Stray Cat's Precious Moments Captured On Night Vision Camera By The Man Feeding Her
It started with a stray cat slipping through a Long Island backyard, and before long, she had a name, a feeding routine, and a family watching out for her. Maria Cassano first noticed Mama with a kitten, then realized the little cat family needed more than occasional scraps to get by.
Her father was not eager to feed stray cats at first, but the Cassanos kept showing up with food, a heated cat house, and later, a camera to check on Mama and her growing family. What began as a simple act of kindness turned into a nightly ritual, with the cats slowly becoming part of the backyard routine.
Then Mama had another kitten, and the story only got sweeter from there.
After some time, Mama had a second kitten, and Cassano's father installed a camera to ensure they arrived home safe and sound every night.
The backyard watch became part of the routine.
Maria eventually took Mama and her kitten to a local shelter to be sterilized and vaccinated. "It was fall, and the shelter said that Mama would be fine to return, but the kitten was likely too young to survive the winter if left outdoors," Cassano says. "However, he took well to being handled by humans."
It’s hard not to think of the rescuers who rushed in for a kitty abandoned in a Florida home without food, water, or air conditioning.
Maria fostered the little kitty and eventually found a loving home for her. But Mama wasn’t lonely for long; she now has two friends, black cats named Inky and Finky.
Maria doesn’t believe she will be able to domesticate this cat company, but she's happy to provide them with a secure and comfortable place to stay.
"They won't come inside or let us touch them - but they recognize us, nap on the stoop or in the lawn chairs, coexist with us in the backyard, and sometimes come up to the window when it's time to eat."
They may not be house cats, but they know exactly where dinner is served.
"Over the years, we've gotten a few more houses and a 'cat igloo,' so all of our residents can stay warm," Maria said. "I jokingly refer to them as 'Steve's Cat Condos.'"
It all started with one stray, and now the backyard has its own little cat community.
After Mama’s night-vision moments, read how a mom cat took the ultimate risk for her kittens: Stray Feline Mom Takes The Ultimate Risk To Give Her Little Ones A Chance At Survival.
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