“[They] would lead her to the food dishes so she knew where the food was” 💗
David and Lisa, the dedicated caretakers of a feral cat colony in North Carolina, were checking on their cats one day when they spotted a new face among the familiar residents. A tiny kitten was darting around, catching their attention.
Initially, it was easy to think the kitten might belong to one of the colony’s adult cats. However, the NC Feral Cat Coalition (NCFCC) had spayed all the female cats in the colony, leading them to realize that this little one hadn’t been born there. Concerned, David and Lisa reached out to NCFCC’s treasurer, Miaja Jurgel, who quickly concluded that the kitten had likely been abandoned. It seemed someone had hoped to do the right thing by leaving her with other cats who could care for her.
Despite not being part of the colony, Jurgel observed that the adult cats had accepted the kitten warmly, treating her as one of their own.
“They led her to the food dishes, showing her where to eat,” Jurgel shared. “She was playing with them, running around and chasing after the adult cats.” During her time with the colony, the kitten formed a strong bond with one of the unneutered male cats, who embraced his role as a caregiver.
“Surprisingly, tomcats can be great surrogate mothers,” Jurgel noted. “I’ve seen this many times in different feral colonies, where kittens will climb over a tomcat lounging on the ground, enjoying their playtime.”
After a week of the colony caring for her, Jurgel managed to trap the kitten and bring her in for fostering. She believed it was essential for the kitten to find a permanent home rather than stay in the colony. From the moment she arrived at Jurgel’s place, the kitten felt at ease.
“The second I touched her, she relaxed completely. She started purring, clearly happy to be petted,” Jurgel recalled. While the colony’s support was invaluable, Jurgel emphasized the importance of finding a new home for any cat that needs to be surrendered or taking them to a shelter. It’s also crucial to ensure that all cats are spayed or neutered.
“I’m glad she ended up in a safe place, but there are better options for surrendering pets,” Jurgel explained.
Once Jurgel finishes fostering her, David, one of the colony’s caretakers, plans to adopt the kitten, naming her Hermione. Though Hermione has found her forever home, she will always remember the caring cats who looked after her in her time of need.