The Colony: A story fit for the holidays?

So, just like that, we've "adopted" a colony of 5 feral cats.

Adopted?  Not so fast, let me explain.

Living on Long Island, with a lot of wooded areas about (yes, there are trees on Long Island,) there are plenty of stray and feral cats in the neighborhood we live in.  A bird sanctuary around the corner I'm sure helps as well.  You know cats and birds after all.

I have always noticed several cats that wander our block, occasionally walking into our back yard.  I've even seen one or two stare at me as I get in and out of the car in the driveway, but of course, they always run away when I say anything.  Feral cats hate sarcasm, I guess.

This all changed a few weeks ago.

As regular readers of my blog know, I work weekends.  I also wake up quite early on weekends to get ready for what are usually long days.

A few weeks ago, early one Saturday morning, this cat showed up at our door:

Later that day, I put out a small bowl out and filled it with water, and added a small sample bag of cat food we got in the mail in another. 

This was the result:

Smudge was the "parent" of 2 black young adults and 2 tabby kittens.  Both black kittens were still less than a year, I'd say, and both had little white patches under their chins.  Sort of looked like they were wearing little bibs.  The tabbies looked younger, and were even more skittish.

For the past 6 weeks, this has been our life.  I even got a massive bag of dry food at BJ's a week and a half ago.  

Of course, there was another guest who showed up once, that wasn't quite feline:

Every morning they arrive waiting to be fed.  Every evening, the same thing.  I even set up a little feeding area for them under the deck in the backyard, using some of Tyler and Tiger's old bowls and place mats I still had.  

Most times they would run away while we set up their meals, then come back and eat once the food was out and we were out of sight, which explains why most of these photos were taken from the other side of our front door.  

Typical feral cats. Food first, then we'll "talk."

They all appear healthy, well fed, and clean.  Perhaps they have a safe place to sleep nearby? Who knows.  Either way, they will always have a good meal with us.  

About two weeks ago, the colony elected their spokes-cat.

This is Minnie.  

For some reason I called her Blackie at first, but good sense prevailed and she became Minnie, after one of the cats that lived in my great-uncle's lampshade store in the Brooklyn of my childhood. 

Minnie is ADORABLE.

She meows quite loudly for her food, and is beyond friendly.  

She lets us pet her, and purrs, rubs, and makes biscuits. 

You can see why she became the representative for the colony right?

While Minnie is clearly related to the other young cats in the colony, she also seems to be independent, as she will hang on our steps long after the other cats have had their fill of food and have gone off to do what feral cats do.  

More than hang out.  

Minnie seems to want to live with us.  The others do not. 

She won't run into our apartment, but boy does she stare longingly at our cozy little home.  

What do Tucker and Sophie think of this, you might ask?

Well, I have good and bad news.

Sophie and Tucker are fascinated, but for different reasons.  Tucker seems genuinely interested, almost excited, when Minnie shows up for food and love.  Sophie......less than thrilled.  Being the mature lady that she is, she's not too happy, and hisses at the door.  Tucker and Minnie, after some initial growling and posturing, simply settle down and stare at each other as long as the door is open.

This was last night:

Needless to say, Minnie has definitely found a place in our hearts, and caused something of a dilemma.

Since she wants in SO badly, should we?  Should I attempt to incorporate her into our family?

"She's already your cat," one of my facebook friends remarked the other day.  

Is she?  Sure seems like it.  I've read so many stories of people who have found their cats this way.  They just show up one day out of nowhere, and after a few months, they end up moving in, living happily ever after. 

Is this finally happening to me?

Well, first things first.  

A vet appointment is in order before ANY decisions are made.

With that being said, Minnie has an appointment this coming Wednesday evening.  

We will then, as a family, see what happens to assume Minnie is as healthy as she looks.  

Who knows?  She just might have just found her forever home.