Feral Fables

It's hard to believe, but Marty and I have just finished the downstairs "media" room that was devastated by the flooding here in Milwaukee last July. This was only a few weeks into the beginning of the blog site's opening. I have been trying to introduce all the cats (past &; present) along with their overall antics. While I was taking things from storage I came across some notes I wrote about "Caruso". I have not introduced him into the blog yet as he passed away on 1-16-2010. It has been difficult to write about him.

As all the rest of the cats did, Caruso came into our lives very unexpectedly. The first time I was made aware of him was on an early June morning when the window was open. He was, ahem, shall we say---singing his way through the neighborhood looking for a lady friend. He was so loud you could hear him three houses away. That's how he got his name-----for those of you who don't know or who are too young to know-----Enrique Caruso was a great opera tenor. The first time he came into the yard when I was sitting in the nice weather, he came right up to me and purred and purred-------loud!! The other cats were not excited about this addition, but he could care less. He'd found a nice shelter with free food and he wasn't going anywhere. He loved to eat, eat, eat. Treats he just gulped right out of my hand and he would sit like a dog waiting to get his. And believe me, he could not, would not be ignored. He became conditioned to the beeper on the microwave because I heat the cold food up before serving it. I loved this cat! He would jump up on my lap and put his front paws on my chest and just purr. I don't know why, but I always felt he was given to me because of the loss of my cat Tuffy several years ago.

Caruso's favorite place to sleep was always right in the middle of the floor. I think this was his way of telling the other cats, "You can't get rid of me!" He also developed other spots where he enjoyed sleeping.... On the couch (right in the middle all stretched out!) any of the chairs, the guest bed and many outdoor spots as well. When it was time to go out to sleep on the porch at night, he had the most peculiar habit of hissing very loudly as I showed him out or picked him up and took him out! It was never accompanied by any aggressive behavior, just the loud hiss which both my husband and I came to expect and laugh about. Eventually he did begin to want to stay in the house at night in the colder weather, but of course he still wanted to go out when he wanted to, so it became a habit of waking up in the wee hours of the morning and letting him out before rolling back into bed. Man---he sure did rule the roost!

When I had him neutered, I took him to my own vet. I had suffered the loss of 4 male cats in a row who had tested positive for FIV. When that happens to a cat in the TNR program, our Humane Society automatically kills these cats. I had done a lot of reading about FIV and found that not all shelters or rescue groups agree with this policy. In fact Alley Cat Allies no longer promotes this policy unless it appears that an animal may already be quite ill. I was afraid he may test positive so I spent my own money to have his surgery done. While at the vet appointment with Caruso (who was really just loving all the extra attention he was getting) the Doctor convinced me it would be in his best interest to know as it may help us to make decisions about his healthcare someday. I consented. He was neutered and he did test positive for FIV but not FeLV(leukemia). Cats can live long lives with FIV as long as their health is managed. So he came home and joined our group.

It is hard to explain everything that happened between my last entry and today. So much has happened to me, my family, my house and of course, my cats. As if being bitten wasn't enough, a few weeks later, I slammed my finger in the dining room swinging door which does not close completely unless it is pulled. Well I pulled it, and it ripped the entire nail and tip almost completely off. This also resulted in a trip to the ER (same hand) wouldn't ya know and my middle finger, of course. So I got to flip everyone off all during Christmas with a good excuse. None of this has any thing to do with the cats, but it helps explain why I have not been able to type. Also had hand surgery in Feb. 2011 and am still recovering from that.

All that doesn't hold a candle to what came next. On Superbowl Sunday morning Hunter came in and went to lay down in his fav spot pretty quickly. I had a fleeting thought of concern. My husband always says I over react where the cats are concerned, so we went to our super bowl party and came home with the thrill of another Green Bay Title. All this was immediately forgotten when Hunter entered the room. He was only using three legs to walk. He would not let me examine him and yelped when I did try to touch him.

