He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother

I’m not one to proselytize on the need to spay and neuter cats, though I cannot imagine not taking full responsibility for doing so with our pets. But I was reminded this week that there are people who simply are not familiar with the birds and the bees when it comes to feline mating and reproductive cycles.

A friend told me the following true story about a married couple who are her friends: About seven or eight months ago, five black kittens were dumped—there is no elegant word here—in Hermann Park in Houston. The husband found and rescued the kittens and took them home to meet his wife. The couple had never lived with cats before.

My friend caught up with the newfound couple-with-cats a few months ago and wondered why the four female cats looked so “heavy.” She asked if the females subscribed to a different diet than the male cat; otherwise, why were they considerably overweight?

“Oh, not at all,” said the Cat Lady. “They all eat the same food.” The next question from my friend was, “Well, then, are the females pregnant?”

“Oh, no,” said the Cat Lady. “Are you kidding? He’s their brother.”

Fast-forward to the present tense. I learned that there are now thirteen black cats living together under the same roof with their human parents and their own four children. The male cat—aka Stud Brother—was adopted shortly after impregnating his sisters and before the four female cats gave birth to nine kittens. What are the odds of having thirteen black cats and conquering people’s superstitions about the number 13?

I suppose it goes without saying that the couple is planning to take their kitties to be spayed and neutered as soon as possible. Meanwhile, if you know of anyone who is looking to adopt a black kitten, please contact this Cat Lady.

Query of the Day: Why do some Good Samaritans' deeds go punished?