How Many Kittens Does It Take to Change a Light-bulb?

Answer: it doesn’t matter; they keep coming regardless.

Apparently, there are more kittens in the feral colony behind my work-place. I am told that there were three, a black and white or grey, and two grey tabbies. Now, there is one. I caught two last night.

They are from different litters. The black and white kitten, whom I’ve named Doodle, appears to be five weeks old; the tabby, now called Sketch, seven or eight weeks. The contrasting ages is not encouraging to me, since it may mean there are still more. However, after some investigation, I’ve learned that three new ones are all that has been sighted. In any case, we faced a bit of a dilemma of what to do about the new pair, since the two groups who took the last batches - the staff of the charity next door took the first, and a rescue organisation took the second - are unable to help this time.

But good people are often found when needed. My colleague, who feeds the feral colony, and is my chief source of intelligence on it, volunteered to take in the newly-trapped kittens. He had four for whom he was caring, but I was able to arrange their transport to an adoption centre up north. Really, rescue work is a cross between complicated business deals and medieval alliances.

One more kitten - of whom I know - remains to be captured. But what of their mothers, neither of which is Beulah, Adah’s elusive parent? There are still numerous cats to trap and sterilise, so the operation continues. Your good wishes would be appreciated and, if you have influence with those who create favourable conditions, another couple nights of double-captures would not be scorned. Just a word in your ear.