Sunday, May 6, 2018

Success



It was long odds, to say the least.

I was representing the PAW Society in the efforts to trap Adah’s mother. She had had one litter (hopefully, just the one) for whom she was too young to care properly. It would not be long until she was pregnant again. We wanted to catch her, and give her permanent respite from such a fate. The early mornings and early evenings were the best times. Each day, I set the trap, and today was no different. I bicycled out to my work-place (not really something I like to do on a day off) four times to check on the situation; we couldn’t leave a cat in the trap too long – assuming we caught anyone. But three times, I saw an empty trap - a discouraging sight in such a case.


About 7.30, I rode out again. As I approached, I could see the trap had been sprung. Who had we caught? I asked myself. The feral colony behind my work-place was subjected to a trapping operation some time before, and most of the cats there are fixed. The unhappy cat in the cage could be one of those: a wasted effort, from our perspective. It could be one of the fewer cats who needed fixing; that would be a small chance, but possible. The notion that it would be Adah’s mum was unlikely.


There she was: Adah’s mother. Displeased and frightened, but on the verge of a better life. We have named her Rebecca. In the Bible, Rebecca was the mother of Jacob and Esau. In our more complicated situation, Rebbeca is the mother of Seraph and Jacob, alas passed away, and of Adah, formerly Esau. If Jacob had survived, and Adah had remained male, Rebecca’s name would have been more fitting. But, all things considered, and all obstacles considered, I think things have worked out rather well.


Rebecca will be spending some time calming down in the home of an experienced fellow PAW member. A veterinary appointment will be made, though that may yet be a few days. But this little cat is now safe; she will eat, she will sleep, little dreaming how her life has just improved.

13 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you were able to catch Rebecca. What a gorgeous cat! Her life will certainly improve once she's been spayed. You worked so hard to help Rebecca and Esau. You deserve so much credit, John.

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  2. That was literally one good catch, bravo!

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  3. OH! It was made to happen! Bless you for going and checking the trap on a day off. But most of all for being a part of the PAW Society and Rescue. The tiny family names are appropriate and they have meaning- just as their lives have meaning. All life has meaning. I will stop before I write a blog here. :-)

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  4. Oh, she's beautiful! It's fantastic you got her; hurrah! Is she truly feral--will she be released at the same location or is there a chance she can be socialized and eventually adopted out? Either way, her life has just improved immeasurably. Well done to all!

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  5. Oh, I'm so relieved--I've been wondering what was going on with the mom. Thank you for all your efforts to catch her!

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  6. That is very good news. She will indeed have a much better life now, thanks to you.

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  7. Answered prayers! You’ve done a splendid job saving this little family from further suffering. There has to be special blessings for people like you.

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  8. YAY!!! fortunately, the frustration of trapping is always made up for by the actual catching part

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  9. wavez two ewe rebecca frum de land oh trout....trust uz when uz catz say; thiz iz de start oh a WAY better life for ewe.....trooth ~~~~~~

    catfather...984 pawz UP two yur dad N two everee one whooz helpin Adahz mom..may ewe all bee blessed ~~ all wayz ♥♥♥

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  10. What a pretty girl. She must have been so frightened living on the streets.

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  11. Thank goodness for you John! I sure hope Rebecca settle down and her surgery goes well. Do you suppose there is any chance she can be tamed and find a permanent home where she will be safe? As others have said, she sure is a pretty girl.

    Eileen

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  12. I am so happy!!! For both you and Rebecca. She is so fortunate to be on her way to a better life thanks to you. I can only imagine how pleased you must have been to find Rebecca safe in the cage. She is young so might even come around with time and love to be a house cat.

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  13. TNR is an inexact science, but oh, the pay off is HUGE! Yay for trapping Rebecca!

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