adorable!  thanks for posting.

Thats the first constructive thing I have heard you have done. Congrats man!

They are too cute! What a great thing you're doing! I am big on animal rescue, I have 3 dogs, and 3 cats (all rescues), I worked with a horse rescue for years up north too.

Keep up the good work!

How cute, this brings back memories, horrible memories that is

one or two years ago, when I was going to school, I saw two little kittens being crushed by a car.

when I got closer, the only thing that remained where a pool of blood, entrails and white fur. there is still somethink like a mark at the spot.

Way to kill everyone's happy kitten buzz, oblivion

I'm surprised the mum isn't letting you take her inside, I thought she'd want to ensure the safety of the kitties.  They're all gorgous, I love the work you're doing Matt.

I wish I could have cats where I am, but rental units are generally pet unfriendly. I've had a few cats in the past back when I was living with my parental units, all strays.  I miss having a cat.

Trust me... it totally was...

You people go fuckin loopy around cat pictures -_-

(I would also like it to be known that i held off on a joke about concentrated pussy juice, in lue of this post ;-p )

Double boooooooo!

I will now torture you with pictures of my adorable cats...

Rescuing those kittens is all fine and dandy, but who's going to save the hawks when they die from starvation?

Black cats are the best. Quite suitable for an atheist. I have a 10-year-old all-black Maine Coon that I found as a stray.

Sign me up for that shit. Birds are mad cool.

I worked at a county animal shelter back in my walking days... Matt perhaps you could ask the Humane Society in your area if they have a TNR program.  I would have mentioned this earlier but I've been having too may personal issues to think clearly. 

TNR stands for trap - neuter - release.  The cat is trapped, vaccinated, spayed and then released with a marking - typically on the ear.  It's a way to control the overpopulation of feral cats... if she really doesn't want to come inside with you at least you won't have to be on the look out for litters all the time.

Awesome Matt.  You're really up on the cat stuff!  I'm glad the Mother choose your patio to hang out at as most people don't know what to do.

You know what I was thinking... even if working with animals in a shelter wouldn't work for you perhaps you could find an admin job at the county shelter.  idk - it's worth looking at the job listings to see what's available.

I prefer my furry kids over "real" children by a long shot.

So if you've received the ACA newsletter and/or mailings then you probably have read about ferals that come around and interact with people, but it may take years.

It may be a good idea to contact small local rescues, the Humane Society and SPCA in this area are not known for working with ferals. It's a good thing the kittens becomes socialized though so they're adoptable. My concern would be the long term care for adult ferals, since if you ever need to relocate it'd be good to know people locally that may take over caring for them.

I must admit, I hate dogs. The stink, they lick and slobber all over you, they bark, and you can never play football in peace when one's around. Cat's though are cool, they clean themselves, and as Geirg said all you have to do is feed them. Plus I love their deluded notion that they're actually the boss of you.

Hear hear

Hear hear hear

Just to clarify, I love cats as much as the next girl, but lest we forget, animals are animals, and one should always keep the big picture in mind.

We eat animals, and pigs, cows and chickens are arguably as deserving of our attention (or not) as dogs and cats. So either don't eat animals, or at least admit that you only worry about saving the "cute" ones. (If you are one of the ones who don't eat animals, then fair enough, I can't acuse you of hypocracy on this account, but then we have another argument, but that's for a different thread)

Also, don't forget that every cent you donate to animal rescue is a cent you could have donated to starving children in Africa. I sometimes think it borders on immoral when people donate money to any kind of animal rights groups. I can understand the sentiment, and I can forgive people for forgetting to see the big picture, but I honestly have to say that every dollar you donate out of the goodness of your heart that doesn't go to Amnesty International or something similar, is not just wasted, it's worse: it's missplaced. The goodness of your heart could have been directed at something much more important. Once we human beings are truly equally safe and content, then we can start worrying about the animals.

Sorry in advance, if I've killed your buzz, but it really sadens me when people who are clearly kind, empathic people, misdirect that kindness and empathy.

And having pets is great, both for your own wellbeing, and for theirs, and I commend you for it; indeed I've always planned to have a cat or a dog if ever I move to a bigger place, and, more importantly, if the rumors I've heard about modern allergy-treatments are correct. But I challenge you to the following: every time you see an animal suffer, and feel a sting in your heart, think, for just a moment, that somewhere in Africa, there is RIGHT NOW a small human child suffering at least as much. Starvation, violence, rape. RAPE PEOPLE!

Never forget that...

Sorry, but I really felt I had to.

Personally, I feel like I direct my kindness and empathy to humans as well as animals. I'm an equal opportunity empathizer!

I will say though, that I like most animals more than I like most people...can't help it.

I don't eat animals, including fish. There's no moral reasoning behind this. I just don't want to because I never have, not since I was five years old (admittedly there was some primitive moral reasoning at the time).

I totally agree with you. I think the well-being of human beings should come first. That said, most mammals, and probably most vertebrates have the same capacity to suffer as human beings. There is no rational answer here, where the natural properties of suffering are equal in both a human child or a kitten it simply comes down to which we'd rather help, or whose life is more important, and to human beings we will always see human life as more important than animal life when it comes down to it.  

Empathy isn't rational, it's an emotion. If we could rationalise it then yes we could probably see that we're misdirecting it. But it's not a tap that can be turned on at will. To some the image of a cute little kitten with ailment x appeals more to their empathic nature than a scrawny kid with flies on his face. It might not be nice, but emotions aren't rational, as much as we'd like them to be. 

Like I said, I totally understand. I'm with you on this.

To be honest I have no way to help starving kids in Africa, but I can bring in/feed stray cats locally. I do like cats better than people. No cat ever treated me bad because I am in poor physical shape or am not so good looking or have no social skills.  I also seem to "connect" to cats much better than I do to people.

everybody has some degree of personal interest in helping others (even when those others are animals).  matt likes cats and it seems like he's knowledgeable in their care so sure he's helping them but they are giving him companionship.  the hawks aren't going to starve because i assure you there are *way* too many feral cats out there... in addition to whatever else they eat.  i don't think there is anything wrong with that all all.  could he be doing something *more* beneficial to society as a whole?  sure, we all could. 

in the meantime, if this momma kitten is spayed and her kittens are given stable homes it's putting less stress on the local tax system.  hell, statistically he's also least preventing one car accident since one less cat is going to end up as road kill.

uh, a lot of crashes occur as a result of someone trying to swerve to avoid an animal (i could look up some stats for you but it's 2:30 AM and i need to pee.)  few people actually just say the hell with it and keep the foot on the gas.  (which btw - they teach you to do in racing school).

Right now we have one cat and one dog.  In the past I've had fish, lizards, snakes, birds, hermit crabs (lay off the crab jokes you dorks), shrimp, turtles, frogs, rats, etc.

Animals kick ass.

My aunt used to have a monkey.  In the winter when she would get up to make breakfast the monkey would set next to the stove, hold it's palms up to the warmth, and then briskly rub his hands together to warm them up just like a human.

Well...

That depends on who you talk to.

Some experts do place the Neandertals in a sub group of homo sapiens and some don't.

Personally I don't think they should be called Homo sapiens neandertalensis.  But what do I know?  I'm an IT guy.