With the generous help of Second Chance Fund for Animal Welfare, Inc. and their traps, we were able to trap 4 kittens, an adult male, who may be the father of the mom and her kittens, and the mom's sister who is an all orange gal. We still have the mom to trap.

Mango (buff and white - top center and bottom left) was the friendliest of the kittens and was trapped Sunday, January 11, 2004. Before being trapped, all I had to do was open my door and he would walk into the kitchen and flop onto his back for belly rubs. He was the most affectionate kitten I had ever seen, followed closely by his brother Tango. Mango was adopted!

Miss Marble (dilute tortie - top left and bottom center) was trapped Thursday, January 15, 2004 and is in a foster home to help socialize her with people. She is absolutely gorgeous and I know that once she comes around she will be adopted quickly. Miss Marble was adopted!

Tango (all buff - top right) , along with his calico sister, because I made the mistake of thinking he was too afraid of people. I guess I should have known better when I released him and he hesitated leaving the trap, then looked back at me and slowly walked under a tree. He returned about a week later and began rubbing against the sliding glass door and crying. I decided he was in fact friendly when he came to the door to sniff my fingers. Tango was recaptured Friday, January 23, 2004 and is now with his sister, Miss Marble. He's only there to help his sister along as this guy is like his brother (Mango), a love sponge. He was actually drooling while I petted him. He has such a great disposition and is so loving that while his blood was being drawn, he would purr through the entire procedure and would try to roll onto his back for a belly rub. Everybody who saw him fell in love with him, including myself. I know he will be adopted quickly. Tango was adopted!

The calico girl (bottom right) was trapped Sunday, January 11, 2004 and released Tuesday, January 13, 2004. She is the only kitten that was returned because of her fear of people.

I must also mention the adult male I had named Trouble (now Thomas). I gave him this name because of all the fights he was involved in. He was trapped Sunday, January 11, 2004, or should I say scooped up and placed in a carrier. He is friendly with people so he was the easiest. He may have had a family once, but they moved on without him. He has had a hard life, being an intact male. He had endured many bloody battles, the proof of which could be seen on my deck in the morning. I think there was hardly ever a time that I didn't see battle scars across his face, or a torn ear, or perhaps the worst, flesh and fur hanging off of his body. He would also be seen limping from time to time; but no more. Those days are over and will hopefully, in time, become a dull memory. Thomas is living with his foster mom, never having to worry about where to find his next meal or how to stay warm and dry. No more fighting, no more pain. But he will have one thing that will remain with him because of being a former intact male, FIV. Sadly, but not surprisingly, he contracted FIV from one of his many fights. He is still healthy and strong and will live many years to come.

UPDATES!

Thomas (February 17, 2004): Thomas' foster mom has done wonders with him and he is now ready to be adopted. It turns out he is a layed back, mellow fellow that LOVES people. He loves to play, but would rather play with a toy if a person is attached to it rather than on his own. Thomas also gets along with any cat, as long as it's not an alpha male, that he has roomed with so far. Check Tom out on Petfinder or come see him at adoptathons by checking out Second Chance Fund for Animal Welfare, Inc. schedule.

(February 3, 2004): The mom's sister, an all orange gal, was trapped Sunday, February 1, 2004 and released Tuesday, February 3, 2004. This leaves just the mom to trap.