Feral Fables

Kibble was the boldest cat of all Snow's kittens. She showed interest in me and bravery in approaching me from the start. She is very clever and smart and figured out quickly that the click of the porch door meant food. She would pop-up from under the deck (alone) and peer at me placing the food on the porch. Then she'd wait for me to go back inside before coming on the porch to eat. Little by little she gained trust with me and came closer during feeding times as well. She was a model for all of the other cats, who kind of hung back and watched what was happening. She was the first cat I could touch, the first cat to come in the house, the first cat for a lot of things. She has become my little companion around the house and the yard. She follows me around when I go out to cut or dead-head flowers, always near, watching me and relaxing. She's also very possessive of me-----does not get along too well with the other cats, really. She tolerates them-----barely.

She has many nicknames (all the cats have at least one). She's the "Princess", the "Princess-diva", "Spunkin-punkin", "The Kibbler" and many more. (I don't really have a process for the nicknames other than they have to descriptively fit the cat in some way. I know it's a little crazy, but admit it------you have nicknames for you pets too!)

An interesting story about Kibble.......the first winter the cats were with us, it was just Snow and the 5 kittens. We really had no appropriate shelter for them. We didn't quite know how to provide shelter. I remember our first attempt was to put a box under the deck with some blankets in it. What a laugh! That was destroyed with the first snow. Then we rigged up a spot on the porch in the corner that is protected by the house on 2 sides. We put the frame from a stool down, put a glass top on it, filled it with blankets and draped a blanket over part of the opening to keep out as much wind as possible. The porch was just screened-in, so the wind and snow could come in if blowing the right way. However, most of the time it was dry and the cats curled up together and slept the winter away.

By the next winter, there were cats from a second litter and Kibble was even less enthusiastic about them than her own siblings. So around November she decided to take off on her own. I was really disheartened because I had become so attached to her, but she was and is free to make up her own mind about these things and clearly wanted to go. She did come around to eat from time to time so I knew she was OK, but I did miss her. In the meantime, I had found a fantastic website that advertised outdoor cathouses. Outdoor Cathouses . Some of them were heated. I ordered one immediately. When I received it and the cats used it, I ordered another one that was two stories high (cat stories, that is).

Tuffy in Two-Story House

(Sorry I can't figure out how to orient the picture correctly) Anyway-----Kibble came for a visit in early March, which is still cold, crappy weather here. She took one look around at the accommodations and hasn't left since. The next winter we had a storm door and storm windows made for the porch so the cats really have it good. Then Kibble decided last November that she would be a "housecat." She stayed in the house all winter, sleeping inside and using a litterbox as well (no training needed). I wondered if she would stay "indoors" when the nice weather came, but as I said, she is smart......she of course wants to go out! But, she never goes too far and I'm certain come the cold days of November, she'll be my little "housecat" for the winter. That's all right with me.

Well------I have been off-line for several days again due to the catastrophic (ha, ha, no pun intended!) weather we have had here in Milwaukee in the past couple of days. Thursday night the sky got that funny looking color that always signals severe weather. Within a half hour tornado warnings were posted and severe downpours hit my area. We have never seen anything like this........the TV channel office not too far from our home reported 5 1/2 inches of rain in 45 minutes! Total rainfall for the day----8 inches-----if you can imagine that! The neighborhood had water rushing down the street like it was a river. Concrete from the street was just flipped up in the air by the force of the water. Cars and people were stranded all over the place.

The cats behavior during these types of storms is always interesting. Several of them will seek dryness and safety on the covered porch. A couple of them will come in the house. One of them----that crazy Braveheart-----runs for cover under the deck only to emerge hours later after the storm has passed, safe but a little wet! Thursday night we actually had Kibble, Hunter and Snow in the house with us. Jingle was on the porch and Braveheart, of course---under the deck. We were trying to herd the inside cats downstairs in the basement family room because of the tornado warning. Marty was glued to the TV as I tried to entertain the cats. With the amount of rain that was coming down, we were hoping we wouldn't get any perimeter leaking. A few times in 20 some years this has happened with extremely high amounts of rain. It has never been anything that couldn't be dealt with by using a few old towels.

