posted 01-24-2004 12:33 PM         

It started out my senior year in college. I went to Petsmart to get a hamster and walked out with Milo. He was 6 months old and had been rescued from death row at the pound. They thought he was retarded b/c he isn't coordinated but I think he's just a little clumsy.

Then a few months later my friends had a pregnant stray cat living in their apt complex. They named her Spooky and started feeding her. She gave birth in a box we put out for her with all of us there. She had three kittens: one that died a week later, one I gave away, and Sophie. It was 3 am when she had them so I left them there and was going to come get them the next day b/c my friend couldn't have pets. My friend's roommates (who were evil) took Spooky and the three kittens to the pound the next day before I got there. By the time I got to the pound they had put 4 orphaned kittens on her and she adopted them. The kittens were Pirate, Baxter, Gray, and Bandit. So I ended up with a Mama cat and 7 kittens!

I kept Sophie and Pirate, my mom kept Baxter, Gray, and Spooky. Bandit got FIP and had to be put down.

So I moved to Irving, TX with Milo, Pirate and Sophie. A few months later I found four kittens who were 7-8 weeks old. I kept 2: Fluff and Merlin and gave the other two to one of my professors. Then I found a litter of 5- Gary, Loki, Angel, Lil, and Merla. I never found homes for them even though I looked. Angel and Loki did get a home but I took them back b/c the people lost them and it was a mess finding them.

So now I have 10! Then one morning on the way to work I go outside and hear mewing from one of the cat carriers I left on the porch for strays to sleep in. I look in and there are 3 newborn kittens. I think they were only a few hours old. One is dead but the other two are moving around. One of the two died that night, but the other one, Bebe, made it and was hand raised.

Then a few months later I went out to my car and heard a kitten cry. I look around and the neighbor kids have this kitten that is only 3 weeks old. One of them found it somewhere and took it. The poor thing was freaking out and panting really hard. I took him in and gave him some KMR and he settled down. I think he was having heatstroke since it was 100 plus outside. That was my little Moo. The neighbor kids wanted him, but I kept him b/c they didn't take care of their other cats.

A month later I was walking down the street at night and saw 3 kittens by the road. They were about 8 weeks old, covered in fleas and the dirtiest kittens you have ever seen. I feed them and bathed them. I figured out by the age and their markings that they are probably Moo's brothers and sister, the kids just didn't find them. Those cats with the dirty noses were Junior, Tux, and Ruth. I tried to take them to a shelter so they could get a home. I got to the parking lot of the shelter and they were crying and carrying on and I started crying and everyone was crying so I brought them back home! I couldn't do it.

Then there was Eve......she was the neighbor's cat but they didn't take care of her. She slept in the carriers on the porch and ate the food I put out for the stray cats. She would actually hide when she heard her owners. She would run and duck in the carrier if she heard them coming. She came inside one day and wouldn't leave. I would put her out and she would sit by the door for hours until I opened it and she would run back in. So I gave up and her she is.

While I was trapping stray cats to get fixed I trapped 3 8-10 week old kittens- Fuzzy, Softy, and Stripe. I couldn't put them back on the street b/c they were young enough to tame. I kept them, but I would like to find them a home if I can.

If you add that up it equals 19, but Bebe lives with a friend now so that makes 18.

posted 01-24-2004 11:29 PM         

That is so AWESOME! I loved your story and I agree, you are a very big hearted person to take in so many and make sure they have homes with you and with other people you've found homes for. There should be more people like you in this world!

I say the more the merrier :-) It sure is nice watching kittens grow up. I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Thanks for sharing :-)

posted 01-25-2004 10:58 AM         

If it's any comfort to you Fleafly, I would love to have 18 cats, two dogs, heck, add a few horses in there and some chickens a couple of cows, maybe a few goats and some pigs and some bunnies and turtles and .....Well, basically, I would like to have a big ranch someday. Anyway, Fleafly I think you're a wonderful person with a big heart. Thank you for sharing your story.

posted 01-26-2004 09:39 PM         

It was kind of funny that I went for a hanster and left with a cat. My boyfriend at the time was like this is the coolest cat ever you have to get him. Milo was the only good thing that came out of that relationship! I wasn't allowed to have cats but I hid him for 4 months and the mommy and 7 babies for 1 month.

It was kind of funny in the car with them crying and me crying. They were reaching through the bars on the carrier looking as pathetic as possible. I figured when you already have 13 whats 3 more?!