Comments on: Friday Cat Blogging

By: Friday Cat Blogging — Why Now?

Friday Cat Blogging — Why Now? — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:14:22 +0000

[...] KT was shown two years ago, and earlier this month I featured KT-2. It looks like there’s a KT-3 joining the crew with Mama’s [...]

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:47:06 +0000

These are cats – I don’t manage anything. I take those I can for neutering and bring them back, because they will never be “pets” but they will defend their “territory”. There is a small colony, perhaps a dozen, down from a high of over 60. The fixed females live 8+ years outside, while the unfixed only live about 4 years.

Due to the fleas, fireants, and predators, there is a high kitten mortality rate, so the size remains stable.

Even with the vet’s bills it really is the cheapest way for dealing with feral cats. Feeding them also allows us to have a bird population, because without the feeding stations they would take all of the “game” in the area.

By: Anne

Anne — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 16:20:10 +0000

Here via the Friday Ark. It sounds like you manage a feral cat colony. That’s so great. Our Clara is formerly feral. She was trapped for TNR at about 1-2 yo. She was going to be returned to the colony bc she wasn’t very sociable w/people. But she stayed at the shelter a little longer than usual bc they found she was pregnant when she was spayed so she needed a little longer aftercare bco the terminations done. Annnnnyway, she ended up caring for a litter of orphaned kittens. She warmed up ever so slightly to the shelter people and she stayed. For four years. Then she and her shelter buddy Mr. Moustache came home with us. He’s since died, but she’s still with us since 1999. She’s at least 15 yo now, still distant, but she will let me pet her and she does come over to me for love on her own terms. Over the course of years of work, the shelter folks managing that colony got the numbers down to just a handful of cats. So, long story short, thanks for all you people who care for feral cats!

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:40:41 +0000

I am at least 25 feet away from her, or she would take off. There is something about those particular markings, which are shared with Katy, and KT, that make them look a little morose.

It has to be frustrating, but if she were a bit friendlier I could give her a bit of the wet food that she wouldn’t have to share.

By: oldwhitelady

oldwhitelady — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:05:14 +0000

Aw! KT-2 is beautiful. She does look a bit surly in that picture. Perhaps she just doesn’t like having her picture taken.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:24:02 +0000

I’m sure that Mimi does get the exemption, because kittens have learn the seniority system, and I’m sure she had more important issues that seniority to worry about.

It takes a couple of litters before feral females really enter the leadership competition, and then it is usually done by pairs of related females who take turns testing the limits.

By: jams O'Donnell

jams O'Donnell — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 07:40:33 +0000

I’m sure she’ll be part of the melee soon. Our Bebe must have been a low status feral. Even now she hangs back so we feed her separately to ensure she isn’t bullied off her food. Mimi seems to have a sort of kitten exemption. Perhaps the boys look on her as just that