A Tale of Six Kittens Pt. 1: Marshmallow [3]

Michelle says: I volunteer at three local cat rescues in the Bay area, fostering, taking photos, and helping out in any way I can. One of the many litters I have fostered over the years consisted of six adorable kittens: Marshmallow, Strawberry Shortcake, Avalanche, Blueberry Muffin, Rusty, and Peep. They were the result of another sad story about a nonferal cat that hadn't been fixed. People really need to learn more about the benefits of spay/neuter. It reduces the risk of certain kinds of cancer. Even if you have an "indoor-only" cat, it reduces the tendency to want to get out and wander. If done young, it reduces or eliminates spraying. And you won't hear yowling since it won't go into heat.

In this case, a cat had kittens in someone's backyard and one of the volunteers went to the house and grabbed the kittens. Another volunteer went back and trapped, spayed, and released the mom cat. The folks who found them agreed to feed the mom until she found her way home or moved on. The kittens were shy, but not so much -- a surprise given how hissy and protective mom was. I treated them, bottle-fed them for about a week, and taught them to eat wet and dry food and to use the litter box. Marshmallow, a little boy, was the first of the litter to be adopted. I never heard an update from the adoptive family, but he was adopted along with another of my fosters from a different litter to a home that already had a rescued cat in residence. The family was in love with these kittens, and the kittens flopped all over their daughter. Very cute.