Willow and Her Kittens

Willow is Finally Retired from Motherhood - an update on Willow from her caregiver:

She's doing amazing after being spayed in March 2026. After we trapped her four kittens, her final litter, she cried for a couple of days, and honestly, it broke my heart a little. Before long, though, she reconnected with her old crew: a bonded trio from the first litter we noticed. They were the cats that started this whole journey for us and the very first three we brought to FCCO in July 2025.

That original trio is doing great. They still spend their days with Willow, and I've been able to socialize them enough that they come running for treats and enjoy our company, even though they're still not convinced that an indoor life is for them. They're happy outdoor cats with heated shelters, regular meals, and a safe place to call home.

Willow was especially difficult to trap. We didn't give up, though. We got a drop trap and finally succeeded. After her spay surgery, FCCO let us know she might have kittens somewhere, so we released her quickly and started watching closely. We eventually spotted the kittens at about six weeks old and trapped them around eight weeks.

Willow herself remains wary of us and isn't shy about expressing her opinions with a hiss or a growl. She doesn't come running for treats like the others, but I like to think that with enough time, patience, and tube treats, I might win her over someday. She watches the other cats interact with us and probably thinks they're all nuts. For now, she's perfectly content keeping her distance, and we'll let her decide if she ever wants to get closer.

FCCO estimated that Willow was about four years old when we brought her in, so we'll never know how many litters she had before arriving in our neighborhood. That's one reason it feels so good to know her kitten-raising days are finally over.

Today, near our home in Rose Valley, we have a small, stable colony of four well-cared-for cats, including one very deserving mama cat who is finally retired from motherhood.

Thank you so much for all your help, guidance, and encouragement throughout this entire journey. We couldn't have done it without FCCO.

~ Kellie R., Rose Valley, WA’

Kellie tamed all four of Willow’s final litter and found a home for one kitty, and three others came to FCCO and were a part of our Kitten Caboose program and were adopted through a rescue partner. Wanting the kittens to find their best homes, Kellie wrote up bios on the kittens that went with them. You can read them below.