I had a little a bit of a scare, yesterday, concerning Skittish and the kittens

[Siwsan]

Skittish was unusually late in showing up for breakfast. I put out the extra food for the kittens, but never saw them. There was still some food in the bowl, this morning. And Skittish didn't turn up for any snacks.

This morning she was on time and EVENTUALLY Spooky Jr. showed up. A semi sigh of relief, from me. And then Scooter arrived. Ok. Better. Now Skittish is looking over her shoulder, towards the shrubs where they stay, in my neighbor's yard. Hopefully that means she's watching for Mittens to arrive.

ALL of the ferals have turned up their noses at some higher end dry food I got at a BOGO sale so, lesson learned. Today I'm off to buy some 9-Lives or Meow Mix - what ever I can use my 20% discount coupon on at Big Lots. I'll donate the unopened bag of the 'healthy' food to a shelter. Hopefully they have some less fussy eaters.

Funny how accommodating and attached I've become to these fur balls, even though they won't even let me pet them.

[Walleye]

1. I know exactly how you feel. I have been taking care of a feral for 11 years now

Had him neutered and released when he was a kitten. He became very tame loves me to pet him but when he comes inside and I close the door he freaks out, so he’s an outdoor cat. I live on the second floor and he climbs up the pole on my deck every evening for supper and often is at my back door early morning. I’d be devastated if he didn’t show up. I know he can’t live forever. He has a place where he gets in under the building during the winter and stays pretty warm.

[CurtEastPoint]

2. When you are accepted by a feral, you have made it!

[Walleye]

3. My indoor cat, Patches, a few years ago took up residence on my deck

Don’t know where he came from he was about half grown and he must’ve been left behind by a neighbor. I still had my old cat, after a few months of living on my deck and making friends with my feral, tiger, he got in a fight and I had to take him to the vet for the bite. I said while he’s there fixing to give him his shots and I brought him inside, he’s been my indoor cat ever since. I really love him. I’ve never had to go get a cat they always come to me

[CurtEastPoint]

4. Ditto. I'm a magnet!

[Siwsan]

5. My little Sophie Stinky Toes is a rescue

As was Boudicca, my late and great Tortie.

If I can catch these kittens, I'll definitely 'foster' them. If they want to remain outdoor cats, that's fine. I'll get them their vaccinations and have them neutered. Same with their mama. She, Spooky and Bruiser are my main target for TNR.

[Walleye]

6. TNR works. We got a bunch of kittens neutered about 10 years ago and released. Haven't

We didn’t have any more pregnant cats coming in here to have their kittens anymore. Now the feral cat population is very much under control here. Love the name Sophie Stinky-toes.

[Ocelot II]

7. I worry when Mr. Cat doesn't show up for a day or two.

He often sleeps on the chair on my front porch, especially in bad weather. When it's hot I think he hangs out under the porch or in the shrubbery. But sometimes he apparently goes on walkabout and I don't see him for a couple of days and his food remains uneaten, and I worry about him even though he's not "my" cat and I can't pet him. He does seem less afraid of me, though, and hisses instead of running off if I get too close. If I'm filling his bowl he does let me come right up to him (and once I briefly touched his nose before he backed away).

He has a funny way of appearing out of nowhere when I'm working in the garden - his head pops up out of the hostas and he stares at me until I tell him I'll get him something to eat. While I'm in the house opening a can of cat food he comes onto the front or back porch (whichever part of the yard he found me) and waits by his bowl while staring at the door. This has been going on for quite awhile now. At some point before the weather turns cold again I'll have to figure out how to catch him and get him to a shelter or something. I've become very attached to him, while he has become very attached to the food.