Dear Diary, I never should have mentioned the magical, mystical mama BC. She's been gone now for at least 2 weeks along with 3 of her kits. A little white fur ball with gray spots has been left behind, frightened and skittish and alone. No indication of what has happened to BC and her brood. I fear the worst (dinner by a wild animal) and hope the best (they've all moved to a new location). We'll never know. BC lived here all her life. Her mama birthed her in the cellar of the house and hid her there for 2 months. That's how she got her name -- BC, short for Basement Cat. She had to be physically extricated from the crawl space under the house. Never did take to humans. Lived on the outskirts near the creek bed as much as possible. Quite possible she moved the family across the creek and into the wheat fields to teach them how to hunt mice and not be reliant on humans. I stay closer to the house now when I go outside.