Starlight Baby

@Ilovejigidicats Cats and kittens just happen to be my calling ever since moving to the country with only four large dogs after my elderly Persian (found as a kitten in a field by the SPCA) had died in the City. Thought he was the last cat. But ... the first pregnant marmalade in distress showed up. Even after cutting clumps of fur and brushing after feeding her, she was still so matted in sensitive areas. My Vet had to shave her so she could pass her kittens (they were four healthy ones). We kept her and two kittens and the cycle of cats and kittens started again. Having a barn in the country made for so many strays and throwaways of all ages and breeds. Then moving South, there are so many foster needs here .... Guess they all have chosen us over the years. It's the best way to live life seeing them get healthy and grow well. 💕💖💕

@Rosenrot Thank you Leni for the sweet comment. I have to give credit to my parents as animals have always been part of my life. They rescued so many, including the zoo rejects. I still can remember the robin fledgling my mother fed with an eye dropper on the car hood because she insisted he had to travel 800 miles with us (in a birdcage) and other animals on a trip to my grandparents and then he returned with us healthier for release back into our garden.

@Bugster Starlight Baby actually chose the house for the bird feeders, then the opposums food ... the other cats then included Little Girl. After his quarantine period till the first Vet visit, LG and the dogs were his first favorites. Then when the foster kittens started coming, he had his calling.

@AMomentInTime - you are obviously a very kind and loving person. Thank you for all you do for cats 😻😻❤️❤️

@Rosenrot - I agree

DAS FREUT MICH DAS DIESES BABY JETZT IN DEINER FAMILIE LEBT.DU HAST EIN HERZ AM RICHTIGEN PLATZ GRUß LENI.

I'm guessing he saw all your loved babies when they are in the window and how content they are. 💕❤️💕

@sierrasue This was his first picture and shared on Jigidi back in 2021.

@Rosenrot This was the very first picture when Starlight Baby decided it was time to come in and become a housecat. Life was hard outside. Baby stopped near the door and checked out his/her new life.

BABY DU BIST SO SCHÖN UND ES FREUT MICH DAS MAN DIR GEHOLFEN HATT.
TOLLES BILD GRÜSSE LENI.

they are family, indeed. thanks.

@togocat Happy Weekend! My wild ones and throwaways always had a little itty bitty desire to be a family pet that eventually surfaced after time. Gracie Bella, never wild, was surrendered directly to me by her family. She really had a hard time and my Little Girl does not like her yet. It will be two years this June. But it will happen. They are family.

Hi, thanks for your story about Baby. I haven't had quite that experience. But I adopted two cats from a shelter -- supposedly they weren't feral, but they were unsocialized. It's been two years now and they are finally accepting me (but not strangers). It is so rewarding when they finally come out. Thanks again!

@togocat Not sure why he chose us. Maybe it was the water left out for the birds. Bet he ate some suet for awhile, too. But when he made himself known and sought nearby outside shelter for the night, encouraged him to come out of hiding. Took weeks and consistency, but I knew we had a chance when he started to come earlier and earlier. Then he just accepted coming in last week. Now he is an indoor cat - no interest in outdoors rather quickly.

I'll look forward to more pictures of Baby. Thank you for helping the feral and abandoned cats.

@motherofsleep44 I am thinking Little Girl might try to use Starlight Baby as her heating pad once he is introduced. She has always liked male cats better than females. Our Maine Coon was her favorite because he protected and loved her to the very end of his life. Like your Sydney, she really doesn't care for the other cats now. But she keeps working on the dogs. They let her sleep with them quite often.

She worships me. I'm not worthy. I think with both Sydney and Kiku it's a thing of "Been there, done that. Ain't gonna do it again." Sydney didn't hate Kiku, but he wasn't that interested in her. He loved my other kitty, Nyx, who looked like his adoptive mom, a kitty named Petra.

@motherofsleep44 Good for them that they knew/know their kingdom is inside. Sydney didn't want you to be confused when he reiterated your home was "the cat's meow" and never to be mistaken for a yard. He probably taught Kiku by his actions that this was true for her also. Love the name's connection with flowers. I am sure her love for you "blossoms" every day.

@CatloverJudy Thank you for all that you are doing with the TNR. It is just tragic that animals are treated by many as disposable. I was lucky years back to find homes for 42 cats and kittens in a five year period left on my property. Then the throwaways stopped happening. Don't quite know why. This feral definitely had a home once. Now that he is inside (after more than a month of little by little) and really trusts me, he lets me trim all his hooked nails; inspect his teeth and jaw, ears for mites, hair for fleas, etc. He even let me bathe him because of all the bug bites. Keeping him far and separate from others until he sees the vet for worming, heat rash, and antibiotic for bites. He seems to loves every minute of his new life- has absolutely no interest in going back outside.

Kiku means "chrysanthemum" in Japanese. All of Sydney's life he would not go outside even if I put him put out in the yard. I did that once and he stomped back in, settled into one of his favorite sleeping spots and gave me a dirty look. Kiku won't go outside, either.

He is so beautiful! It breaks my heart to see so many feral cats out there. WyeWatcher and I have been doing TNR in our neighborhood since moving here in 2016. We have spayed and neutered close to 30, but they just keep coming. People just don't realize what happens when you turn loose one un-neutered cat.

@motherofsleep44 It was interesting that after his first panic attack being "inside," he now avoids getting too near doors. (As has been my experience with most rescues.) I believe he was abandoned as many are and now is remembering that life can be better. Sorry to hear of Sydney's passing, but know he was loved much. Kiku is a great name. Best!

I love feral cats. They're the best! I had a feral tuxedo kitty named Sydney. Unfortunately, he died in 2019, but still have Kiku, a striped girl kitty.

@Ilovejigidicats Thank you for being the first to solve his puzzle. My animals tend to have two names so couldn't give him any less. Calling him Baby for slang. He is still separate from the others due to a few skin problems. Best wishes!

What a lovely name - and what a lovely cat.