Since my last post, but a few hours ago, there have been several new developements. First of all, thanks for all of you that prayed... God was good to us. The momma cat returned (despite the fright she received two nights ago from my shrieking roommates) and climbed down the stairs proceeding to retrieve kitten number 1. 
I wasn't using a flash on my camera for fear that the momma kitten would be scared and run off leaving kitten 1 on the stairs. Now what? Kitten 2 was out of the hole behind our shower and was now wandering around and crying IN the shower.
This one was considerable nicer than the first one and I caught it easily with a potholder (just in case it was diseased and scratching). Then I proceeded to carry it upstairs to the balcony. We brought the tuna up and it ate a little in between howling. Finally, I saw a shadow move out of the corner of my eye. It was the momma cat, back for Kitten 2. It was here that we discoved why Kitten 2 fell down the hole. Kitten 2 is a rebellious kitten... Despite the whining, Kitten 2 (whom one of my fellow teamates suggested we name Draino) wanted nothing to do with Momma Cat. Kitten 2 ran into the house! What? NO! Not there! So I ran in and did the only thing I could... I grabbed Kitten 2 and put it back outside. Momma Cat was eating the tuna. Then, does Kitten 2 run to missing mom with glee? No, where did it go... back into the house... there was a hole in the screen. Catching Kitten 2 (again!) we returned him to the balcony. Firmly standing in front of the hole in the screen, my housemate chased Kitten 2 back towards Momma Cat, who by this time had finished the tuna. After she picked up the kitten in her mouth, it was a simple leap and a bound over the wall and off to wherever they live. Ahh... no more kittens... at least until one of them falls down the hole again.
6 comments:
Praying for a great solution, but being a cat lover and knowing cats pretty intimately, don't be surprised if the Momcat and babies return. Once fed, they think that is their home. If you can keep them, please don't feed them tuna. It is the worst for cats. Yeah, catfood with tuna is probably an exception, but regular people grade tuna can cause crystals to form in their urinary tract, blockages, resulting in urinary tract infection (UTI), much pain, and even death.
Loved the pics of the cute little creeters anyway.
God's blessings!
A fellow All Souls-er
Hey there! Thanks for the tips... we certainly can't keep them, no matter what... and they don't keep cats as pets here so there isn't any catfood. I have never owned cats...we were just happy to find something that got them out of the hole! Blessings!
I didn't think you could keep them, especially since you are coming home soon. :-)
No cats as pets. Wonder how they ended up over there. Makes me sad for the kitties but if they don't know any differently.....
I'm glad you found a solution to get them out of the hole anyway. We did the same (using tuna as bait) to rescue a cat from the top of a power pole.
Blessings! Stay safe and healthy.
Glad the critters are in their appropriate place again..at least, for the nonce. Like anonymous mentioned, once having eaten in a place, it looks like home to them. There is sound basis for the "plot" in that old folksong about the Cat came Back the very next day......now, one tactic that works VERY well in training cats to behave (yes, they CAN be trained...) is to get a squirt gun or spritz bottle (nozzle turned for stream, not spray) and very faithfully blast them with water whenever they transgress the determined limits..such as attempting to enter the house. The rebellious one might suffer half a dozen solid squirts before HE wises up...typically two, maybe three times suffices. For some adult cats particularly self-centred and stubborn, a Super Soaker, pumped up hard, will need to be employed....mainly because of the great range they have. Yes, we HAVE been given the Dominion Mandate...not all creatures are best let to do/go as they please. Interesting that cats are not kept as pets there....maybe they're read Kipling's hilarious tale of The Cat who Walked by His Lone..and taken it to heart. (it's in his Just So Stories......)
Yes, the possible return of kitties is a concern. We blocked off the little hole so that the kittens would be more easily caught, should any try falling down from the roof again. But none have tried entering that way, or any other way...yet... Most of the time, the cats stay on various roofs,walls, etc. We don't have a squirt gun... I think we have an AK and a pellet gun... but maybe we should invest in something milder. But for starts we are just praying that we don't have any problems at all.
Glad to know that the kitties are safe with their mommy. Fun adventure though, despite all the yowling!
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