Meet the Symphony Kittens

The local SPCA has a food bank program and once food has been distributed if there is food leftover, feral cat caregivers can get some for their ferals -- this is a great program because in this economy so many people are struggling but don't want to give up their pets.  However, all animals must be sterilized and vaccinated in order to receive food.  The SPCA forwarded information to us about a colony of ferals with a very limited income caregiver and our one of our TNR Task Force Leaders, Marie P, has been working for the past week trapping for TNR at that colony.  There are approximately 15-20 adult cats and about 10-12 kittens.  So far, 7 of the ferals were "fixed" through our Alter an Alley Cat program last week and we hope to get the remaining cats done this week and next week.  8 kittens have been trapped so far (6 black and white kittens and 2 all black kittens) and there are approximately 3 more kittens to catch.  The kittens are approximately 5 weeks old.  Thankfully, there was someone in the area that is willing to foster the kittens and we are ecstatic because we truly had no available foster homes for them.  Two of the household members play for the North Carolina Symphony so we have dubbed the kittens the "Symphony kittens".  No word yet as to if they will be named after famous composers (Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, etc.).

We are also fortunate because the caregiver and friends have been working the area to get donations to help offset the cost of spay/neuter of all the ferals.  We have spayed/neutered and vaccinated 175 cats through our Alter an Alley Cat program this year (that does not include our February spay day).  It's amazing what a small group can do on a very small budget but the Alter an Alley Cat fund is getting dangerously low and we will still need to finish TNR for the colonies we are currently working on and need to have funds for those.

So here are the first pictures of the Symphony kittens. 

New pictures of Fast Food Freddie

The below pictures of Fast Food Freddie were taken last week, how cute is this chubby little guy?!!

Gimme five!!

Update on two of our adopted kitties

We have kept Bennie's name but after much back and forth we arrived at Murray for the former Tygra. He says "murr" when you talk to him. We are so happy with both cats. They are loving and affectionate and full of energy. Our older cat, Sweetie, has adapted well. Murray seems to perk up when he hears a dog barking on TV or the little dog in the yard behind us. Bennie is a busy boy. He likes to stay and be petted but when he decides he has to be elsewhere, off he goes. He's going to be a strong and muscular cat. I can get him to gently take treats from my fingers. It slows him down and lets Sweetie and Murray take their time with theirs. :) I hope you'll come by and see them sometime...I bet Bennie would like to see you again. Thank you again for bringing the boys to us.

Bennie

Murray (formerly Tygra) up front and Bennie in the back