This led me to suspect that once again he had a bite wound. We packed him up and took him to the ER once again. He had a very high fever and yes, numerous bite wounds---------more than the ones he had last fall. He stayed in the hospital for two days on IV fluids and antibiotics. I was visiting him twice a day and trying to get him to eat. He came home on Tuesday night when his temperature had been stable for a 24 hours. He did not have to have a drain tube put in because there was no abscess at this point. I had set-up an elaborate 2 crate space for him in the living room at table hight so I could interact with him easily while he was crated. Doctor orders were to keep him very quiet-----no walking, jumping, playing. He needed to rest. Since he had so many areas of injury, much of his fur had been shaved off. He was a perfect patient for me. He accepted his situation with quietude and grace. He seemed to be moving around in his cage OK and his spirits seemed improved to me. On Sunday, I decided to take him out of the crate for a few minutes to let him move around a bit. He was happy to be out, but he seemed a bit disoriented. He meowed and crouched a bit oddly as if he was in a strange place. I thought maybe he was just getting his legs back. But after a few more minutes, I noticed strange mouth movements (lip smacking) and extremely dilated pupils. I knew this was bad so once again poor Hunter was taken back to the ER. His temperature was up again which was a sign he was having difficulty fighting off an infection.

This was difficult decision making time for Marty and I. This was Hunter's second fight injury in four months. We knew, just like Caruso, he was not an inside only cat. He was happy to be indoors for long periods of time, but he still wanted out. We couldn't keep putting him through this type of medical treatment not only from a financial standpoint but from a quality of life standpoint as well. We decided we would try one more time-----a night in the hospital with IV fluids and antibiotics. Some further testing was recommended. Hunter had tested negative for FIV/FeLV in the past, but the doctors had concern that he may have acquired it from the bite he received the previous fall. We agreed to the tests and went home to cook our "Valentine Day's" dinner (lobster!) Just as soon as we sat down, the phone rang and it was the ER doctor. She did not have good news-----Hunter had tested positive for FIV and it was clear that this is why he was having difficulty fighting the infection he had. We knew immediately what our course of action would be. We had discussed it. After dinner, we somberly drove to the ER hospital knowing we needed to have Hunter put down. I have been in and out of this hospital so many time, but when I entered the doors that night, I almost fell down with grief.  Going in with a sick animal or to pick up a sick animal to come home is completely different from entering and knowing you are going to end a life.

We definitely wanted to see him and hold him during the procedure. I know this is a very personal decision for pet owners, but I could not have it any other way. I have had to do this twice in 14 months and both experiences were very peaceful, loving and very, very quick. One moment you can feel the life you are holding and two or three seconds later you only feel and "empty" body----void of life. We requested a  paw print and a bit of fur.......he was so beautiful. We also requested a private cremation and will bury most of his ashes in the garden like Caruso, Fuzzywig and Tuffy have been. I will keep some in memory of him.

So, it has taken me over two months to put any of this into words. Partially due to my hand surgery, but almost entirely because it is still too painful to relive. Hunter was such a great cat. He had such beauty, loved to eat and loved to play more than any other cat we've had. We have missed him dearly. See you over the Rainbow Bridge "big cahuna."

Tonight I found a small crusty "thing" on the tip of "Braveheart's" ear.

It is no surprise that I have not been able to keep up with blogging with all that has happened around here in the last month. In early November "Hunter" came home with an injury to his front right paw. I wasn't sure what it was as I saw no bleeding or scratches, but upon examination at the emergency vet service (the receptionist knows me by name now when I come in the door) it was found that he had a bite wound. As always with bite wounds, there is a very high risk of abscess with any bite. His was infected and required a cleaning and the placement of a drain for three days. He had to be crated during this time, but took it in stride pretty much. He was allowed out in the house when supervised, but not outside until fully healed.

On the day he was being taken in for stitches to be removed, I decided to remove his "e-collar" so it would be easier to get him in the carrier. Unfortunately the collar was not easy to un-hook and Hunter got freaked out by all the movement around his face. When I finally removed the collar and went to pet him, he reacted with a bite to my hand. OK....... I probably deserved that (from his standpoint) but it made me feel dejected for a while.

I have been bitten before........it is part of dealing with animals in the wild....... so I knew to wash it right away and apply antibiotic salve. Unfortunately, I could tell within minutes that I needed to go to the doctor for antibiotic medication. The clinic got me in right away because they know cat bites can get nasty fast. So the doctor prescribed the pills and I  was on my way to the drug store. Then I took Hunter to the vet to have the stitches removed. Driving home with him, I noticed that my hand was hurting more and more and was getting redder and more swollen by the minute. I marked my hand with a marker so I could see how fast the red area was spreading. To make an already long story short, after three calls to the Doctor and a visit to an Urgent Care, I was driven (quite madly) by my friend Heidi to St. Mary's ER where I was admitted and remained for 4 days on IV antibiotics.

