A Little Story...

A couple of months ago a beautiful (not as beautiful as me) little tabby and white cat appeared in Meowmie J's street, she was such a friendly little thing, flirting with all that passed her by, headbutting complete strangers and then trotting along the path after them as they went on their way. She was so young too, small and fluffy like a 6-month kitten.

The pretty little cat then started hanging around Meowmie J's home alot, which was very brave of her as the person who lives above Meowmie J has a HUGE tom-cat called Thomas who fights with everything (successfully) and fiercely stands guard over his domain - which happens to be Meowmie J's garden! However, Thomas didn't seem to mind this little cat, he tolerated her being in the garden and never attacked her or hissed at her. Meowmie J and Meowmie L noticed that Thomas and the little cat looked very similar - both have extremely wide faces and both are tabby coloured with white patches. On the assumption that Thomas may be her father, the little cat became known as Thomasina (aren't my Beans original eh?).

Thomas watches Thomasina playing on his fence

Meowmie J tried not to encourage Thomasina as she is allergic to cats - and if she was going to have any cats in her house they would be me and Castle. However, from time to time Thomasina made a running gallop between Meowmie J's legs into the house as she let herself in and out, and would explore the house from top to bottom, seeking out cosy spaces. Meowmie J was sensible though and would put Thomasina outside again.

About a week ago Thomasina was pretty much spending most of her days hanging around Meowmie J's garden and the two neighbouring gardens, she even made herself a little den in a thorn bush to sleep in. The Meowmies were wondering what to do as she seemed homeless, but Meowmie L noticed that Thomasina appeared healthy, quite fat and nice and clean, so made the assumption that Thomasina must have a home somewhere nearby. Meowmie L told Meowmie J to just enjoy the visits and not to worry about her as she seemed pretty healthy and well fed.

Last night, Meowmie J returned home from work and was chatting away to her neighbour (Thomas the Tomcat's owner) when they heard meowing sounds coming from the bush in the garden. They both smiled and joked that it was Thomasina settling in for the night and carried on chatting. Then again, more meowing, this time a little louder. Meowmie J called out for Thomasina but she didn't come out of the bush! Oh no! Meowmie J become very concerned, Thomasina must be hurt, so she grabbed a torch and went over to the bush. Thomasina was lying on her side in a weird position, wide-eyed and confused, licking herself down by her rear legs!!! Maybe she had been knocked over by a car or something...but then Meowmie J heard some small squeaky sounds and Thomasina moved over to the side slightly and there was two kittens wriggling around underneath her!!!

What to do!? Meowmie L was summoned to help and so headed straight over (who can resist the lure of kittens eh?). Meowmie L didn't know what to do so called lovely Ben Vet to seek some advice, he said that they should make sure she had finished given birth, that she was comfy and safe with access to food then call the RSPCA to collect her and the babies if she was a stray.

Before any calls were made to rescue centres they decided to check with all the neighbours in the street to see if Thomasina lived nearby or whether she was indeed a stray. Thomas the Tomcat's mum headed in one direction and Meowmie J headed in the other whilst Meowmie L stood guard over Thomasina and her kittens. By now it was 8.30pm and dark and there was 3 tom-cats circling the garden and there was also the risk of foxes finding them! Thomas the Tomcat was also loitering around and seemed very curious as to what was going on in the Thorn Bush...Meowmie L sat by Thomasina and spoke softly to her, Thomasina mewled back and was licking herself in her Private Area and then another little kitten popped out! THREE kittens! Two tabby/white mixes and the last one being a little black kitten.

By now a few neighbours had gathered to see what was going on, they all knew Thomasina as she had also been visiting them too over the past few months! What a little flirt! Everyone had their own name for her....Baby, Little Lady, Fluffy...but it was looking bleak as no one could take her in because they already had cats or dogs or were allergic or in Meowmie L's case she couldn't risk bringing them into the house in case they had viruses cos of my weakened immune system. It seemed that the beautiful Thomasina and her babies were destined for the rescue centre...NO!

But then Meowmie J came skipping down the road - they had FOUND the owner!!! They lived 10 houses away. Thomasina wasn't a stray at all! The owner was so pleased we had found her and said she had been worrying all day as she hadn't seen her. The owner said that Thomasina was actually called China and was THREE years old and that this was her FOURTH litter! Everyone thought Thomasina/China was a kitten of 6 months she was so small! Weirder still, it turns out that little Thomasina's mum is a Maine Coon which is a HUGE cat!

The owner placed the three kittens in a box and then picked up Thomasina - and immediately said "Oh, I think she has some more kittens inside her - she still has hard lumps at her side". Thomasina struggled a little and the owner immediately placed her in the box with the kittens and took her home to monitor her, stating that she would take her to the 24hr Emergency Vet place once Thomasina had finished popping out kittens.

We don't really know why Thomasina adopted Meowmie J, and it now seems clear that the den she made in the bramble bush in the garden was to be her birthing nest - the only thing we can think of is something the owner said, she mentioned that she had a dog and we can only imagine that Thomasina didn't want to have the kittens anywhere near the dog. Or maybe Thomas the Tomcat was to blame for Thomasina's persistent presence in the garden...

So...as I write we have no idea how many kittens Thomasina gave birth to, but we hope to stop in at the weekend to visit Meowmie J's neighbour and see the new mother and her babies! The Meowmies had never seen kittens being born and they said it was very emotional and amazing to see new little lives entering the world...Welcome to the world little Baby Thomasinas - I finks you have many fans in the neighbourhhod now :)