Semi Feral Cat fun....

[YellowRubberDuckie]

So, this evening, I came home, and before going in our side door, I went to the front and got our mail. I heard mewing, and saw our favorite neighborhood cat we call McGonagall. She is a stunning cat. She is a charcoal gray tortoise with orange. Very pretty face and soft green eyes. She is one stunning cat. Anyway, so, I sat down on the step and pet her. She and I looked at each other for a really long time. It was a kinda creepy, actually. I pet her for quite a while and when I got up to go into the house she followed me. I'd let her in and let her have the run of the place if it weren't for my husband being allergic to cats, my dogs, and the fact that I don't know if she's vaccinated. Anyway, so I get into the jeep and sit because it is cold outside. A few minutes pass, and I find her curled up on the step in front of our side door. She is looking around waiting for me to come back and pet her some more.
Then in my rear view, this large black tom that also comes around and likes to talk to me, but won't let me pet him, comes up the drive. All of a sudden, I hear a hissing noise, and I see this flash of orange go over the fence into my backyard. The black cat sees her, and races across the front yard to head her off.
I figure he's chased her off, so I let my dogs into the back yard. We're out there for like five minutes, and I hear this mewing again. I look up and the black tom cat is on the top of the neighbor's garage, looking up. I look up to where he's looking and he's TREED McGonagall. She is mewing at me like "Help me." Last I looked she was comfortably curled up in the top fork of the tree, and he is still making sure she's not going anywhere.
Oh, I love these animals. They are too freaking smart and scare the crap out of me, but oh, they are entertaining.
Duckie

[nolabear]

1. I once had a friend who had several outdoor cats, most notably a big black Tom

named Mephistopheles, and a little female they just called Mama Cat, for obvious reasons. More than once we saw MC come tearing through the yard with a dog in hot pursuit, only to have Mephistopheles drop on the dog from a tree branch and ride it for a few hysterical moments. I swear it was planned. If not, it was still sheer pleasure to watch.

[applegrove]

2. If they get into a fight I recommend that you don't interveen unless you have a weapon.

I did one time and the aggressor turned on me and attacked.

[MrMickeysMom]

3. I remember the Toms in my old neighborhood...

We had a pool, and under a full moon watched these cats do stare and dare... you know, that low gutteral tone right before they dare to kick each other's ass. They went at it near the pool, sure enough... fell in.

Rumble was over real quick after that!

[kimi]

4. Oh, I think I know your dilemma

I have to head off various ferals from front door to back on various nights. They're all males from what I know, one has been neutered but is very territorial, and one I'm working on to trap soon, just trying to gain his trust a bit, and the other is an occasional visitor, and very very skittish. I will hear howls and yowls outside from time to time, and go out to skeer em all off. I worry about them all, and care for them, and wonder what will happen when I move next spring, which makes me think I'd better start trapping soon so as to take them all with me.

[Withywindle]

5. I think the tom cat doesn't want to hurt her, per se

He might want to make yet another litter of homeless kittens.

If you can possibly trap her and spay her, please do.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

6. One of my friends used to work for the local SPCA...

...but she moved back to MD. I think she has a family, honestly. She is well cared for and not at all hurting for food. Neither was the large tom. I think the cats around here are indoor/outdoor and have decided they like us. I sat for an hour one night just talking to the tom. He'd mew back like he was trying to talk to me. It was rather cute, actually.
Duckie