Jumpy's Family

First written November 2016. Later updates follow the original story.

Jumpy was a female stray we fed on our property in Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand. She let us feed her, but she wouldn’t let us get close.

Eventually she became pregnant by one of the other strays in the area and had a litter of four on a neighbor’s property. After the kittens came she let people approach and pet her and them. The neighbors were happy to let us take Jumpy and the kittens and find them homes.

A monk at a temple not far from our property agreed to care for all four kittens. He had plenty of space and no other animals, and the temple was within walking distance, so we could help if needed. Once the kittens were old enough, we would take Jumpy in at our place. It was the perfect arrangement.

Then we took Jumpy to the vet for a check-up and shots and learned she had feline leukemia. We went back to the temple and had the kittens tested. All four had it too. It was a huge blow. We brought the kittens back to our property to care for them properly.

With nowhere else to put them, we built a small cage above a carport to keep Jumpy and the kittens isolated from the other cats. We wanted to build them something bigger, with room to play. But after the vet bills, the special diet and the expensive supplements, there was nothing left for a proper kennel.

Sadly, not long after being reunited with her family, Jumpy died in September 2016. A month later one of the kittens died too, and then another.

At the end of 2016 we were hoping to raise $1,500 to build a proper home for the remaining two kittens, so they could have a good life for whatever time they had.

Tom will add what has happened since, after visiting the kennel.