Boered says: My Jinxie has some new stepsiblings. When I recently went on a spay/neuter mini-marathon, taking five of my ten semiferal barn cats to be fixed, I couldn't take Fat Kitty or her big sister Samantha because they were already pregnant. While I was busy tending to some new foster puppies, Fat Kitty gave birth to one black-and-white boy, one tabby boy, and one tabby girl. A few days later, Samantha gave birth to one white boy. It amazes me how a dark tortoiseshell cat can have a all-white baby! Samantha and Fat Kitty raised the kittens together from the start, taking turns nursing and caring for them. I planned to spay Fat Kitty and Samantha as soon as the kittens were weaned.

Every afternoon, my little neighbor Gina and her sisters come over to my house. Gina usually plays with the cats while her older sisters help me feed the goats. When Gina found out that I was planning on taking the kittens to the Humane Society where they would have a chance to be adopted, she was heartbroken. Her mother had already said that she couldn’t have a new cat, but Gina told me that she would take one anyway… she’d just have to leave it here at my house all the time. I tried to explain to her that wouldn’t actually be very helpful.

When the day came, I called the Humane Society and told the woman who answered that I was going to bring in four kittens. I asked her what was their chance of getting adopted. She said, “Very good, we only have two kittens in the shelter right now.” So I loaded up the kittens and off I went. I hated every second of the drive there. The poor little things were crying and crying. I kept telling myself that they would have a better life with someone else. Oh, I’d always make sure they had food and water and a warm place to sleep, but if they stayed with me, they’d essentially just be barn cats and they wouldn’t get all the attention and affection they need. So I didn’t waver and kept on going.

When I walked into the shelter, there was only a man there. He said that the woman had stepped out for a minute but he could fill out the release form for me to sign and take the kittens. I don’t know why, but something made me ask, “What are the chances that the kittens will be put to sleep?” Without hesitating, he replied “100%.” What?!! I said, "I thought you were the Humane Society!" Then he told me that they are actually just the county animal control shelter. The Humane Society does not have an office in our county, but they occasionally come in to help out and take a few of the animals that they are certain they can find homes for.

I still couldn’t believe it, so I asked again: “You’ll definitely put them to sleep?” And he told me, yes, more than likely he would. So I scooped up the cat carrier, filled with my little kittens, and told him that I wasn’t going to leave them there. Call me silly, but I had tears in my eyes while I was telling him this. I couldn’t help it. I could not be that heartless and just turn the kittens in just to be killed. The man looked at me like I was a bit nuts and said, “Don’t get mad at me, I’m just being honest with you.” I told him that I wasn’t mad at him, I was just surprised because the woman had told me that they’d get adopted, and all I wanted was for the kittens to find good homes. The man softened up and told me that he doesn’t like his job (he’s actually the one who does the euthanizing), but people are constantly bringing in tons of unwanted dogs and cats and the shelter just does not have room to keep them all. He said that last month alone he had put to sleep over 300 dogs and cats. More than 300! In just a month! And that’s just in this county, which is probably the smallest county in our state. And of all the people that walked into the shelter last month, he said only two actually adopted an animal.

So I took my cat carrier, with my little funny kittens, and walked back out of the shelter. On my way I passed the two kittens in a cage, and then about 20 dogs, all wagging their tails ferociously and barking at me. I sat the carrier down and stuck my fingers through the bars of each kennel. Every dog kissed my fingers and looked up at me so longingly. Then I said a little prayer that somehow, some way, each of them would find a good home, and then I took my kittens back home.

The next time Gina came over, she was surprised to see the kittens since she knew I planned on taking them to the shelter. She was so happy to find out that I didn’t leave them there, especially when I explained why. So I guess the kittens will be staying with me forever (unless I can talk her mother into taking one!). With Gina around, it looks like my kittens won't be just barn cats -- they'll get a lot of love and affection after all. Oh, and I think Jinxie likes to have the kittens around. He finally has someone smaller than himself to pick on.

All Photos Courtesy of and ©: Boered

Comments and LOLs:
Sandi -
Such a sad story, so glad you kept them !! I love them all !!!
Natthecat -
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Natthecat
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Live and learn--the guy in the "shelter" was just telling you the truth about his job. Glad you asked the questions and acted promptly. Hope you then spayed the mommas.
Natthecat -
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Natthecat
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The white kitten with crossed eyes is especially cute--something Siamese going on there?
elly -
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elly
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Such a lot of little wee darlings....
elly -
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elly
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A bunch of kitties !
LindaG -
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LindaG
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So, so cute.
TigerPJ -
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TigerPJ
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Beautiful babies who you gave a second chance. Thank you and bless you for your compassion. The woman you spoke with by phone was 'not' being completely honest - I am so glad you asked the man at the facility who told you what really happens. In my opinion killing innocent animals is beyond abhorrent.
TigerPJ -
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TigerPJ
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Beautiful picture.:o)
Golfergirl55 -
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Golfergirl55
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GORGEOUS!!!!!!
A Walkaway -
Animal Control officers in this hellhole have said (several officers at different times) that both the Humane Society and SPCA take surreptitious loads of kitties to the pound to be 'put down'. That way they can bring in more kitties and more donations. We have a drop-off mother and five kittens we need to find homes for right now (we have too many cats of our own because of what we learned - all fixed and we do our best for them) and don't know who to trust or where to find help.

The 'comfortable' in this county have this horrible habit of taking a kitten into their family (usually for their little girl), but not getting it fixed - and then when it gets pregnant, dropping it off in some poorer rural or semi-rural neighborhood "because those suckers will take care of it" - making life harder for everyone concerned (especially the terrified little kitty). They seem to target my wife and I, maybe because we're known as cat lovers (not the norm here).

Life would be better for everyone if people would start thinking about their kitties' needs and not just their own personal desires/greed - and get them fixed (and commit to taking care of them for the rest of their lives)!
mouser -
PLEASE PLEASE think before picking up that darling little ball of fur! They are not disposable!!

Love the back story - tears and all!!
judymack812 -
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judymack812
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This story started out very sad but thanks to your loving heart it had a happy ending! Thank you for caring. Being a barn cat that is cared for and giving shelter during bad weather is better than being a dead cat. God bless you.
Carolynn -
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Carolynn
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This is the Cutest picture ever !! Beautiful Kitties - Thank you for sharing*
Carolynn -
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Carolynn
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jezebel1490 -
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jezebel1490
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That is so heartbreaking. Thank you for not turning your back
JayPea -
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JayPea
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This is me at that age - I loved my barn kitties dearly! And I love my kitties dearly now, can't wait to retire and be a crazy cat lady!
lisaboese -
lisaboese
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Oh my goodness, thank God you were able to save these little darlings!!! You are an angel!!
lisaboese -
lisaboese
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Love the picture of your little neighbor with all four kitties!!!
lisaboese -
lisaboese
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Also love the picture of the mama cat teaching her kitten how to scratch at a tree!!
ln -
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ln
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thank you for having a heart and not leaving the kittens. I am always amazed that people do not know that when they take animals to the "shelter" be they kittens, puppies adult dogs or cats, they are very likely signing a death warrant for that animal. Now these kittens will have a life.
shana0809 -
shana0809
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Little balls of fluff
IvyGirl -
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IvyGirl
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I am so glad you didn't leave them there! I know I couldn't have either. Very grateful that man was honest with you.



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