I was going to wait until things are in place to post this but I think people need a distraction.

[Siwsan]

About 3 weeks ago I posted that I’d moved a big transfer crate to the garden on the east side of my house, hoping to lure some of the ferals away from my animal hating neighbor’s house. Well, it sort of worked. And, on the very day I moved it and went out to buy some fresh bedding to replace that old pad.

The 4 kittens are now about 3 weeks old. I don't know if she gave birth in the crate or moved them, afterwards. Every time I go out, I talk to them so that I won't be a complete stranger to their ears and eyes. Spooky is surprisingly at ease with my presence.

I’ll be ‘collecting’ the sweet fur balls either this weekend or mid-next week. It depends on several factors. I think I saw one of the kittens has an infected eye. I’m waiting to get another look. If so, I'll take them all and get it to the vet. The other trigger is if they start wandering. I am already set to adopt one - the striped tabby who I have tentatively identified as a male. I think I’ll call him Arthur. Hopefully I will not have a hard time finding homes for the other 3. There is one gray with a white mask and two black with white masks. I see several with mittens.

I have one trap ready to go, to HOPEFULLY catch the mom, who happens to be Madoc’s mom. And I’m getting another trap. I have to be careful because the raccoons are back and I DON’T want to trap one of those.

So, brace yourselves for pics. I already have a lot. This is a good one for starters.

[img][/img]

[50 Shades Of Blue]

1. Thank you!

[Siwsan]

2. I'm really quite excited to do this, again

Last year I had NO idea what I was doing, but ended up being pretty successful.

The main thing I learned from my vet is to immediately comb them for fleas, and then give them a flea bath. They will stay isolated from Madoc and Gryff for at least a week.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

4. I'm looking forward to more cute pictures!

[3catwoman3]

3. No bracing needed. There is no such thing...

...as too many pictures of kittens.

[Siwsan]

5. Arthur is the one in the middle

[Ocelot II]

6. Mega-squee!

[Siwsan]

7. Never has there been a better timed distraction!

I have kitten milk and a new bottle. I saved the 'pet play pen', small litter box and have a nice, soft bed all ready for them.

[ShazzieB]

10. The gray and white one looks exactly like two cats i had in high school.

They were mother and son.

He was slightly fluffier, but other than that, he was a carbon copy if her.

[SheltieLover]

11. They are adorable!

Ty for sharing, & for helping them!

[niyad]

14. Squeeeeeeee. Could that possibly have been any cuter??????

[slightlv]

8. After losing my two oldsters in the last month and a half,

and having such a hard time getting over them... I wish we lived closer, Siwsan. You could adopt one of them out to me and know s/he have a good, loving home and a long happy life with me. (sigh)... Good luck, and bless you, Sister... I've got one of them mean neighbors, myself. They are a vexation and a terror. I do my best to protect the strays and the wild things around here from him. I've even warned the neighbors around the corner and up the block from us about him and his gun. Any animals shot around here, the reports name him as the likely suspect. Unfortunately, KS being the state it is, it means nothing. But we animals lover try to take care of the wild ones as best we can, don't we... {{hugs}}

[Siwsan]

9. So sorry for your loss!

I lost Morgan and Sophie Stinky Toes, last year, within 24 hours. I felt crushed.

It's funny. My neighbor never worried about the ground hogs she had living beneath the shrubs around her house. They caused so much damage to my gardens. And also pays no attention to the trees in her back yard that keep dying and falling on my property.

Oh well. The ferals seem to have drive out the ground hogs and I use the wood from the fallen trees in my fireplace.

[niyad]

13. So very sorry for your loss. May there be new loves in your life very soon.

[niyad]

12. Yayyyyyy. Thank you for keeping us posted. I am so excited for your new adventure.

Have you given up on bringing in Mittens the Kitten?

[Siwsan]

15. Mittens is an enigma

Some days she's very friendly, others she runs away. But I haven't given up on socializing her.

[niyad]

16. Will keep sending good thoughts.

[Siwsan]

17. Thanks!

I'm doing constant checks on the new kittens. As soon as I see them venturing from the crate, in they come! I have a Blink camera focused on the crate so I'm alerted to most activity.

I feel bad about taking another of Spooky's litters but hopefully we can get her spayed. Unfortunately, my neighbor made some failed attempts at trapping so I'm worried that the older cats might be VERY wary. I guess we'll find out.

And, I'm convinced if we can trap and neuter Bruiser, the kitten population will immediately decrease.

[niyad]

18. You are an angel for your little colony. They are so lucky.

[Siwsan]

19. I'm really looking forward to learning their personalities

Madoc's personality was VERY apparent within a day or two of bring him and his siblings in. Well, actually before that. He was the one who made a dash for a wood pile to escape me, and I had to remove him while he kept digging into the earth. Strong personality, that one!