Months of patient, consistent work at getting comfortable with our backyard stray finally paid off - Hemlock, as we came to call her, was seen by our veterinarian and seemed to be decently healthy, save for the runny nose and eyes that plague the stray and outdoor cats of our area.
The next step for any outside cat, of course, is to then get them fixed. Hemlock was next in line to be spayed, and wouldn't you know it, the day she made it in for the procedure was when it was determined that we couldn't proceed. Instead, Hemlock would have a litter of kittens, and have to wait for them to be fully weaned before undergoing surgery.
While this wasn't our original plan or intent by any means, we had to roll with the punches, so here we are with Hemlock and four of her babies - three girls and one boy.
To add to the mix, we are currently fostering an orphan kitten who had been found all on his own, perhaps a week or so younger than Hemlock's kittens and therefore just able to be snuck in with them for her to act as surrogate to.
Meet the forest family! We named them after trees and other growing things, many of which are native to South Carolina. Out of Hemlock's litter, we have Hawthorn Digory the boy, and his sisters Juniper Bean, Clover Lynn, and Tansy Tamarind. Our adoptive kitten - the only one who doesn't share the brown tabby coloring that Hemlock has - is the little grey fuzzball we call Fitz.
All of the kittens are in need of homes, though we have homes in mind for both of the boys at this time. If you are interested in bringing a kitten home please reach out on Facebook to Carys with a message.
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