The five garage cats are eating. In the background is the great momcat Ginger. She and her sister Emily gave birth about three years ago a day apart. Ginger had four kittens in a cat condo but a pure white one was dead at birth and she pushed it aside. She nursed her three survivors.

Emily had six kittens behind a bush out back, didn't know what to do and deserted them all. It happens. When I found them three were dead and the other three were close to being dead. The black kitten was trying to nurse on dirt and was barely breathing with his tiny mouth and nose all loaded up with dirt. I cleaned him up best I could.

Ginger needed food and water and I coaxed her away from her kittens to eat and drink. I got rid of the bodies and laid the three near-dead kittens into the cat condo next to Ginger's kittens. I hoped for the best but figured I'd be collecting more dead kittens in the morning.

Next morning I found Ginger in the cat condo nursing six wiggly and clean kittens. They were thriving and five of the six that survived are in this photo and live in my garage. The lifeless black kitten with the nose and mouth full of dirt that almost got buried is now my buddy Tuxedo. He gasped when I cleared his airway and I knew then he was still alive. Ginger gave him a shot at life and I will always love her for that.

Bravo to Ginger! This is the second pic of Ginger in the driveway..."I vant to be left alone"