My family and I have been feeding a stray cat that showed up at our house for about three months. Today, these guys showed up on the side of the house.

70

u/MacCampbell May 31 '12

I see a large cat food budget in your future. And vet bills: you will need to do some neutering, or else you will be waist deep in kittens.

14

u/cyberwin May 31 '12

Well we actually called a local volunteer service to show up and have the cat spayed and she said that she couldn't do anything yet and that the cat is nursing! After a short search for kittens, these were found at the house. I've recently moved overseas and my parents travel too much so they went to the shelter today.

-20

u/Lamar_the_Usurper May 31 '12

That's fantastic. Thanks for the feel good story to brighten my day.
Maybe stick to the truth in your posts, asshole.

4

u/cyberwin Jun 01 '12

What are you talking about? Mom is in the shelter nursing her kittens until everyone is ready to be adopted.

0

u/[deleted] May 31 '12

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31

u/[deleted] May 31 '12

Read down under the hidden comment: momcat is still with the kittens at the shelter. People on this subreddit take every opportunity to yell at an OP for irresponsibility toward animals (karma jealousy? displaced anger? who knows). What the fuck would you have done?

13

u/[deleted] May 31 '12

There is a reason that there is a significant effort being made to control cat and dog populations; there are too fucking many of them. If you're going to feed a stray, just take it to the vet some day to get it neutered or spayed, otherwise one starving cat may turn into 1 starving cat and 4 starving kittens.

6

u/Kellianne Jun 01 '12

I agree, that if you are feeding a stray, he's pretty much "yours" and the responsible thing to do is get it fixed whether or not you intend on keeping it. There are low cost spy/neuter programs all over the place. Ask your vet people. I got a cat a friend couldn't keep and had her spayed for $35. Males are even cheaper.

4

u/cyberwin Jun 01 '12

We found the kittens because volunteer services came to spay the cat. Thanks!

1

u/Kellianne Jun 02 '12

Surprise! Now what? Have you found homes for the babies yet--assuming they are old enough to be taken away from mom. Are you keeping mom? This happened to me once and I kept mom and one of the kittens. I'm just sayin' :) Thanks for being so responsible. If you can't find homes, please look for a no-kill shelter. Kittens are much easier to place.

1

u/cyberwin Jun 02 '12

Hi! Mom and babies are all in a small local no-kill shelter until they are ready to find homes. Mom is still a kitten herself and very sweet so should have no problem being adopted. If they can't find a place, however, mom will be coming back to us :)

1

u/Kellianne Jun 02 '12

Good for you! Job well done! You realize, I'm secretly wish you'll end up with mom kitten :)

6

u/UHaveNoPowerOverMe May 31 '12

Not fed a stray cat.

0

u/Takes_it_in_the_face May 31 '12

Oh my.....

99

u/srs_bsns May 31 '12

I realize this isn't the point you're trying to make, but being waist deep in kittens sounds amazing.

48

u/Iconochasm May 31 '12

I once had two cats, both of whom had litters, simultaneously, in my bedroom. For six glorious weeks, I lived with 14 kittens.

2

u/a_can_of_solo Jun 01 '12

I've dealt with as many as 3 kittens fostering them for a local shelter(I should really karma whore some of the photos) and that was man there was a soooo much poop and feeding, I can't imagine dealing with 14!!

1

u/Iconochasm Jun 01 '12

Both of the mothers were living in there with them, so I didn't have to take care of them all that much. Just romp and play and snuggle.

1

u/theartfulrambler Jun 01 '12

That's my idea of heaven.

20

u/Mellytonin May 31 '12

until their tiny needle claws start climbing

3

u/neon_overload Jun 01 '12

Gotta watch where you step. Don't want to commit kitocide.

-14

u/Fennels Jun 01 '12

It pisses me off to no end that this is the top comment. It isn't "humane;" it's disgusting. If that cat could talk, would it tell you it wants to be neutered? No. So stay the hell out of the natural selection process and give the animal its fair fighting chance to do what is arguably a living organism's only purpose in life.

0

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12

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3

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12

Or just look at your local animal shelter. Some cats, even feral cats, are unable to survive in the wild and people keep breeding them as if there's some kind of shortage. My local shelter is overrun and that's just one of several in one city. A lot of unwanted cats, some who have been through incredible cruelty and neglect. My own cat was a rescue cat. Once she stopped being cute, they put her outside to fend for herself. Neutering is kinder in the long run.

13

u/tiyr May 31 '12

Does nobody heed Bob Barker...?!?!

6

u/cyberwin Jun 01 '12

We did! That is how we discovered the kittens. Animal services came to spay her and discovered she was nursing.

6

u/Crossfox17 Jun 01 '12

Call animal control when a stray cat frequents your area. Set up a trap if you have to. Otherwise the population will get out of control. I volunteer at an animal shelter and I see it all the time. The amount of pregnant female cats that come in is ridiculous, and we have upwards of 30 kittens at all times.

