We recently replaced our front door as well as the timbers that were supporting it. About a month ago one of our outdoor cats had given birth to three kittens. The kittens are still shy around people.
I warned my husband and the carpenter to be careful during the construction, to ensure no kittens got under the house as they would be trapped with no way out.
The job was completed on July 4th, the next morning, as we were leaving to spend a long weekend with family, I heard a kitten meowing. I looked around outside, but the sound stopped before I could pin point where it was coming from. Since they were so shy around people I assumed they were hiding among the plants.
Four days later we returned home to the sound of two or three kittens meowing loudly. This time it was clear they were under the house – trapped with no way out. I was frantic, and my practical husband was concerned that he would have to tear apart all the expensive renovation just to free three half-tame kittens. Was it worth it? I persisted! We had to get those kittens out, it was breaking my heart listening to them meow. We discussed different options from cutting a hole in the kitchen floor to completely undoing the new construction.
Our contractor was in South Dakota. When my husband finally reached him on the phone, he suggested knocking a hole in the concrete block wall under the entrance (which could be patched), so the kittens could find their way out. My husband got a maul and set to work. He pounded a 4” diameter hole through the block, one-by-one, three hungry kittens made their way out to a very anxious mother cat.
We learned a couple lessons through this process.
- Investigate every possible option when seeking a solution to a problem.
- Don’t hesitate to call a professional/specialist. They may be able to provide the best answer, saving time, expense and pain.
- An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
The road is easier together,
Linda