No more animals

[hughnique]

Well that soon went out of the window, little puss arrived a couple of months ago, just skirting around the garden but keeping a distance, wife was told not to feed it, we already have 2 cats found in the garden as tiny kittens 16 years ago. I craftily left bit of grub out for him and he ventured closer each day, an entire male the first fight he had with another stray cost me 50€ and advice from the vet to castrate, but not my cat, vet said no chip, anyone's cat. Next fight bit more serious, back up vets, patch him up and off with his nuts, now settling in nicely and so friendly, it really is satisfying to gain the trust of an animal.

[Bayleaf]

I know that feeling! As we lose a cat to old age, a feral one magically appears, so we always seem to have about 4 cats - only two proper "domestic" ones. I don't mind - they're all welcome. We are here to serve them!

[MAD87]

Ditto, sauf que... We leave a bowl outside on the terrace for an old, partially blind entire male cat. That has attracted other strays. We can't feed them all! Oh, and did I mention the birds who help themselves to cat food?

[Bayleaf]

did I mention the birds who help themselves to cat food?

I have a bowl in the barn, which is mostly for an aging male feral cat - he may be feral, but he is Mr Chattyman, and literally gets under my feet when I see to the pony and donk! The other outdoor bowl is by the back door - right against the door to hopefully not get rained on, and this is for the tabby feral, plus magpies, gendarme beetles, butterflies, you name it! I draw the line at slugs and snails though, and whip the bowl back indoors if I see them tucking in - they have plenty of green things to pig out on! With a previous old semi-feral cat that was abandoned by previous neighbours, I'd rigged up a small pallet sloped against the wall, covered with tarp - so he could have an area out of the sun and rain. In his last days last summer, he would finally come in to get a little grooming session and sit with us while we ate our supper. Like he knew he wasn't long for this world. They're amazing creatures and good for our souls.

[Bayleaf]

Just don't let it get out of control, Hughnique!

kitty plan.jpg

[Quiksilver]

We decided 'no more' once our two 13-year olds pop off, but every year it gets harder to resist the pleas of the local refuges. They're snowed under with kittens I'm seriously wondering whether I could sneak the odd litter into the (closed) bedroom on a fostering basis, without upsetting ours too much. Problems start if the refuge can't find homes for them, though.
At least quite a few of the communes round here run a 'catch and sterilize' programme which should (eventually) ease the situation.

[exile]

We have a large guinea pig cage, where we install newcomers in full sight of the incumbents. Lots of sniffing and occasionally a hiss or snarl; but after a few days things settle down and the newbies can be released.

OH and @Bayleaf, only 11 or is it 10? Not even trying.