All of a sudden on we noticed water coming in. We jumped up------chased the cats back upstairs-----started grabbing towels and rugs and blankets to try and stop the water. Where was it coming from? It was coming in so fast!! Which wall---------Holy Smokes!!! The sewer drain was backing up!! OMG. I have never seen anything like it. Marty was trying, without success to bail water down the washtub drain, but the water came out so fast their wasn't anything that could be done. Within a few minutes, our entire basement family room, laundry and storage areas were full of raw sewage water. I tried to grab what I could to save. Yuck----walking around in that water to grab stuff was disgusting. I just couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Our neighbors are in the same situation we found as we were all comparing notes later that evening. Finally, during a lull in the weather, Braveheart came out from under the deck. He ran over to me mewing softly as he does and just waited for me to start rubbing him dry with a towel. He tolerates this well as I think he knows what I am trying to do.

We had to cutoff many of the breakers because we now had electrical under water. We sure didn't want a fire. So, no lights, no computer. We started making calls to the insurance company and got emergency workers lined up to deal with the removal and cleaning. People have been in and out of the house all day long. The cats are generally affected by this kind of activity. They become tense and more reclusive until things quiet down. More to come tomorrow-----.

                                                                      Braveheart

He is a most spectacularly handsome cat-------don't you agree? He is from the first litter and the lead male cat now. He did not always have that position. When "Tuffy" was living, Tuffy was the lead cat. But after his death (another story for another day) Braveheart took over that role. Of course, "Snow" is the top, top cat-------no doubt about that-----------but Braveheart is certainly next in line. He was given his name by my father when he was still alive. Upon seeing how shy and reticent he was as a kitten, my dad remarked in his gruff, humorous, tongue-in-cheek manner------"a real Braveheart, hey???" and the name stuck. It is appropriate though, as he is regal and very protective of his clan, like his namesake. He is the lookout of the group, and quick to challenge any intruder to the yard (cat intruder, that is.......). He is also very gentle, skittish and most loving. He is very close with Snow and Jingle, but especially with Snow. He follows her just about everywhere. They swish and headbutt a lot. It took longer for me to get close to him than it did to get close to his mom, but he is very loving with me now. He loves to have the side of his face scratched or brushed and will lean into any strokes with my hand or a brush. Sometimes he lies down exposing his belly to me while I continue to brush and massage him. He purrs and even drools------for a few minutes. Then he'll get up quickly and look around as if to say----"did anyone see that?" He is very playful with toys and can get pretty spunky in the evening, running around the yard. In the winter he is very funny with snow when it falls. He goes out to the deck and runs through the new snow using his paws as shovels to scoop the snow up in the air. Then he jumps at it as if it's a mouse he's caught! He does come indoors, but usually doesn't want to stay for too long. He's mostly an outdoor cat. In spite of his short coat, he is well equipped as he has an extremely dense coat with a heavy, downy under coat. This summer with the hot humid weather, he has been spending time under the papasan chair on the porch where the floor is cool and protected from the sun.

Everything went fine with Snow's spay and she was back with her two litters in no time. Over the course of the next 6 months while the cats settled in on the back porch for the fall and winter, I would go out to the porch throughout the day and take toys and treats with me. While it is innate for cats to hunt and play, playing with "man-made" toys, is something they have to learn. I noticed that during these "play" sessions, Snow was very interested in the "toys." This became our key to connecting to each other. She desperately wanted to play and I desperately wanted her to become less afraid of me. I tried a variety of toys and found that she was very playful indeed with all of them. Little by little I just moved the playing closer to me. When possible, I would put my hand down and gently touch her. She would be surprised and then move away, but only for a moment. We did this little dance over and over again.

Then, one day, it all changed. It is a quite remarkable thing when it happens. All of a sudden it clicked in her head-----"that touch feels good,"-----------and she leaned into me momentarily. It happened in an instant, like turning on a light. That was the beginning of our love affair. It turns out that the most wild, most feral, most fierce cat who stood down a raccoon once--------is very loving and affectionate with me. She will come running when she hears toys being pulled out or even when she hears my voice call or my car arrive home. But she frequently comes in during the day when the porch doors are open just to see me, get head rubs,  and to "head butt" with me (this is a form of affection between cats and serves the purpose of strengthening the familial bonds).

