Alas

[vr_trakowski]

Last night was such nice weather that I left my bedroom window open.  At about 11:30, I looked out to see a couple of kittens--five weeks, six?--cleaning up the leftovers from the ferals' supper.  I gathered up a couple of cans of cat food and went out.  There were at least five, and when they saw me they bolted into the bushes, but I put the food down anyway.  Judging from at least one of them, they're Cocoa's litter; I knew she'd given birth and was nursing, but not where her nest was. 

At about four this morning, I heard barking outside my window.  There are few dogs in my apartment complex--I'm not sure they're legal--and the couple I've seen were the little fluffy kind.  This was a German shepherd and something not much smaller. 

I whistled at them and they left off and trotted away.  But below my window I could see a little body in the grass. 

They came back about half an hour later, and I went out with a broom to tell them to go home.  They jingled when they left; they were wearing collars and tags. 

I took an old shirt and a plastic bag out when I left for work this morning, and gathered the little one up; the grass is long and I couldn't be sure Maintenance would see it.  There were no visible wounds, but it was soggy; shaken to death. 

I can't blame the dogs.  They were just being doggy.  I do blame whoever let them run free, and not just for the kitten, because I live right on a major road.  They could very easily be hit by someone not expecting a four-legged pedestrian, and the consequences could be disastrous for both the dogs and the driver.  I should know; I've done it, not half a mile away from where I live now. 

Poor kitten.  You had so little time, and your life probably wasn't going to have been much worth living; but you deserved the chance at it. 

Comments

[4persephone.livejournal.com]

Have you called the local human society - Mama may be feral but a lot of humane societies will at least spay her so she doesn't keep having kittens to add to the feral cat population... It's a popular move these days instead of straight up euthanasia...and depending on the age of the kittens they may be small enough to catch, treat and get comfortable enough with people to adopt out...

[vr-trakowski.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately the SPCAs here would just euthanize. There is a private neuter-and-release group, but let's just say I had a very bad experience with them. I'd buy a live trap and try it myself, but I have nowhere to keep them while they heal--it's a one-bedroom apt. with two elderly cats already.

I suppose I shouldn't feed them. But I can't not.

[4persephone.livejournal.com]

I have two cats myself I do understand. I am sorry the neutering group in your area sounds like a no-go. There have been a few decent ones out there that really helped me which is why I suggested. Feeding them doesn;t keep the population down, but it is easier than watching them starve to death.

[vr-trakowski.livejournal.com]

Yes--thanks for the suggestion! I should look around again and see what's available, this was at least two years ago and things could have changed.

Three of them let me pet them right now. *sigh*