An update.

No one has reported this cat missing anywhere in the area... So she went to my vet for a Feluk test. She tested negative and so I don't have to be quite so careful about contact with my guys. She does have fleas though so she is still in the garage until that treatment is finished. This weekend I will do a complete clipping of her mats (right now I just did the ones that were pulling.) and after she fattens up a bit I see about finding her a home of her own.

I spoke to the director of the school I work for, and although it is against policy to make a contract before Sept. (most schools do contracts in spring so waiting would put me in jepardy of not being able to find a job if the contract didn't come up to enough) he promised me enough that I might be able to work out a way to keep the animals and me in our home.

It still isn't secure but it is more hope than I've had in awhile....

Since I had committed to a vet visit for the stray before this conversation even though it would have been much more sensible to take her to the shelter...I am taking this as a sign that things are improving. And I have a feeling that once the fleas are gone unless she and the others can't get along, Miss Mae (she came on May Day) may just join the colony....