I'm thrilled!!

Orion, the neighborhood feral who was spayed in Nov 2024 through Casper's Legacy, a local Trap-Neuter-Release agency, has been living in my kitchen for the last three months. The kitchen door is open but she doesn't venture out.

I'm not allowed to touch her, she scurries away if I get too close. "Too close" has narrowed considerably, it was a big step when she began licking yogurt off my finger. I never scold her.

Tonight while I was preparing my dinner, she rubbed against my legs. The first time she touched me. I'm thrilled!

Some day I will be able to pet her and, hopefully, comb that luscious fur. In the meantime, I follow her lead. I don't and won't try to touch her until she's ready. Rubbing against my legs is a good sign, she'll let me know when she's ready. I can wait.

#cat #CatsOfMastodon #TNR #feral #photography

Orion was a neighborhood feral I'd fed daily for months. After six months I realized how much I'd miss her if she didn't show up and took responsibility for her. Through a local non-profit Trap-Neuter-Release agency, she was neutered, vaccinated, and flea-treated. Our relationship began.

I was uncertain if she'd adapt to indoor living and was resigned to resuming our "old" relationship if necessary.

At this time last year she was hiding in the back of a small drawer most of the time. She was frightened, I couldn't touch her.

We built our relationship at her pace. I never tried to grab her. It took months before she initiated contact, longer before I could pet her, and look at her now, cuddling on my lap!

Silly kitty's favorite food: raw kale. She asks for it, steals it, jumps into the fridge to nab it, and prefers it over cheese.

Although she's still timid, she's also affectionate, playful, and delightful!

I'm glad she came to live with us.

#cat #CatsofMastodon #TNR #caturday #photography

Fierce Mama cat, spayed backyard feral, seen through window with condensation, Vallejo CA

I observed this cat through two pregnancies before she was trapped so she could be spayed. Is she fierce! She doesn't like male cats, even neutered ones, goes after them.

Once her offspring were old enough to eat on their own, she was equally fierce with them, slapping them away, pulling her ears back, and growling at them to the point that they're afraid of her. Are they confused!

There's no telling how many litters she's had in her lifetime, she's had a hard life but comes to me for petting as well as the few bites of food I feed the ferals daily. It's not enough to sustain them because they have jobs to do.

Yay, TNR! Thanks, Caspar's Legacy.

#Caturday #photography #TNR

Fierce Mama cat, spayed backyard feral, seen through window with condensation, Vallejo CA

I observed this cat through two pregnancies before she was trapped so she could be spayed. Is she fierce! She doesn't like male cats, even neutered ones, goes after them.

Once her offspring were old enough to eat on their own, she was equally fierce with them, slapping them away, pulling her ears back, and growling at them to the point that they're afraid of her. Are they confused!

There's no telling how many litters she's had in her lifetime, she's had a hard life but comes to me for petting as well as the few bites of food I feed the ferals daily. It's not enough to sustain them because they have jobs to do.

Yay, TNR! Thanks, Caspar's Legacy.

#Caturday #photography #TNR