What basically happened was I developed cellulitis from the bite which spread across my hand and halfway up my forearm before receding completely. It was a little un-nerving to say the least, but it kind of goes with the territory. Since I was bitten before I already have had the rabies series and tents shots. (Rabies shots are not all that bad any longer.) I should have used more caution. Cats that have come from off the street have an unknown history. We do not know what may have happened to them and so they can sometimes behave unpredictably. I had previously noticed that Hunter is uncomfortable with motion around his head or body. If I walk past him, he may perceive that as threatening. So it is no surprise really to me in hind site that he bit me. What I learned----------never remove an e-collar again-------use sturdy gloves when interacting with cats who are injured and hurting.

Now if this was not enough, two days after I got home poor "Jingle" was bit AGAIN in his neck and shoulder. Worse bit than Hunter-------there was already a small abscess that had formed.

He required surgery also and is now recovering. It has been very difficult because he is so vocal. I can not walk away from him or he just howls and howls! I am at my wits end! Thank God I have a great vet who understands this predicament and will prescribe something to settle him down, especially at night just for the next few days when the stitches come out. Wonder if she can prescribe something for ME??? I need it too!   :-)

Things have been quiet around here for the most part. No ER trips recently------We have been having very mild, dry weather for this time of year and I think all of us Wisconsinites have been enjoying it as much as possible as we know what winter tends to have in store for us. Today there is very high wind so all the leaves and garden debris is being whipped around all over the neighborhood.

The other evening I had a moment or two of worry, looking for Kibble. Kibble is always around.......she stays either in the house or very near by so that when I call she comes running. Well after returning home from a small shopping trip, I left both of the garage doors open as I brought in a couple of light bags of groceries. Usually we try to keep the cats out of the garage for various reasons, but that night I didn't bother. Awhile later, I found myself noticing that I hadn't seen Kibble in over an hour. I hunted around the house, hitting all of her sleeping spots, but she was not in any of them. Then I called for her repeatedly outside, but she did not come running. I had a sick moment of panic---------I looked out to the street-----thank God, there was nothing there. I was worried because about this time last year she was actually trapped by a neighbor down the block and I found her at Animal Control, quite by luck.

About the time I was really beginning to panic, I looked out to the yard again and happened to glance at the  small door of the garage. It has a window about 4 feet off the ground. Well-----there, in the window, I saw a little head peeking out! Kibble had been closed in the garage and now she was literally hanging on the trim around the window so I would see her face in the window! It was the funniest sight (not to her I'm sure.....). She has been locked in the garage before, so you'd think she'd learn. Ha!! You'd think I'd learn!

That's all for today!

When Blossom passed away the potential owner who had been waiting all this time for her cat, was still interested in having a cat. Well, it just so happens that I came across another potential cat. My neighbor down the block has a new cat that has come around. He was named "Baby"by the family. Actually we did not know if he was a male or female until we took him to the vet. He is so beautiful and FRIENDLY that I couldn't believe he did not have an owner. We took him Baby since he is so friendly and really should not be outside because of that. We took him to her house over the weekend and so far, all is well. Seems it is a good match. If not though, Baby will come right back to my neighbors who will continue to watch over him.

We have spent time winterizing the porch for the cats. All is ready for the colder weather and even though the weather is still pleasant some nights, some of them do choose to sleep on the porch in a heated bed. The cats are really enjoying the daytime weather in the 50's and 60's with sun. They have been lying about the yard and keeping me company as I cut back some of the garden and take the last of the flowers before our first frost which should be any day now.

This week I helped a friend with a kitten who needed to be trapped and neutered. Her work schedule doesn't allow her to get the cat to the Humane Society for the surgery in the morning so we have worked out a plan. We keep the cat overnight at our house. Then in the morning, Marty loaded up the kitten and I drove it over. The kitten is a female and so tiny------her name is "Itty-Bitty." Now my friend has just two more cats to get, so that is the goal for the next couple of weeks.

This week that same friend also lost a cat she was trying to place in a home. This cat just showed up one day in her yard, but was clearly not a feral--------she was just way too friendly. She was all white with a long coat, but she had not been cared for in awhile. We named her "Blossom" for a lotus blossom which is pure white. We took her to the vet as we thought she may be pregnant. It was not possible to tell yet about a pregnancy, but we did find that she had a mammary tumor. These can form in female cats when they have not been spayed and in fact is one good reason why you should spay your female cats. Anyway, we found a foster for her to have her kittens if she was indeed pregnant. Well the time passed and there were no kittens so we made the spay appointment with the vet who was to remove the tumor at the same time. She came to our house on Wednesday night. She looked so beautiful------her fur had filled in so nicely and was soft, pure white. My friend came to see her and we were so happy she was to go to her new home soon.

