Another Summer, Another Litter

October 10, 2009

cordovaraven says: I've already introduced a litter of feral kittens that were born two years ago behind my apartment complex in Cordova, Alaska. The mother cat had five more kittens this summer, and when we first saw them playing near the office, the manager grabbed the butterfly net and took off after them. We eventually caught all but one of them. One found a home in Anchorage, three had to be euthanized, and one is still with the mother, along with some of her offspring from previous years. The orange cat hissing at the camera is Ranger, the orange brother from two years ago. He is partly domesticated but still hangs out with his mother and helps care for the new litters. Jazz, a male kitten from last year (not pictured), would even allow the new kittens to suck on his belly as if he was the mother. He still takes care of the one that stayed outside. Truly amazing to watch all this and only wish we could do more to find homes for them.

The problem we're having here and in other towns and cities I've heard about needs to be talked about. After a couple times of this one wonders about the moral and emotional effects it has on you. It's a dilemma that brings some satisfaction when one is saved but always brings heartbreak. We have tried to open dialogue so that it becomes a community responsibility. There are so many feral cats in town that it's impossible to find homes for all their kittens. One can see ads on the scanner and people with boxes of kittens on main street during the summer, but some people are nervous about adopting wild cats. We have found that these kittens grow into amazing friends with a little time and compassion.

All Photos Courtesy of and ©: Mark Hoover

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Ranger, the big orange brother

Comments and LOLs:

Kephara - 14 years, 7 months ago

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289 points

What amazingly wondrous little dudes! I'd like to take them all home!

anonymous - 14 years, 7 months ago

Great points Mark. Feral/Semi-feral kittens that are socialized while young, will turn around and be great companion kitties-the more contact they have with people at a young age, the better. For older kittens 10 weeks+ or truly feral kitties, TNR programs done as a community effort are highly effective. Trap/Neuter/Return information: http://www.alleycat.org/

Michelle Peters Spivack - 14 years, 7 months ago

Adorable pictures.

Becky P - 14 years, 7 months ago

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tTIS BEAUTIFUL ONE REMINDS ME A LITTLE OF MY CAT SQUIRT (AKA MIDGET)! THIS PIS IS SUPER CUTE!

emma - 14 years, 7 months ago

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this story is really sad; there are many places where this situation exists and it breaks your heart. Wonderful photo, by the way.

Natthecat - 14 years, 7 months ago

∞ points

I strongly agree with anonymous above. Get out that butterfly net for the moms and dads and alter the kitties too if you can at the appropriate time. The trouble is, once kitty is here, how can you not love it?

JayPea - 14 years, 7 months ago

234 points

Ranger, at least, looks well-fed!:):) You must be taking good care of these wild kitties.

BirmanMama - 14 years, 7 months ago

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951 points

Gorgeous baby! I agree this must be heartbreaking for you. With all the effort you put into these babies to have them euthanized is tragic. TNR is the way to go, but as you say it must be a community effort. Absolutely stunning photos. Thank you for all you do.

BeautifulBoysMom - 14 years, 7 months ago

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35 points

World's sweetest kitten photo. Looks like this little tike has a lot of Maine Coon in him...very much reminds me of my little guy, Rudy, as a baby except for the gorgeous slate blue eyes (which are even more beautiful than my baby's hazel eyes). If I had found this little ferral one I could not have resisted inviting him into my life!! This is the best aaahhh photo I've ever seen.

muffinmanstalker - 14 years, 7 months ago

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9 points

ALOBARBEAR - 14 years, 7 months ago

2 points

I heartily agree with anonymopus!!!
The best answer today for cutting the feral cat problem is TNR. That is trap, neuter , release. all cats and kittens must be neutered before re-release. Finding homes for them is great, but when that is impossible, releasing them back into their original invironment
will at least prevent reproduction.

BeautifulBoysMom - 14 years, 7 months ago

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35 points

Shelley - 14 years, 7 months ago

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455 points

A beautiful little bundle of love.

