Father Palka's Blog: Kittens and Kids at the Convent

Kittens and Kids

There is so much new life at the convent! We begin the story today with a cat. A feral cat. A black feral cat. She was found by the Sisters, seemingly abandoned on the property when young. Already past the cute kitten stage but not yet mature. She stayed around but wanted nothing to do with anyone. The Sisters already had a caramel-colored cat, named, conveniently enough, Carmel. She was “grudgingly” allowed inside once in a while. Stories vary as to how welcome she was, but let’s just say that somebody had made a cat ramp up to the window in Mother Superior’s office, where, coincidentally, there just happened to be a cat door in the window for her to enter and exit. The two cats didn’t get along, but they didn’t fight, either.

One morning before Mass, I was standing outside the sacristy door, looking at the beautiful sunrise, when the black cat, now named Shadow, came bouncing through the tall, wet grass. She seemed oblivious to my presence, but one of the Sisters came walking up, crunching the gravel underfoot, and Shadow immediately stopped what she was doing, momentarily distracted by the intruder, and unsure if she should run away as per usual. But in that split second of hesitancy, it became clear that she was not simply frolicking in the grass, but rather hunting. Her prey, seeing its chance, made a mad dash for the Sister’s feet, becoming visible for the short time it was on the gravel walkway. Fortunately, Sister did not see the rat running full speed ahead toward her, and it kept going until it turned the corner of the chapel and disappeared.

Shadow had lost her breakfast, all because she was afraid of people. But that was soon to change. Some of the Sisters, with Mother’s grudging permission, began feeding her. They still couldn’t get close, but it was at least a start, as Shadow began showing up at the Sisters’ door to the chapel before Mass and before Compline. The cat would come close, the Sisters would set the food out, and, as soon as they went back inside, Shadow would eat. Then one morning, I spotted something very odd. The Sister milking the goat (there were two female goats, but only one was lactating) was leading the goat from the milking area outside the kitchen back to the pen, but Shadow was right at her heels. Not running away but walking with her! You might well guess that the Sister had been offering Shadow a little bit of fresh goat milk every morning once the goat was put up. That did it! She was soon able to pet the cat.

As the days and weeks went by, Shadow discovered that she liked being petted. By one Sister, then two, and soon by all of them. But not by the priest. I even tried feeding her. She wouldn’t get within ten feet.

But as she matured, a tomcat from several miles away smelled romance in the air. He arrived unannounced, chased her all day, and that night, well, the honeymoon must have gone well, for Shadow was pregnant and the tomcat has not been seen again. She just gave birth to five adorable little kittens. In the convent, of course. She still won’t let me get close to her. So I have no cute kitten photos to share.

In the meantime, somebody brought over a “tom-goat” (or is that “Billy”?) for a rendezvous with the second female Alpine goat. She, too, just gave birth to two kids. One mostly white female and one mostly black male. They were up and walking within 30 minutes. The photos below are from April 27, the day the kids were born, with some Sisters holding them, and today, May 5, as they play in the goat pen. Their mother goat is the darker of the two adults. Enjoy!

With prayers for your holiness,

Rev. Fr. Edwin Palka