The next day I drove her for the surgery and acted as a contact for my friend who's job kept her from being available for this. About 10 a.m. I received a call to tell me that Blossom was not doing well with the anesthesia...... a minute later we lost her. Blossom was not pregnant, but her cancer had spread to 7 or 8 mammary glands, and her respiratory system-------her heart could not tolerate the anesthesia. The vet said even if we had not brought her in for the procedure, she only had 7-10 days to live. The saddest part of all was the vet said one of her mammary glands had already been surgically removed in the past. This means that she belonged to someone at one point (which we already knew) and that owner basically turned her out when she became sick and the costs were probably too much. How sad....... I have a very difficult time understanding why someone would do this. It seems so intentionally cruel. Poor Blossom------all she wanted was to be loved.......

I apologize profusely for all 5 of my dedicated followers that I have been off line for so long. It has been a hectic 10 days! Before everything with Jingle settled, I had to rush him to the vet once again. Tuesday morning after Labor Day, the slight scab that had formed on his forehead had been most likely scratched off, and now it was open and oozing again.So back to the vet he went for clean-up, re-check and new recommendations. He again had to be crated for the evening which of course provoked another night of vocalizing every time he heard me or Marty. I finally gave-up what I was working on that evening and joined him in the family room so I could keep him company until bedtime. The wound was closed the following morning and even slightly smaller in size so I released him back into the yard. He was and is so happy! Jingle is just not an indoor cat. Even in the cold of winter, when he is given the option of coming into the house for periods of time, he chooses not to. I am happy to say that the wound is now only a small dried scab that will fall off naturally any day now. Even the hair that was shaved is growing in and he is looking like his old self. There have been no fights to my knowledge since that night.

About 9:00 on Saturday night I noticed Jingle did not seem to be himself. He appeared lethargic and disinterested in playing. That is not usual for him, especially at that hour of night. I quickly went online to look for information on "bite wounds" and found a site with such info that scared me to death. cat bite wounds) What I was seeing in Jingle was exactly what was described in the article. For a couple of days the cat feels and acts normal. Then a fever begins to develop as the bacteria moves in and begins forming an abscess, an accumulation of pus under the skin. If not caught and treated it can lead to a very serious situation requiring surgery and or death. I have had experience with an abscess in a cat before when drainage tubes have to be inserted at the wound site. Believe me--------it is not pretty. And, it is very difficult for the cat who has to wear a collar until healed.
(This is "Hope" a cat we rescued off the street from a neighbor's yard. He required three drainage tubes in his hind quarters for several days from a bite wound abscess. I am Happy to say he recovered completely and awaits adoption at "The Cat Network" rescue. ("The Cat Network")

Anyway-----I rushed Jingle to the Emergency Room (The Animal Emergency Center). He does not like riding in a car and is very vocal about it, however on Saturday night his protestations did not have usual vigor. When we arrived, the clerk behind the counter looked at me and heard the meows and said, "Your Debra, right? With Jingle?" That shows you how many times I have been there before with my daring little boy. They are great at this Center. Very friendly, thorough, understanding......three of my cats have been treated there over the years. Jingle had a slight fever and what we originally thought (and prayed) were scratches, did turn out to be a bite. An abscess was starting to form over his left eye, as I suspected when I saw him at 9 pm. The Vets sedated him slightly and drained the abscess, gave him an anti-biotic and some pain medication and released him home with me. We had to set-up the crates at home as he had to stay confined until I could get him to another vet for an injection of "Convenia", a long-acting antibiotic that some centers and vets don't carry due to the cost. Of course this meant a night of howling, crying, and trying to get out of the crate before settling in to sleep. I went to bed about 1:45 a.m., definitely not typical for me.

Yesterday (Sunday before a holiday)-------I had to find a vet who carried the medication. Luckily I found an ER in Waukesha (a good 45 minute drive from my house) who had it. We loaded up Jingle and got going. Now Waukesha is the kind of place no one wants to drive in-------one way streets that are twisty-whindy, streets that have multiple names....... once you get into Waukesha, it is kind of like the twilight zone------you don't know how to get out. So of course, we get lost on the way, called the center numerous times for more directions, back-tracked and started again, got stopped by a train------------all the while Jingle is crying and crying in his carrier like he was being tortured! Finally-------we got there, they took Jingle, did a quick exam, gave him the injection and sent him home. The vets said the wounds looked good and he should be able to got out when we got home. Jingle was delighted of course, but he still had to cry and howl all the way home!

