can concern…kittens.

Such was the case at one of our colonies this month. Over a year ago, we’d spayed and neutered all the cats in this klatsch, and adopted out their kittens. But where there’s food and security, there will be (more) cats. Sure enough, another very young mama calico appeared on the cusp of autumn.

Once Tabby’s Place commits to a cat colony, we’re “in” for life. And so, we were happy to trap this teenage queen, spay her, and search out her kittens.

Make that kitten, singular. Our new little mama had a litter of exactly one. As lovely as her mum, baby Flan (pictured here) is three pounds of tricolor tenderness, and sure to be adopted in a flash. Her mother, meanwhile, is receiving all the care, love, and tasty food she needs back at the colony. And so it goes.

But a great deal goes on beyond spaying and neutering, too. Devoted care of a kitty colony involves making sure all members are healthy and happy, through all the seasons of life.

We received word from one of our colony caretakers that two of our old gals were looking a little rough around the edges. When we arrived to check them out, we learned that these were new old gals. You guessed it: more fresh arrivals to a known cat colony.

But this case was more complicated. Both senior ladies had already been spayed and eartipped, so they must have come from another colony or TNR project. But, they had no microchips, so we couldn’t connect them back to their caretakers. No matter; they were members of our little colony now, and we chipped and cared for them. Both seniors were in serious need of being de-matted. In fact, their tangles were so terrible, we had to sedate them to fully brush them out. But now, the golden girls will return to the outdoors cool and comfortable, free from the snags and pinches of matted fur.

Dear sponsors, as you can see, the work of TNR is never truly “done.” Loving our colony cats, and loving them well, means maintaining their happiness in all seasons. It’s thanks to you that we can do this for every cat in our care — even the unexpected arrivals. Thank you for your generosity. May your October ring with joy!

*OK, I’m not quite that naive…we know there will be stragglers. Possibly rafts of them. But, in theory, there should be fewer birth bonanzas once it cools down, and the kitten cascade is slowing. For now. 🙂