Alisande... I can only guess...but those pellet like "things" may be engorged ticks. When I zoomed in on your original postings...I saw them then. They seem to be aligned alone her back spinal area. She's been through the wringer for one reason or another and her immunity defenses may not be what they should be. Being weak, she'll become an easy host for almost anything. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't be so visible [in your yard] on such a continual basis...and if those are ticks...she would have rubbed them off long before they reached that size. She's there because neither you nor your pets have threatened her and she needs a safe haven for her twins. She's probably bedding down with them in your tall grass areas and provided she has a water source nearby...she'll stay there until her twins are strong enough to survive on their own. Those wounds, if we're right, are not that old. If they were, we wouldn't be able to see them so easily. I'm glad you brought mama cat in for a while. At least until she's strong enough to run fast and climb. Most cats have enough sense to run from a bear. Dogs want to defend their territory often to their own demise. It must have been a terrible experience for you. I know it would have been for me. If possible...could you post photos/progress reports from time-to-time? It's hard to tell her age from photos but if she's a liability, her own kind will shun her...and I hope she makes it.

Very cool pictures this morning. Although, vetaal, repose?? He looks more like he's licking his lips to me!!! LOL I hope you were using a long, long zoom lens for that picture!

*Big sigh!!* I tried this morning to post and it didn't go through, then I couldn't get here at all! So I reposted it, but it cut off the last number of the date.

lydia, this was my first time to raise the monarchs. You need to plant a butterfly weed or milkweed plant. That is the only plant they eat and lay their eggs ons. This is the first year that I noticed the monarch cats on mine and they were covered with it. So I put them in this little container with butterfly weeds leaves. You must put new leaves in every day, they eat like little piggys. After about 10 days, they spin a cocoon, then in around 7-10 days they turn into a butterfly. It takes them several hours to dry their wings before they can be released. Its a thrill and I am sure glad that I tried it.