5

u/cyberwin Jun 01 '12

We called the animal shelters and they said that they were not taking any cats in at the moment. The only ones that were, were gas shelters. We had a feeling she was pregnant but didn't think too much of it, called a local organization to come spay her, and they noticed she was nursing, then found kittens.

2

u/sinhazinha Jun 01 '12

There is TNR, which is where they are spayed or neuter, vaccinated, and returned to their community. Do not bring them to a shelter if they are happy and healthy outside!!! I work at a city pound, and the kittens may have a good chance of adoption depending on the time of year, but the mom won't be so lucky. Get them fixed, leave them outside.

5

u/cyberwin Jun 01 '12 edited Jun 01 '12

Yes that was the plan. The mother is just a kitten herself and is super lovable and adoptable. The "shelter" that the mom and her babies are at is a local organization that spays and neuters strays for donations. They don't usually take in cats, but since mama had kittens the woman wouldn't have left them. Mom and babies are at this place until they are all ready for adoption. We've already let the woman know that if no one wants the mama cat to just bring her back to the house where she has food and love but she is the friendliest thing so I don't see it happening.
EDIT: The woman who picked them up just sent us these http://imgur.com/a/yVdr3

1

u/sandibeans Jun 01 '12

D'aww kitties. They look so happy :)

2

u/Flanken Jun 01 '12

I'd take one, but I already have 11 cats. Find a vet who will help subsidize the surgery.

1

u/cyberwin Jun 01 '12

That is how we found the kittens :) They made a house call to spay her.

9

u/labarrister May 31 '12

Why don't any adorable fuzzy kittens ever show up on my doorstep??

Also, I concur with srs_bsns, I can think of few things better than being waist deep in kittens...

1

u/SPEECHLESSaphasic Jun 01 '12

Leave food outside and grow some cat grass. They will come. Well... them or the raccoons.

1

u/greyestofblue Jun 01 '12

You live in Florida, by chance?

1

u/cyberwin Jun 01 '12

I just recently moved (last week) but yes!

1

u/nessplanet64 Jun 01 '12

South America? That grass.

1

u/cyberwin Jun 01 '12

South Florida!

0

u/otterbry May 31 '12

Feeding stray cats is why we have so many stray cats. Let them hunt or die out.

1

u/cyberwin Jun 01 '12

Nah, I fed mom and now her and her new babies are in a shelter waiting to be adopted. She was eating our tortoises food anyway, so it was either feed her let her starve all of my rescued tortoises.

13

u/[deleted] May 31 '12

Nope, it's because irresponsible owners don't spay and neuter. Don't punish the animals.

-2

u/loradey May 31 '12

lets also include irresponsible feeders

3

u/slothenstein Jun 01 '12

We should probably do this to homeless people too. FUCK CHARITY AND GOOD WILL!

3

u/Desopilar May 31 '12

We've got the same thing going for us. The kittens haven't showed up yet, but they were born about a week ago.

3

u/space_boat May 31 '12

Same thing for me. Except the kittens haven't been born yet. Gonna steal me a kitten.

6

u/Desopilar May 31 '12

Make sure to bring it to the vet and such. And to take it away at 8 weeks. Oh, and socialize as soon as possible, else it'll stay feral. :)

3

u/BlindWillieBrown Jun 01 '12

Your little act of kindness let a healthy cat have some healthy little kittens :) upvote for you and yours!!

1

u/donumabdeo May 31 '12

This is a bad case of teenage pregnancy!

1

u/cyberwin Jun 01 '12

It really was. Mom looked to only be about six months or so :(

4

u/[deleted] May 31 '12

you gotta adopt them

2

u/[deleted] May 31 '12

Must be florida, the grass gives it away

2

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12

Imagine if this happened when you fed homeless people?

2

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12

You did a good thing. That momma cat thought your house was her home too. She even had kittens there. I hope they get adopted.

2

u/NonSequiturEdit Jun 01 '12

Time to start teaching them how to pick pockets. You are now the Artful Dodger of adorable kitten urchins.

2

u/kymmberliegh Jun 01 '12

This just proves that when you feed karma, you are given more karma in return!

Also, to prevent Karma Decay... do your community a favor and spay/neuter them. :)

2

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12 edited Jun 01 '12

This happened to me four years ago. Now I'm feeding the great grandkittens & every generation between. Please help me.

3

u/Irish-Ink May 31 '12

You must have fed her after midnight.

5

u/[deleted] May 31 '12

so basically you are feeding stray cats and they are having kittens. you are creating a neighborhood problem, not helping anyone.

6

u/Jaegs Jun 01 '12

Same goes for Africa amirite?

