The cats are groggy and in foul moods when they awaken in their small cages, now stacked eight-high in the hallway. It's a necessary discomfort, and one that will end soon. The other volunteers, mostly new to the world of cat rescue, are talking softly to them as they try to calm them, and you have to tell them to just throw a towel over their cages because trying to calm the felines seems only to infuriate them, and by now - you're tired of listening to the yowling.
Eight hours and nearly 190 cats later, everyone is exhausted and ready for a good night's sleep, but your day is far from over, despite being up for nearly 24 hours straight. You check on the six cats that you brought, making sure that they are the correct ones, and load them into the truck. They will need to be observed until nightfall, and then set free once more. This time, however, they will not be transmitting diseases, or breeding. They will be calmer, and maybe, with a lot of luck, one day domesticated. You smile softly to yourself, knowing that the phrase "domesticated cat" is an oxymoron, but hold to the hope regardless. It has been a good day, and one that will remain in your memory for a lifetime.
You will care for this colony of wild cats. You will feed them, build a shelter for them, and observe the animals without ever touching or petting or holding any of your charges. They are your responsibility now, but you have done your best to educate your neighbors, and you hope that additional help will soon turn up. It is a massive responsibility for one person. However, it is well worth it - for you alone have been responsible in saving these animals lives, and making your neighborhood a disease-free area.
