THE FERAL FELINE FAMILY

Here they are, all six of them at breakfast. Zorra, on the ground, has first watch while the others eat. Her twin kittens are drinking together from the stainless bowl. Chucho, Zorra's half-brother, is the dark, all-tabby tomcat behind the kittens. Felipe, her brother with white face and a rakish slant of black on his forehead, has moved aside so Mystery Cat can have some kibble from the orange bowl. (We're not sure where Mystery Cat came from, but she looks just like Zorra's sister who disappeared when they were just babies, and they treat her like family, unlike any other interlopers.)

Zorra's still the only one I can pet and feed by hand, though Chucho sneaks into the house occasionally to investigate the snack supply.

NOTE TO SELF: tidy up their dining room before Christmas, pick up a couple of cans of sardines for Christmas morning.