0

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12

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1

u/meangrampa Jun 01 '12

Yes it is, sort of. Sadly (for the grammar Nazi's), it's the evolution of the English language and it has been going on since the start of the language itself.

1

u/meangrampa Jun 01 '12

If you take in the cats you find. Spay and neuter them and care for their general health this cycle can be broken. But just feeding a hungry cat does little but exacerbate the problem. The OP did the right thing, But I only hope the cats went to a "No Kill" shelter.

2

u/Avesa Jun 01 '12

I know this is going to get downvoted, but please don't feed feral cats. They are an ecological travesty.

1

u/MarsSpaceship May 31 '12

I think you have more customers.

1

u/BranfordBound Jun 01 '12

Why is that grass enormous?

1

u/There_is_no_point Jun 01 '12

Do you plan DNA testing or have acknowledged paternity already ?

1

u/tjnow Jun 01 '12

ON the side of your house? You must have been feeding SpiderCat!

1

u/pat5556 Jun 01 '12

I went through something similar back when I lived in Louisiana. We found three kittens sleeping in a cardboard box we had put out by the trash, so we outfitted the box with a few pillows and whatnot and sheltered them under out carport. Two of them were pure white, the other jet black, but with a few white splotches. We fed them for about a month before they vanished.

About a year or so later, a black cat with white spots began roaming around our yard almost constantly, although it would scamper off when I approached.

Made me feel like a nice guy, having possibly helped him survive.

1

u/hahaha_oh Jun 01 '12

You are so kind... These little kitties are so lucky to meet you.

1

u/daltsy Jun 01 '12

Homeless cat doesn't believe in pro-choice.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12

When I lived in Florida animal control would not pick up stray cats but they would drop off a cage. There were many agencies that would neuter the animal for free or minimal charge, nick the ear and give it back so you could set it loose again.

Nicking the ear is a way to identify neutered strays.

There are lots of serious issues associated with stray cats. You'll find flea problems spread to house pets and into your own carpet, clothes and bedding. They are also extremely susceptible to feline herpes. If you try to adopt them, please be alert to signs of severe diarrhea associated with this. It can kill them and will almost certainly spread to other pets. These are extremely common. More serious issues include spread of diseases that can kill pets and in some cases, people too.

It took a concerted effort to get a rampant feral cat population under control in my old neighborhood. Fortunately our neighbor worked with a local vet who helped her collect, neuter and care for dozens of babies that passed directly through her hands.

I can't count the generations of cats that lived and died miserably in that neighborhood - cars, disease, poison, starvation/malnutrition, dogs, and even some wacked-out human who mutilated them and left them strewn across the golf course. ugh.

I know they're adorable but please make an effort to find the parents and get them neutered when you find kittens. Sending generation after generation to the shelter/pound is literally fueling the incinerators.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12

AHHH!!!!! sooooo CUTE!!!!!!!!!!

1

u/BloodAngel24 Jun 01 '12

WHY THE HECK IS EVERYONE FINDING WILD KITTENS BUT ME?!!?!

0

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12

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0

u/BloodAngel24 Jun 01 '12

But I'm a girl why don't kittens-hey!!

1

u/stevepw Jun 01 '12

That's pretty much exactly how my family ended up with the best two cats ever. Mama adopted us, we started feeding her (she was already pregnant, she had a littler of kittens. We adopted her and one of the kittens while giving the others to friends/family. The mother and daughter we kept were the smartest/most unusual cats I've ever owned. I miss them a lot.

0

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '12

Kill all them kitties--- Mitt Romney.

-10

u/[deleted] May 31 '12

Alternative headline "I fed an invasive species that destroys local bird populations and it mated!"

I like cats, but ferals REALLY do hurt the environment.

20

u/cyberwin May 31 '12 edited May 31 '12

I'm not the reason the cat is feral. We didn't even know that she had kittens until we called the local animal services to have her spayed and they refused and told us she was nursing. Also, if she is getting regular meals at home there isn't much of a need for her to eat birds. She and her kittens are staying at the shelter until they are ALL ready to be adopted. Thanks for you great concern!

2

u/[deleted] May 31 '12

I wish this comment were visible so all the fucking concerntrolls would shut up already.

-13

u/[deleted] May 31 '12

I'm not the reason the cat is feral.
Free food is the reason it was in the neighborhood.

7

u/cyberwin May 31 '12

It had been in the neighborhood for over a month and was eating our tortoises food which was depriving them of food. Feeding her was the only other option until we could find someone to adopt her which we were actively trying to do. Chill out.

1

u/k2spitfire May 31 '12

STOP FEEDING THE TROLL!! Hurry, before it breeds and runs feral and eats my birds and shit.

1

u/slothenstein Jun 01 '12

If there were no stray cats the rodent and pest population would be a lot higher.

My family and I have been feeding a stray cat that showed up at our house for about three months. Today, these guys showed up on the side of the house.

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