When Aunt Mel bought her farm she didn’t have any cats. You simply can’t have a farm without cats. They help control the mice and rat population in the barn. A friend called one day and said her sister found a cat in a tree in their yard. They didn’t want the cat but wanted to find her a good home. Arrangements were made to meet at Krispie Kreme in Roswell the next day. The pretty stray cat would come live at Aunt Mel’s new farm.

This cat was beautiful. She was almost full grown, half white and the other half brown tabby spots. She was very bright and quickly made herself at home. It took a few days to decide on a name – the pretty cat was named “Ed”.

Ed was a great hunter and caught lots of rats in the fields around the barn. But she was at the age where male cats were starting to hang around. Before Aunt Mel had a chance to have Ed spayed, Ed got pregnant. The decision was made to have one litter of kittens and keep the family together.

Ed got bigger and bigger and a bed was made from a cardboard box and lined with soft towels. Aunt Mel put the bed in the bathroom closet, a place that was dark and quiet. One night Aunt Mel couldn’t find Ed and looked all over the house. She called and called and finally she heard Ed meowing back. She followed the sound to the bathroom closet. Ed was inside the box and starting to deliver the kittens.

During the night Ed gave birth to five healthy kittens. She cleaned each one and was very careful to lay so they could nurse. She was a wonderful and loving mother. She licked and licked the kittens, purring and comforting them. Their eyes were closed but they knew they were safe and warm. They did little but nurse and sleep and grow for several weeks.

When their eyes opened the kittens became more active. They started to climb out of their box and play with one another. They meowed and hissed as they tumbled around the bathroom floor. Ed seldom left. She guarded her kittens and was always there when they were hungry.

The kittens were so cute. Aunt Mel named the silver tabby, Beatrice. Beatrice was the leader, bold and ready to explore. Emily was gentle and quiet, maybe a little shy. She had beautiful green eyes that well suited her grey tuxedo coloring. Arthur was a big boy, white with a few big grey spots. He always wanted to be right next to his mother and he would purr for hours. Vivian was very opinionated and smart. She was a grey tabby but her stripes were soft and blended. She had a bright pink nose. Waldo was a very handsome, sweet kitten. He was white with black ears and tail and three big black spots on his side that looked like Mickey Mouse. Waldo just wanted to be held. All the kittens were beautiful. Ed was very proud of them.

Soon the kittens were running throughout the house. They played hard until they were exhausted. Then they would find a sunny spot and curl up together and nap. Ed started to go outside again to hunt. As soon as she came home, the kittens would run to her and nurse. After a snack, she would bath each kitten and sometimes even play tag with them. They drove Aunt Mel crazy racing through the house, climbing up the back of the chairs, darting under tables….but she couldn’t stay made because they were such a happy cat family.

Finally the kittens quit nursing and ate regular cat food with Ed. Everyone went outside during the day to play and Ed taught them how to hunt mice. It was a very happy time at Aunt Mel’s house. All the animals on the farm enjoyed the fun loving kittens, especially their proud mamma, Ed.