The mom is unpredictable!

That mom has shown she can't be trusted.

I just checked the shelter and all 3 kittens were cuddled up together so maybe the mom has moved them back. If we do get that rain, I'll be out making sure they aren't soaking wet and crying.

but she seems capricious, at best.

Mama’s told you “who she is”, bless her heart, so it’s up to you to look after that boy, ABSOLUTELY!!

No judgement on Mama, her mysterious ways are just not for us hoomans to grasp, and that’s okay! Meanwhile, baby Tudor has landed himself in the *best* possible scenario any wee kitteh can ask for!!

YEP!!

I'll never be able to move past last Tuesday morning, where she's concerned.

I think you are mostly his HooMom now.

To be fair, though, he did just poop in the litter box.

...he is just a kitten who hasn't figured out the litter box yet.

I was peed on by a tiger once...I guess he liked me.

He needs your reliability.

Tudor is too young to fend for himself. You just don’t know what’s in Mom’s mind.

And probably would have if you had not found him just in time. So, I ask you - Who is the best mama for Tudor, you or his biological moma? Are you guaranteed to find him next time before he dies?

Far too often I've seen her with the other 3 kittens and Tudor all by himself. And if she moves them, again, and I don't see him for a day, I don't even want to think about it. I know I'd have a different attitude if that hadn't happened but she left all three outside while she was in a shelter only about 15 feet away. She had to have heard Bronwyn. I heard her from inside the house.

It isn't an easy life in the urban wild. His mama and siblings need to be spayed or neutered before there are more. Is there any help for you in that area? It's not easy, or enjoyable to trap them. But you know all of this, nothing new here. Thank you for all you do for your corner of the urban wild. I have a boy in my area who I tried to catch. It was bad timing, 4th of July month. So I make sure he has food with my ferrel on my front porch. The fox completely leave him alone. Ramble ramble ramble.......

If you could reason with her, I'm sure she would agree he is better off adopted by a caring human.

You're his mama, and a damn good one at that.

I think sometimes animals won’t care for runts of a litter. By the way hate that word runt. Tudor is a doll, and again you did the right thing.

. . . at some point to trap, neuter, and release her?

You definitely did the right thing!

The mother has proven time and again that she is an unreliable care giver to tiny Tudor. You can rest easy on this decision.

While she may have momentary wanted to care for him she’s already shown she’s not in it for the long haul.

If the plane loses pressure, you place the mask on yourself first enable yourself to help others. So, you must protect yourself from anxiety, sleeplessness, and the potential for grief and regret by ensuring Tudor's safety. When Tudor gets bigger and stronger, she will be ready to harass her mother with impunity, as all kittens do. I look forward to those stories!

Just a thought