What, Me, A Grandma?

It’s been a while since I wrote about Coco, the stray cat that adopted me as a surrogate feeder. Coco hasn’t stopped by my patio for food in about a week, and I was almost resolved to stop leaving food outside since I didn’t want to encourage the raccoons. But today our paths crossed and I found a very hungry and skinny Coco (the picture you see today is from 2 months ago; she’s a lot thinner now) inhaling the food I put in front of her. I leaned down to pet her and she rolled over. And now, after all these months, I finally know that she is indeed a girl. I know this now because her nipples were bright pink and obvious, which only means one thing. My baby is going to have babies! What, me, a grandma? I’m horrified by the idea because I do not know where she goes after she eats. I do not know if she’s ever safe…what will happen to her litter if I don’t know where she will nest when the time comes for her to deliver?

I suppose if I see kittens on my doorstep I will have to take them to the SPCA, but how soon do I do that? Would I be jeopardizing their health if I took them from their mother too soon? And do I take Coco in to get her spayed, too, assuming she lets me put her in a carrying case? Oy ve! I feel as dumfounded as if I’d found out that my teenaged daughter was preggers. I know, I don’t have any kids but just the idea of it gives me heartburn. I think I need a martini. Or a new bag.

June 2, 2010