Mama Cat Rules

Juliette with her three babies: yellow/white #1 (now named Marmalade or M&M for short), Whitish #2 and tortoiseshell #3 (named Angel and Rose by their new human momma)

For June 1, 2022

Mama cats are patient souls. Watching a vibrant calico deliver and mother her litter of three has been both eye-opening and amusing. She was a stray I named Juliette. I anticipated having to participate more in the whole process.

Seemingly out of the blue this stray I’d been feeding for about three months began a do-si-do around my ankles as I poured food in the outdoor bowl. She was just buttering me up. I debated as to whether or not I’d ever let her in to keep my tabby Scooter company. I decided she would be his outdoor pal. Scooter and I had a routine and a third party would seem an intrusion.

Then Mother Nature sent a frigid snap. Seeing Juliette at the door at feeding time melted my heart, so I let her in. For a stray she caught on to the litter box without mishap, either due to my half-a-dozen trips to it with her or to a secret life she left behind.

Not many days later I realized why all those other cats had hung around during a brief spell before her move indoors. She and I both began the search for a suitable labor room. We definitely disagreed on the closets and cabinets that she routinely entered and opened. I picked a spot and created a cat condo out of plastic bins that seemed to suit her, and found her there after #1 and #2 had already arrived.

#3 is still here. His siblings moved to a cat-friendly home last week. Whew. Helping Juliette with weaning and litter box training was exhausting. I understand why she is such a vocal feline. I bet she was repeating herself a lot!

Scooter isn’t hiding so much now. Routine has almost returned, with modifications. He seems to like his two new pals.