2018
Unnamed beginnings
In the summer of 2018, the first of the strays to make Redford Lane their home arrived. She was an unnamed domestic shorthair, a mother cat rearing a litter of kittens. The kittens, shy, hid behind the back shed, near the orange tree, and scattered at the sight of humans. The eventual fate of the first litter is unclear, but I suspect they eventually became the neighborhood cats that can be seen throughout the area.
2019
Second litter
The very same mother cat returned in the winter 2019 with yet another litter. These newborn kittens, all male, would eventually become known as:
- Snow White: A cat with a light grey coat of short fur and bright green eyes. Was named Snow White before his gender was uncovered. Loves getting his head pat.
- Michael Jackson: A grey short-haired tuxedo cat. Skittish from birth.
- Melon & Pumpkin: Two big standard issue domestic shorthair cats. They have a particular love of food. Unlike Melon, who seems to be oblivious, Pumpkin very plainly does not like to be around humans and has a tendency to hop awkwardly away when pet.
- Poke: Of all the cats, Poke would be the second most tolerant of humans after Snow White, though I suspect this to be mostly born of fright. Looks similar to brothers Melon and Pumpkin, but smaller.
Unlike with the previous litter that was largely ignored, they were fed a dish of milk and tuna... and all else became history. The mother shortly disappeared.
2020
A peaceful year, all things considered.
Thought it was a difficult process, both financially and with scheduling, all of the cats were neutered -- except Michael, who never learned to trust humans and was quick on his feet. Melon, Poke, and Snow White were easy enough to catch and they proved to be fine with human interaction. Pumpkin remained aloof at a careful distance.
2021
Third litter
In 2021, the same mother would return, this time with a third litter. Based on the coloring similarities to their siblings, they would be named:
- Michael Junior: A little tuxedo cat who disappeared soon after.
- Poke Junior: A feisty little standard issue cat with a white tuft on his chest. He liked to nibble, just the tiniest bit.
- Daisy: The shy runt and sole female cat of the family. Extremely difficult to capture. From birth, had a defect of the right eye that regularly leaves it watery. Bonded with her older siblings.
Of these, only Daisy would ultimately stick around.
The two litters growing up as one.
2022
Jan
Daisy & her kittens
Unfortunately, as a cat who was good at evading the hands of humans and as the sole female in the immediate area, Daisy would have kittens of her own. In the winter of early 2022, Daisy's first litter consisted of:
- Tofu
- Cleo
- Two unnamed kittens
Tofu
Tofu is a funny little guy. From birth, Tofu was always an extremely vocal and curious cat. He would run into the house, or up on to a table, just to investigate or to get a pat. He has since grown into a young adult cat, but retains his talkative and friendly nature. Can also be too friendly and attempt at a nip.
Cleo
Cleo was named because she "looked like an Egyptian cat". Much like Tofu, she is quite investigative. However, she doesn't seem to enjoy the attention as much as Tofu does -- though she'll dart into the house, full of curiosity. She only just tolerates human touch and interaction. Her expression is always one of surprise.
Unnamed kittens
These kittens disappeared shortly after. One was a long-haired tabby and another had black fur. They were quite more scared of humans, though the long-haired tabby was slowly warming up. One of their favorite activities was learning how to climb, whether it was up a tree trunk or over the garden wall.
Sum
A tumultuous summer.
The famiily of humans came down with COVID. While they were recovering, the cats outside had to endure a long and miserable heatwave. I remember leaving out bowls of frozen cubes for them as they hung out around the patio, panting.
Oct
Daisy's mysterious second litter
Surprisingly, Daisy had another litter. She appeared quite chubby for a few weeks then arrived back in the yard one day with a flat stomach, no kittens around to be found. It would only be another few weeks later that she would first bring Fluffy to the yard for a single occasion. Then another few weeks later for her to bring both Fluffy and his brother Donut to stay.
Fluffy
Fluffy is a black-furred long-haired domestic cat. Touching him feels like touching silk. While cautious against humans, he's not above enduring their poking for a few seconds while he eats some his special cat treats.
Donut
Donut is Fluffy's brother, a primo and proper tuxedo kitten. He is more timid than Fluffy, especially when the humans appear, but that won't stop him from running around the yard full of energy, chasing after his family members.
A pile of cats.
Here, Tofu, Donut, and Fluffy can be seen cuddling up with one another on one of the colder winter days. This is a frequent occurance. They really do get along!
Dec
...and for some surprise returns, Pumpkin and Snow White!
Pumpkin and Snow White, after a few months of having disappeared over the summer, showed back up once more in the front yard. From their several months away from home, Pumpkin has had a rather large personality change. He's okay with pets and more amusingly, extremely loud in the morning when he wants his food delivered to him at the front steps of the house. He shouts at the top of his cat lungs and occasionally sleeps in the box placed outside. Snow White comes and goes, greeting his brother.
