FanStory.com - Daddy Cat by w.j.debi

Male cats kill kittens. At least, I thought the male cat completed his amorous duties and then went on his carefree way, leaving the female to fend for herself and their offspring. If he happened upon kittens, they were just in his way.

That's why I kept chasing off the male cat that hung around after I found two small kittens in my yard. I figured he had to be the father. The kittens had no tails and neither did he. Manx was what I determined after consulting Siri.

Daddy Cat had shown up about two years earlier, sporting a blue collar. Lately, no collar, though he still wandered through the yard. That didn't bother me until I decided those two kittens were mine to protect.

This male cat showed up every evening about sunset, and I was usually prepared to chase him off. But one evening, I was late. I ran to get my shoes and as I was putting them on, I saw Daddy Cat meet and greet the kittens on the back lawn, everyone touching noses. Then he went through the rails of the pasture fence and the kittens followed. Could I be wrong? He didn't seem threatening at all. In fact, the kittens seemed happy to see him.

Off to the computer I went to get more information.

Well, what do you know? Male cats do help raise their offspring and participate in teaching them to hunt. What I was witnessing was Daddy Cat inviting the kittens to join him on his nightly rounds. My attitude completely changed. The neighbors had praised this male cat for hunting the gophers in their yard. Now he was passing on those skills.

Between the three of them, the rodent population is down. Mice used to sit up and wave at me when I entered the barn. I haven't seen one for some time now. The gopher population is down, too.

I must admire D.C., as I call him for short. He could easily have been discouraged by my actions and abandoned his kittens to my care after their mother went missing. Instead, he was persistent and dedicated. This proud daddy made certain these little ones were raised correctly. After all, they are his kittens.