This was a nice Spooky surprise.

[Siwsan]

I walked out to the veg garden, saw some trumpet vine that needed snipping, turned back to get the snippers and here's who was stationed between me and the house. Apparently Spooky is almost starting to trust me. He let me hang around, about 6 feet away, while he ate and drank. Even my swatting at mosquitoes didn't make him react. Not so long ago, just opening the door would send him racing away.

I think this calls for some sort of celebration.

[SheltieLover]

1. So happy for you!

Are you in harsh climate during winters? They will need to trust you!

Beautiful kitty!

[Siwsan]

3. I'm in Michgain, so..........................

I'm going to try to come up with a shelter they will actually use. They ignored the one I put out, last year.

[SheltieLover]

4. Yikes!

Can you put cat door in garage maybe?

[Siwsan]

5. They never come around to the front of the house.

I'm going to enlist some family members into helping me come up with something.

[zuul]

12. You can train them to come to the front of your house.

Slowly move their food bowls in that direction a couple feet at a time. You will probably hit a few spots that make them nervous, but just keep at it and you will succeed.

You might want to try squirting some catnip spray at the front of the house too. Whenever I use the spray, my feral colony comes running. They can smell it a half block away.

I was able to train my feral colony to come inside my back door by slowly moving their food dishes onto the back porch then into the den (with the back door open) then all the way inside. It took about a month but it worked.

[WhiteTara]

10. I have a dog who won't come in the house

during the winter (She's a high mountain dog) so I used a seed heat mat. It stays a constant temp. For her, I put it under straw, but kitties would prefer a blanket, I'm sure.

[niyad]

2. awwww. He likes you, the gorgeous boy.. I love the fact that they actually seem to

enjoy having their pictures taken.

[magicarpet]

6. Okay,... what have you done to his eyes....?

.....Somthin' don't look quite right....

.. Are those kitty contact lenses ?

.... Or too much catnip ?

[Siwsan]

7. They seem to be reflecting the concrete!!

Trust me - they are as yellow as ever. Well, and I did put out a nice bit of catnip, today.

[malaise]

8. Trust

They know who like them

[abqtommy]

9. My idea of celebrating involves either a hot fudge sundae or a chocolate malt. Or both.

Choose wisely!

[ChazInAz]

11. Black kitties!

A cat like that needs to be named something appropriate. "Spooky" is a good start, but needs a bit more panache.
Spooky Miss Katonic.
Spooky of Ulthar.
My own black cat revels in the awesome title of "Empress of Carcosa, Queen Shadowskiddyboomboom The Pitiless". She told me her name.
"Shadow" to her friends.

[wnylib]

14. Many years ago I had a black cat

that I named Merlin. His vet chuckled over the appropriateness of that name, associated with sorcery, for a solid black, kitty.

[momta]

13. Yes! I love a good celebration!