LikeRain - 14 years, 7 months ago

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16 points

CatPhotographer - 14 years, 7 months ago

43 points

Hey I'm in Greenville South Carolina and we have the same problem. I took it upon myself to buy traps (humane) and started trapping. I took everyone and got them spayed and nuetered. Most of the males have had FIV and had to be put to sleep :( but the females and the kittens came home with me to socialize. We apoted out one litter but I kept two and my neighbors kept three. I can now pick up almost all of the Females who were true ferals. I had to have one kitten put to sleep because of a defect. If you can find a clinic like I did they charged me 40.00 each. You need to get the momma fixed before January Febuary when she goes in heat again. I have watched my females play and just be happy cats and not have to worry about feeding kittens and finding hiding places, they are all so happy and that makes me happy. I wish I could help you but that is alittle far. If the other kitten is female she needs to be fixed as soon as possible too. It always breaks my heart to see those littke kittens run when you walk towards them. They shouldn't have to live like that. I wish all kitties had a happy home like my 17 do.

CatPhotographer - 14 years, 7 months ago

43 points

Sometimes re-release is not possible when the place they are at is going to be torn down and it was thier only shelter and they would all be put to sleep. I have one that is 3 years old living in my house with her 5 kittens. She comes up to me and I can hold her. All my 1 1/2 year olds I can pick up and hold. We need more places Kittyville in Utah. Some where for all cats and kittens who don't have a forever home will have a safe warm dry place to live without being frightened. I did TNR then went back and re-traped and brought them all home and they are all much happier now.

Reds - 14 years, 7 months ago

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23 points

This "IS" my Halloween custome!!!

Uncle Joe - 14 years, 7 months ago

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Certainly a ferocious predator!

demiller - 14 years, 7 months ago

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295 points

Jaimi - 14 years, 7 months ago

I agree...I have gotten homes for so many kittens and have trapped the mamas to get them spayed. That is the only solution! Best be with you.

BooksandCats - 14 years, 7 months ago

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502 points

Agree! Here in Miami, we share the same problem. Groups like the Humane Society and Cat Network have worked hard to reduce the feral population so these beautiful babies never have to be homeless. And for the record, my entire family has adopted rescues, and they are the best kitties (kittehs?) ever!

vicgag - 14 years, 7 months ago

171 points

Roger's hissing made him cross-eyed

Stacy - 14 years, 7 months ago

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4 points

Kathy223 - 14 years, 7 months ago

18 points

We have a little cat who had 3 litters before we were able to catch her and have her spayed. We found homes for as many of the kittens as possible (we took in one ourselves) I wish I could say we saved them all but we did the best we could. The Mama cat is still out there - we can pet her but she's afraid to come inside for more than a few minutes. At least she's well fed and we have a little house with straw in it on our deck so she has shelter. We also have a male out there who is neutered.

wokkawokka - 14 years, 7 months ago

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229 points

Kiki - 14 years, 7 months ago

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9 points

Kiki - 14 years, 7 months ago

9 points

What a great Halloween picture.

What's needed most is a spay & neuter program for any cat that can be caught and not euthanized.

harrdawg - 14 years, 7 months ago

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23 points

this cat is so not deserving to be a kitten of the day!

quicktater - 14 years, 7 months ago

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20 points

Very beautiful kitten.

CatPhotographer - 14 years, 7 months ago

43 points

harrdawg every cat is deserving. the cat that makes the most noise hissing is generaly the most afarid. He can't help that he was born in the wild and never knew love.

smokey demon - 14 years, 7 months ago

Alley Cat Allies does wonderful work with feral cats. Please contact them for information about how you can help.

Gankaku - 14 years, 7 months ago

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52 points

lovezkittys - 14 years, 7 months ago

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162 points

what a sweetie <3

lovezkittys - 14 years, 7 months ago

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162 points

1 word..adorable

lovezkittys - 14 years, 7 months ago

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162 points

he helps care for the new litters, what a sweetie, and yes he is deserving to be on the daily kitten since someone said otherwise. =)

MoreKittens4Me - 14 years, 7 months ago

131 points

It breaks my heart just knowing there are cats and dogs out there scrambling for food (and some attention). And I know how you feel...no matter how much you do, it never seems enough.

It sounds like trap/neuter/release really is the way to go in this town. Talk to some of the vets and see if one or more would be willing to give you a good rate or better yet...free. It'd be a great time to give the cats a set of shots also.

Check with some of the bigger animal rescue groups to see what help you can get. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah is a GREAT resource for all aspects - finding funding, getting the community involved, etc.

MoreKittens4Me - 14 years, 7 months ago

131 points

I just want to say a big THANK YOU for what you are doing and wish you the best of luck.
[If I ever win the lottery, I'll move to Cordova and open a cat sanctuary!]

Matilda - 14 years, 6 months ago

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that is so sad!!!!!! i cant believe they captured the cats, and then let them die! u ppl didnt help them! u killed them! i cant believe this!

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