A Lucky Change in Plans for Mama Muffin

Muffin, nicknamed Mama Muffin, is a very lucky kitty. Found living at a sewage treatment plant, she appeared feral at first sight and destined for TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) to protect her from disease and unwanted litters of kittens. Anna, a Dakin Kitten Street Team volunteer, prepared to humanely trap the cat and bring her to Dakin for spay surgery.

Once in the clinic, it was discovered during Muffin’s initial exam that she was clearly nursing kittens. Anna returned to the clinic right away and took Muffin back to the treatment plant where she'd lived to care for her babies.

A week later, Anna got a call from the person looking out for Muffin at the plant. They told Anna that Muffin was in their car with her kittens, who were 3-4 weeks old. Anna had to think fast, since the plan had been to wait until the kittens were eating independently and old enough to be separated from mom. “Well, we can’t plan to release them now because mom would surely be reluctant bringing her kittens back, at least before the end of that critical window for socialization.”

Anna took them to Dakin and offered to foster all of them. As someone very experienced with feral cats, Anna set up a specialized system of covered crates designed to keep a nursing feral cat calm and reduce her fear of having people around.

When Anna peered into the carrier, plans started to change all over again. Muffin’s body language was not consistent with that of a feral cat. Learning that the person from the plant had been able to touch Muffin and place her in a carrier, Anna took a chance.

She opened the carrier door and let the whole crew loose in her foster room. Muffin came out hissing. Anna thought to herself as she watched, “Oh, great. What did I just do?” knowing that getting a feral cat back into a crate or carrier is no easy feat.

She kept watching when Muffin’s hisses slowed and became little chirps. Feral cats do not meow or otherwise vocalize toward humans for the purpose of soliciting attention. Anna slowly knelt down and offered the back of her hand in Muffin’s direction.

The cat acknowledged the gesture with the most enthusiastic and satisfying “boop” with her head to the back of Anna’s hand. Muffin accepted this greeting and happily took more petting. “My heart exploded! What a relief.” Anna recalled.

Before long, Muffin was laying comfortably on a soft blanket, nursing her kittens while still allowing Anna to continue petting her.

The cat, who at first glance appeared feral, continued easing down the protective walls she’d built to protect herself and her kittens from life outdoors.

Once Muffin was finished caring for her kittens and cleared for adoption, she spent only one day as “available” on Dakin’s website before finding a loving home.

After going through so much, including great lengths to protect herself and her kittens, Muffin has a life of safety and leisure to enjoy. She showed Anna when the time was right that she wasn’t feral at all, which gave her the second chance she deserved.