D.O.P.-T.

[weofodthignen]

Mama Violet was most insistent about getting fed a lunch today. First I had to bring in the weekly box of vegetarian dinners that was sitting on the porch, and she looked as if she was about to follow me in and find the kitty food herself. I wonder sometimes what mail carriers and other delivery people think about the tiny, ferocious cat who hangs out on our porch. I also saw a tail whisking out of sight under the car. When I brought the food out to her, the tail was there again, so I looked under the car when I went out the side door to put the can in the recycling. A little later, after she'd polished off her food, I collected the empty water bowl; when I came back and put down the full bowl, she emerged again and swiped my pants leg. So I looked through the front window and saw a thing.



There are six, in various colors; two are visible in that photo, and Mom is in the foreground under the chairs. They were coming out from under the car and must be hiding in the bushes on the other side.

So when we went to Petco to buy dogfood, we also got kitten kibble. And the largest stable-bottomed pet food bowl I could find.

I mixed another can of food into the dry food and put the large bowl under the chairs on the porch. First Mama Violet came out and stuffed her face. Later I saw three kittens eating while she stood guard in front of the front door, where she could see the steps. I hope all of them got to eat.



Three kittens eating, Mama lying watchfully nearby.




Close-up of devouring.


Getting the dog out and back for walkies was a challenge. We've been using the side door, but she saw one of the kittens near the front of the car and tried to lunge at it, then when we passed the porch the ginger was still eating and leapt up into a tree like a tiger.

A while after we got back, I watered in the front yard, including on the porch, and beside the driveway. Mama Violet watched me smolderingly from under the car. I put out her dinner and topped up the kitten kibble. Later I saw the grey kitten standing in Mom's food bowl, polishing it. Then playing with the spiderplant stalks.

Comments

[ravan]

Do you need to borrow a trap for TNR?

[weofodthignen]

I think putting out a trap would cause Mama Violet to remove them from this street, and she must have been getting food from other sources sometimes (in addition to rats). In any case the pandemic has probably stopped the usual rescue networks from operating and would make getting them to a vet really hard. Plus I doubt that trap at your place is operable. The housemate hopes the kittens will come to trust people enough to start getting helped or even adopted up and down the street; like Ms Bella obviously has been. People come and go and there are now two houses sharing Mr Orange (who may be the dad). Part of the problem with me must be that I smell of dog (and walk a dog daily).