Fantastic story! I love this. Poor Digit.
And boy do I regret trapping my feral friend Freddie (he had bitten me so I had to so I could quarantine him), then taking him to be fixed, ear tipped, nails clipped and rabies vaccinated. The poor fellow had just started to trust me. After that he disappeared for a few days and I had to start nearly over getting him to trust me again. Now he's in my house at night and roaming outside during the day, so I think we've made our peace. But this story makes me so sad for all the little kittens and even the grown up cats that humans think they know so much more about how the cats should be living than the cats themselves do.
I operate a rescue home for burned and abused cats and kittens. I used to work with all animals but one day I counted 18 kittens, 6 cats, 1 dog, 1 puppy, a Houdini snake, an ADHD hamster with rapid tooth growth condition, a bearded dragon, and a bunny, all at once in my 3 bedroom house, I reluctantly had to downsize my efforts. Its not that I didn't have the ability, its that I didn't have the quality time to spend with each one. After treating their immediate medical needs, their hearts need healing next- which is the longest part of the process. Getting a pet to trust again and open it's heart after suffering abuse takes great patience and time. But it's so totally worth it <3
Unfortunately, the evil and disgusting things some humans will do to animals is horrific and disturbing, and I've become quite jaded. However, I can't not keep helping :)
It's truly a labor of love. And the inspiration for The Strays Series.
Freddie is blessed to have an amazing friend in you <3