Four cats, a mother and three kittens, have found our patio a place to rest, and since Jack started to put food out for them, to have at least one meal a day there. They are quite pretty cats, and very feral. They’re shy of us and run when they see us, but not so far as to miss seeing if we have left some food and water for them. The mother cat is thin, but all three kittens seem well fed, so we have concluded that they are probably being fed by other neighbors also.

This has presented a real dilemma for us. At first we thought that the mother might be passing through and we were just helping her on her journey, but when the kittens showed up with her, it appeared that they might be scouting for a permanent residence. We were told the “animal Control” will not come for them unless we have them “in custody”, but the thought of dooming them to extinction is a tough one for us, not to mention the problem of catching them in the first place. I believe that the mother is a very proficient hunter, and has lived at least partly on birds and lizards and other prey for quite a while. The kittens are past the stage of being nursed, and so they are probably learning to hunt as well.

God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds, and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:25)

One of Jesus’ most powerful metaphors is the image of the sheep that know the voice of the shepherd: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27)

Jack was able to call to the mother cat, and she would come for the food he provided.

Watching the cats behave like truly wild animals made me marvel at their ability to adapt to a world that was so very unwelcoming to this little family.

We finally decided to continue to leave water out for the cats, but not food. God has given us many pictures of life in His creation. For me to see these cats was to remember our Creator.

Love in Him,

Prue