There's a small hotel...

 Somehow during late January and early February we managed to trap and neuter Mamma Grigia and Ink.

Mamma was terrified and cried ALL the time.  All the time. All. The. Time. Even after the surgery, out of the "trap cage" and into a larger, comfortable recovery cage, she never stopped.  All day, all night.  Everyone was miserable.  I even asked Scruff to tell his damned mother to SHUT UP!!!  It didn't seem to have any effect, though.  After two days we set her free.  She took off like a streak of lightening and I thought we would never see her again.  But, lo and behold, she returned that very evening for some supper.

Ink was alright caged.  She didn't look very happy, but she didn't wail all the time. She was, however, like a wild animal at the veterinary office.  She tried to evade the injection to knock her out, she literally was screaming, flailing all over what little space she had, eyes popping out of her head.  It took four people and more than fifteen minutes to finally sedate her.  Back home, she was fine.  She was quiet and seemed content enough to have food and water, but her eyes said "Watch out!"  She took off like Mamma, but also returned soon enough.  

They both still come nearly every day.  Ink likes to tour the courtyard and will sometimes sit on the bench next to me and nap.  She also adores Harry and schmoozes him every chance she gets.  She even schmoozes us! Mamma remains skittish but she won't walk away from food.

Next on the list was the last kitten from Mamma Nera's litter.  A little gray guy.  He appeared to be all gray, but on closer inspection, he had white paws...so, we dubbed him "Calzini"...that's "socks' in Italian.  I know, I know...not inspired.

In truth, we didn't know if this kitten was male or female.  On the plumpish side, sort of small...and a big fan of Scruff's when Scruff was still out on the streets, I was leaning toward thinking this cat was female.

Well, Calzini was the easiest of all to trap.  A little tuna and kitty marched right in, the door slammed down with a loud "Whack!" and this cat didn't even blink.  Tuna!!! I was astonished.  Didn't miss a beat.  "I've got tuna, I'm eating tuna...I don't care WHAT else happens!  TUNA!!"

Once sedated at the vet's, he told us Calzini was maschio (male).  Davvero???  Si, maschio,  Ok, little guy....I had to adjust my thinking just a bit.

Back home, Calzini was easy once again.  Never a peep out of him.  "Gosh, thanks for all the nice food!  Fresh water?  How nice!  I LOVE this place!"  So, after 2 days of recuperation, and cold, awful weather outside...we.....hesitated.  I didn't dare say what I was thinking.  I did mention that he seemed to be quite happy with the hotel services.  I hoped we could wait until the weather improved, at least.

Finally, my husband said, "Well, we could bunk him up with Scruff, since they like each other anyway."   

And then there were four.