Just got home from Springfield. Picked up the two cattle-chasing pups this
morning from that ranch and had to use the ranch hand's restroom before I
left. Blowing nose from crying for his loss, coming back out of the house I
had to pass through a laundry room where I heard tiny mewlings. Looked down
into a pile of laundry and there was a little mama cat + two IBKs, one of
whom looked me straight in the eyes and caused me to fall instantly head
over heels in love.

IBK's color wouldn't have mattered but the fact that I've been wanting an
orange cat forever really sealed the desire to have this IBK. The ranch hand
said I could take it right then and there but poor thing is probably not
more than four weeks old!!! I guess he either didn't know any better or else
he thinks the chances of the IBKs living a few more weeks are slim. IBK #2
is a calico and so is mama.

What I'd like to do is go rescue all three of them, set up a crate with a
blanket in it under the house, get the mama spayed ASAP and let her wean the
IBKs, then return her and the calico IBK to the ranch and keep the orange
stripey one.

These folks aren't ever going to get any of their barn cats spayed, and I
can't keep all three. The man said he will keep the orange one for me, but I
am afraid something might happen to it between now and weaning time. He said
he found it when its eyes were still closed, way up in a barn, lost in some
kind of pipe, screaming for mama, and there in that laundry room is so much
junk and clothing on the floor I am afraid someone might step on the IBK or
drop something on it. I hate to separate the siblings, too, but no way can I
take on two more, one is stretching my capacity to the limit, but I've been
wanting another orange tabby for YEARS, I'm such a sucker for them, and this
one was possibly the cutest kitten I have ever seen... I don't even know
it's sex.

I think taking just one would encourage bonding between it and the older
cats here. Sudden separation from mama and sister would probably make it
seek attention from the older cats here, in search of a new parent, yes?

So I've been thinking of that kitten all day long.... I took the two dogs
first to C.A.R.E. where they were refused, this shelter does not take in
animals directly from the public but rather takes some from "death row" at
the pound. They did look at the pups and said they are so nice looking that
they will probably have a good chance of being adopted from the humane
society, which is where they sent me. This was my first ever experience of
turning over an animal to such a place, and I was very unhappy about it, I
could see how sad and scared the poor things were.

Maybe if we all dedicate some purrs for them to find great new homes, they
will make it out of there alive.

By this time tomorrow I want to have made a decision on what to do about the
orange kitten. I could just go ahead and take it out of harm's way while it
is still so tiny, I know it would survive, but would really prefer that it
stay with its mama for another month, and I know the ranch people would be
glad to let me have mama spayed and bring her back in a month, but it would
be a real hassle as well as an expense I don't need. The ranch is more than
halfway to Springfield from here and I'd have to go back twice, in addition
to traveling for the spay. I'd want to do that before the stray orange tom
that comes around here finds out I have a queen on the premises.

Hoping all you folks will help me make a decision. Just keep in mind that
not taking the orange tabby IBK is not an option.....