A lonely cat on the porch, then an entire colony
When they arrived at their new home, the owners found an elderly cat sitting on the porch, almost as if she was waiting for them. They named her Meemaw, thinking they had just met a friendly local stray. But then another cat appeared, followed by another.
Three cats quickly became five, then eight, all emerging from the woods and popping up all over the garden. The couple soon realised this was a well-established colony rather than a few passing visitors. In total, they counted 43 cats. According to a neighbour, the previous owner had hidden the true scale of the colony, fearing the buyers might pull out of the sale.
Feeding them is not enough
Rather than panicking, the couple quickly set up food and shelter for the animals. However, looking after dozens of cats—many of whom had spent most of their lives outdoors—presented quite a challenge. They had to figure out where they slept, identify which ones needed medical care, and deal with very different personalities. Some were perfectly happy around humans, while others were much more wary.
Managing a colony of this size is beyond what most pet owners can handle. So, the couple reached out for help from specialists who could assist with trapping, veterinary care, and monitoring each cat. As for Meemaw, she seems to hold a special place in the group, as the other cats appear completely at ease around her.
Translated from the FR Wamiz website using artificial intelligence