Snow is the undeniable leader of Feral Fables as she is the oldest female. She has many ways she asserts her authority with the other cats. An unexpected bop, a hiss, a loud cranky "meow", the refusal to swish or head-butt with another member-----when I am playing with another cat, she will walk right in the middle of the whole interaction as if to say----"this is my turf, my toy and I want to play NOW!" When I talk on the phone or even have a normal conversation with my husband, Snow gets all upset and starts meowing at me loudly. If this has no effect, she will actually come and take my hand (or my foot) in her mouth as if to say, "stop or I will have to bite you!" (even though she never has). I have realized she does this because she does not really like my "normal" voice, only my high-pitched, baby-talking voice that I use with her and the other cats. Recently, my favorite thing with Snow is she jumps up and over the couch, and demands a head rub, drooling the entire time I am giving it to her. Wild, indeed!!

Snow is the mother cat pictured in the header bar. We had seen her around the neighborhood every now and then the spring and summer of 2005. I called her the "cow cat" because her markings remind me of the Guernsey cows we see here in Wisconsin so often. (I'm sure she would be mortified to know she was referred to in that manner.) Once she settled here with the kittens I knew we needed a proper name for her. One day as I was trying to think of a good name I looked out at her sitting in the yard when snow was on the ground and "Snow" seemed to fit. She was a very feral cat. I am sure born outside (not kicked out or thrown out as many neighborhood cats are). She would immediately hide when she saw my face even through the window. As the kittens began to trust me, her fear of me began to subside. But this took an extremely long time. Well over a year.

She was an excellent mother to both of her litters------yes, she got pregnant again before we could trap her-------she never ate before them. She always waited until they were done and then approached the bowl. She was cautious, loving, tolerant of their pawing and play and very fierce when needed. One summer evening in 2006 when she had returned to the yard with the second litter, Snow was on the deck with her kittens as the neighborhood raccoon came under the fence from the next yard over. She ran right up to that raccoon (at least twice her size) with her teeth barred, claws out and howling. That raccoon took one look at her and took off like a shot!! I was shocked, particularly because I have seen raccoons raise themselves up on their hind legs and they are menacing looking when they do this. But this raccoon knew better than to mess with this mama cat.

As far as trapping her to spay her---------she was pretty clever. Marty and I repeatedly set the trap only to have no luck. We were getting frantic as we knew as the second litter matured, that she would separate from them and go off and get PG again. I could not handle that. We were getting desperate. One of the Humane Society workers shared a way to set the trap that used one of the kittens sort of as a lure without harming the kitten. We already had trapped "Jingle" and he was set to be released. The suggestion was to put the traps back to back so mom would be fooled into going into the trap to get her kitten. OMG! First-------Jingle, cried and cried to be released. That is awful to listen to------heartbreaking! But we had to be tough to get this mama cat for her own good! Next thing I knew, Snow had laid down next to the trap and was nursing Jingle through the bars of the trap! That broke my heart right there. I said to Marty, "I cannot do this anymore!", and went out and released Jingle.

One night, we decided to set the trap because we were going to be home and the weather was good. But I had just fed the cats so I really did not think we would have any luck getting Snow. We were sitting at the kitchen table looking out at the yard, watching the kittens and the trap. All of a sudden we noticed Snow was walking around the trap smelling the food. I thought-----she'll never go in. She just ate! But she kept smelling. Marty and I were in the house repeating the mantra, "Go in the trap.... go int the trap." Much to our surprise-----she went in. OMG! You would think the Packers had won another Super Bowl the way we jumped up, yelled, high-fived each other and danced around the kitchen! Finally we had gotten our mama cat.

One week ago I buried my baby boy, Fuzzywig. He was the cutest, fuzzy-ist, ball of fur you ever did see. I would like to share the letter I sent to friends and family about him:


It is with profound sadness in my heart that I write to tell you, last Monday morning I found my beloved cat “ Fuzzywig” lying dead at the side of the road just a half block from the only home he ever knew. He had been hit by a car---a speeding one no doubt. People drive way to fast on this street. They don’t look for cats, or dogs or even kids.

