Harlequin

We brought Miss Harlequin (momma cat) home from the vets on Thursday, and due to her wild nature and high stress levels they recommended letting her back out in a couple of days. (Skipping the follow-up visit). Today is that day and I am feeling a bit ambivalent about it. I think I will wait two more days. Sunday is Independence Day and she is a wild independent creature, so in exercising my rights to symbolism I will let her go on Sunday.
We are at our limit on cats, and just yesterday I noticed that our new neighbors cat was in heat. Being chased by our resident males (who are scheduled for surgery on Tuesday). I will likely have to trap one of them, but the other is tame enough now to let me pick him up. Sill, it seems like a never ending struggle. A female cat can have two litters pr year, up to twelve kittens.  There are so many homeless cats in the wild that to let ones un-spayed pet run wild is irresponsible, and I am wondering what these folks will do when the babies arrive. I have lost count of the many cats we have taken in over the years, and the many more that we had to turn away because there just isn't enough room for them all.
Long before we were able to trap Harlequin she was  extremely guarded. We could put food out for her and she would stay at a considerable distance. Waiting for us to go back in the house before approaching the food bowl. I can't begin to imagine how she is feeling now and how guarded she will be once I let her go. I hope that over time she will forget her time in captivity. At least I feel better knowing that she doesn't have to worry about raising more babies.