Minimama was the last fertile female in the alley. At first we weren't even aware of the existence of this reclusive cat, an unnaturally trap-savvy female who remained scrawny despite our best efforts.
Minimamma managed to churn out a couple litters in rapid succession, but only the first one (a solitary kitten) produced an archetypal R cat, R7, and he would turn out to be the last.
R7 sported the same markings and personality as his predecessors, but because we located him early, he endured less than two months of alley life (during which he often dined on his mother's preference, which was not Fancy Feast but fresh-caught prey).
Barely weaned, the tractable fellow was placed in foster care where he now awaits a permanent home. He is healthy, affable, and utterly sweet. He might be a good companion for Arturo.
While we hoped R7 would be the last of the series, our wish came to pass in the worst possible way. On Friday the Thirteenth, Minimama became the latest victim of an aggressive speeder, in the alley where the limit is 15 mph.