The Things We Do....

[Tambrey]

The extents we go to at times to ensure their safety and comfort...

A few weeks ago, we had a bad storm, it blew one of the computer parts packing boxes of my husband's into our side yard...the kind with the foamy eggcrate glued all around the inside of it

Next day while cleaning up, he went to pick it up and it was heavy...peeked in and a momma had her babies in there....fine...we'll leave it for now...and not move it because we wanted to be sure she did not "lose" her babies....3 of them...

A couple night later, another storm blew up...just wind, no rain...I was out there trying to find something to keep the box from blowing away!! I found 2 cast iron bases for torch lamps (so they can sit on a patio and not need pounded into the ground)...I got a length of rope and tied it to one of them, snugged it against the box, then tied the rope to the other cast iron base snuggled against the other side of the box...

A few nights ago, we found a kitten with one eye starting to open wandering around outside the box...great....gotta keep them penned up but still not move the box!

Lucky for me, I save boxes...got one from my printer and cut it down one end...the old box they have been in fit just nicely inside this one...with no room for momma to jump in or out...so by cutting the end all the way down, I could move the inside box half way back, with no room for kitten to get between the boxes, fold the top flaps back down, cut half of one of them out so Mom can get in there...tied the rope back over it and set a big rock at the flap end to keep the inside box from moving further out...

Tonight...rain came in...hubby and I were out there with a piece of tarp, lifting rope and setting the folded tarp over top of the box and around the sides to help keep it dry...it is under the pines trees too, so that will help filter some water from landing on it...

the little buggers all 3 have open eyes now and sometimes lay in on the egg crate padding, and during the warmer part of the day are sprawled out inside the box.

[Tina B and crew]

Isn't it the truth Tambrey! Our travel trailer smells like tomcat now because I couldn't leave that stray boy in the small kitty condo on the deck. I was planning on pulling the carpet out and redoing it so it's no big deal and he has plenty of room to stretch out, jump, and lots of windows to check out.

Good luck with the mama and kittens. Are you going to try to socialize them and find homes?

[k9Karen]

Tambrey, you are a very special person to do all that. I'd like to think that I would do the same (always loved the baby animals of all kinds - rescued a few birds over the years and a couple of kitties), but I really can't say for sure that I would. I know I couldn't stand to have anything happen to them when I knew they were out in my yard, but I admire you for all you do for the ferals around you.

[Tambrey]

Well, those kittens are now out and about and exploring...a danger to them and us if we go out at night...and as my hubby has been calling them...owl bait

So today we got a different box, a waxed coated one, and took the same foam rubber from their dilapitated box...set that up in the same general vicinity as to where their original box was located...then we took the plastic shelves from a shelving unit, hubby zip tied them together and we set it against the raised flower bed at the side of our house...

They now have a safe "playpen" to explore and exercise in, still in safety...it is about 3x6 so while not huge, it will contain them and give them room until they are bigger...and we figure by the time they can climb or jump from there, we will have found them homes or they can fend for themselves better...

We also put a small log in there that they can dig their claws in to and practice "climbing" yet be safe is they tumble off...it is sort of hollow under one end, they cannot get into it, but can hide there and jump out at a sibling...they are having lots of fun in their newfound confined freedom!

Mom can jump in with them or pay on the ledge of the raised bed above them and still watch over them...all is well...I took pics but the camera is in the car and I don't feel like getting up again right now!!

And in the meantime...while hubby was sorting through his computer parts this afternoon, boxing up some to return and tossing others that were no good away...another mamma cat decided to have her kittens...in a discarded box...here we go again...

[momPaws]

Tambrey- kitten pics, Pls!

[Tambrey]

haha....I will get them uploaded tomorrow...

They are loving their new home...they huddle down into their box on the familiar eggcrate foam to sleep...they are learning about water dishes and exploring all around their big yard!

Momma will go in there with them for a while, stretch out and nurse them for a few, give them a quick bath then hop out again...it was near to 90F today, so she was not in too much of a snuggling mood!

We still need to get the tarp over half of it...the half with the box and crate, so they have shelter from rain...but they will be okay tonight...

They are so cute!!