Blanco County, TX – In Spring 2009, someone abandoned two calico cats at a local business.

Calico cats are almost always females. Both of the cats had kittens—one litter had four, and the other six.

Since kittens are always cute, many people tried to catch them and take them home because they felt sorry for them.

Here’s where the story gets sad. One kitten drowned in a tank.

Another got hit by a car and did not die immediately. The cats were given very little food in the hopes that they could not breed and reproduce if they were starved.

This did not work because one of the calicos became pregnant again.

The story brightens. Volunteers from the Blanco County Cat Coalition heard about the suffering and began feeding, trapping, and neutering the cats.

Best of all, one of the calico mothers and one kitten were adopted and live on a property near Blanco.

The other calico mother and a kitten are now enjoying regular meals as barn cats. Two cats, one named “Pretty Boy” and the other “Goober,” are living with a loving family in Johnson City.

One Farm and Feed Store customer adopted another, and yet another kitten was taken to the SPCA in Fredericksburg and has since been adopted.

There are still two in foster care, and one more looking for a home. Please call the Cat Phone at 512-318-5875 if you would like to adopt.

When cats are adopted, BCCC usually asks for a donation from the new owner to cover the cost of the neutering and rabies shots. Some donations were collected.

A few of the cats had health issues that the new owners were taking care of, so, in those instances, donations were not requested. BCCC gets no money from the city, county, or state.

Look for our donation cans at many area businesses, or send your donation to Blanco County Cat Coalition, P.O. Box 757, Johnson City.

BCCC is a tax-exempt, 501-c-3 volunteer-based organization, which supports the humane way of dealing with feral cats: Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).

Donations and volunteers are needed and appreciated. Volunteer opportunities are varied and interesting.

Meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month, alternating between Blanco and Johnson City.

All are welcome to attend. Call the Cat Phone at 512-318-5875 or visit the BCCC web site, www.blancocountycat.org, for further information.