It is hotter than hell here in Wisconsin today. One of those humid summer days we get because of our proximity to Lake Michigan. One of those days I wish we had central air.....yeah, we are living in the dark ages here with only a window air conditioner for the bedroom. We live  in a house with radiator heat so the installation of central air would be big bucks. It is interesting now that I have cats that everything gets turned into what I call "cat value." For instance-----central air......the cat value of that could be 10 emergency room trips......for the cats that is. Or central air could be a lifetime supply of flea medication, vet trips or so many toys I wouldn't be able to keep track, and so on. I never thought I would see things in this way, but the cats have become very close to my heart and I basically would do and have done anything for them. They are miserable in this heat today as well-------they are slow, lazy, lethargic. Not even too hungry. They deal with the heat by finding the large hosta plants and other bushes in my yard and curling up under them for the afternoon until the heat of the day passes (that is Jingle in the photo). They are so well hidden that even I can't always find them when I want to.

The first time we trapped, we had no idea what we were doing. My husband, Marty, handled the traps, putting them on the porch or deck in the position we wanted. I prepared the food and set the traps. We had to be a team because I could not handle the traps myself. (It is important to note that we only used humane traps that do not harm the cats in any way.) That Sunday afternoon we had three traps (that's all we could get). We set them on the porch and waited quietly. We spied through the glass and silently encouraged the cats, "go in the trap, go in the trap," laughing and praying at the same time. Snow (the mom)  would not even come on the porch with the traps----she was too smart for that. But the kittens, now about 6 months old were not so wary.

It wasn't long.....Boom--boom--boom!! The three traps snapped closed and we had trapped our first cats. We were shocked that it happened so easily. (It is not always the case). We quickly covered them with towels as we had learned to do (it calms them) and took them to the prepared area in the basement. They would spend the night there. In the morning, Marty loaded up my car and I drove them to the humane society for their surgeries. The humane society workers unloaded the cats for me (they are saints!), I registered them and went home to wait. Everything went well and I picked them up that night. Once again Marty took them to the basement area to recover and at the designated time, we released them into our yard. They all bolted out of the traps, but they returned the next day, hungry as usual. That was in February of 2006. Since then we have TNR'ed over 40 cats.

As the winter progressed we had so many absolutely hesterical moments watching the kittens in the yard. Everything was new of course. I remember the first snow....... they jumped at the flakes, pawed them, tried to catch them in their mouths.....there were little kitten paw prints all over the deck! Snow, the mother, had her moments of spunkiness as well. But-----one thing we worried about---------when is a kitten ready to mate? (5-6 months of age) and do they mate with each other? (they sure do) and how many cats could that potentially be? (thousands, literally thousands within a couple of years). So we began to panic. How are we going to get these cats neutered? I made some phone calls thinking I could find a vet with reduced rates with no success. I also called the Wisconsin Humane Society thinking they could give me some vet referrals. I was so surprised when I described my situation and WHS worker told me, "why, we do that here." The next thing we needed to know was how? That is when we learned all about Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). Our humane society had a TNR program. We could rent traps from them for a small amount. They would neuter the cats, vaccinate them, micro-chip them and return them to us to be released back into our yard as long as we agreed to care for them by providing food and water. I went through the short training and we enthusiastically began.

You may wonder why we didn't trap the cats and then take them to a shelter for adoption. The fact is most feral cats are afraid of humans and so they do not make suitable pets. Some of them can be socialized, but it takes an extremely long time and a lot of dedication on the part of the caretaker. The cats are actually happier outside, even in the middle of the Wisconsin winter. Even being enclosed inside a warm house, with no way out, will panic a feral cat. That doesn't mean they don't want our help in the form of a shelter and food and water. Over time, if you are lucky-------they will let you into their world, not the other way around. To learn more about feral cats and TNR you can go to:

•  www.alleycat.org         
•  www.bestfriends.org
•  www.wihumane.org