When we got home and I released him from the carrier on the deck, you'd think he would run as far from me as he could, but he didn't. He just wanted to swish against me and rub his cheek on me for reassurance. Then he walked around the yard, doing the same thing on his favorite plants and bushes. Then he settled in to rest.......finally! And me.......???? First I went to get an ice cream sundae, which I totally deserved and then------I did the same thing (the resting, that is)       :-)

That's life with my feral colony!

We watched Jingle throughout the day yesterday and he seems to be OK-------maybe a little beat-up and sore, but OK. Actually, I do think Jingle inflicted more harm than he received, but I'll let the other cat be the judge of that. The puncture on his forehead appears dry and scabbed over and there does not seem to be any sign of a wound on the cheek, other than he does not want to be touched there right now. That's understandable. He's eating and drinking fine and was even somewhat playful last evening. It cooled down significantly yesterday and actually the cats love this 60 degree weather, especially Jingle. With his coat, anything warmer is just not that comfy I imagine.

So Jingle dodged a bullet this time-------again! He has had several emergency room visits in the past and over the course of the past couple of years has been to the vet more than any other cat. Part of this is because he is fully vaccinated-------the other part is because he does seem to be somewhat-------shall we say----------daring??? He walks across the top of the 6 foot fence, climbs half way up the large box-elder tree in back, crawls up onto the roof of the garage.......and so on. You get the picture. A year ago Marty and I visited family in NY city. We had a great nephew we had not met yet. We arranged for the neighbor girls Tess and Janey to take care of the cats which they have done before. (They have watched the cats grow-up through their windows and over the fence.) I came home after a week because I did not feel I could leave the cats for longer------too much can happen. And after all------if something did happen, I am the only one who can get the cats into a carrier.

Getting out of NY was a hassle and I was delayed several hours (of course). When I got home it was 9:30 at night. I was excited to see the cats. I began calling them and within minutes they all started showing up, but when I saw Jingle, I knew immediately that something was wrong. He had some sort of wound above and very close to his left eye. I absolutely panicked! I called Marty and started loosing it over the phone------hysteria, big time! Marty finally said, "Debra! If you don't calm down you are not going to be able to help him!" Of course he was right. I did calm down. I got the carrier and somehow, I think with God's help, I managed to get him in it.

Now, no cat likes a carrier, but you'd think I was killing Jingle the way he howls from the carrier. So---picture this------I was driving down the street as fast as legally possible, at 10 at night with a howling, injured cat in the front seat next to me. Thank God (once again, that night)------that the ER was quiet. No other pet was there that night at that time. They took Jingle for an assessment right away. The wound was a couple of days old the vet thought and infection was beginning to set in. (Unfortunately, since Jingle does not get very close to the girls when they come to feed the cats, they were not able to see the injury.)The vet also said, "This cat is extraordinarily lucky. First----he has you for an owner. Second-------his eye is not injured." She went on to say that it was difficult to tell what caused the laceration on the eyelid above the eye, but she did not think it was a bite because there was no other wound representing the other "half" of the bite wound pattern.

The good news was of course that his eye was not affected. The bad news was he needed surgery, stitches, pain medication and antibiotics. Oh-------and he would have to wear a color for 10 days. And, also, forget about him going outside for those 10 days of course. So I had to ready a room at my house for Jingle to recover in. I could not give him free range in the house (unfortunately) because he has "marked" in the house on occasion. So he was confined to the laundry room for 10 days. I think that was one of the worst 10 days of my life and probably his too! Jingle is such an outdoor cat, that it was very hard for him to be inside during that time. Of course the first few days he was medicated for pain, but he cried at night. I would wake and hear him and go down to comfort him. Then when he started to feel better, he was so crazy to get out of the laundry room that I thought he would injure something else. I was emotionally drained and exhausted after those ten days. But, in the end when the stitches were removed, Jingle healed and he healed well. The vet was very proud of the job she did and I was so glad I had come home when I did.

Tonight is one of those times you don't like being a community cat caregiver-------Jingle was in a fight tonight. Even though he is neutered and really is a sweet cat overall, he is fiercely territorial and will readily clash with any intruder. There is a cat in the neighborhood named "Blackie"-----yes, of course he is black! He technically belongs to my friend and neighbor's colony down the block, but he was trapped and neutered by us before we even knew that. We had given him the name of "Bits"------you know----that way we would have a "Kibble" and "Bits" like the food.(ha, ha) Anyway, for some reason this cat brings out the worst in Jingle and they have gotten into many conflicts.

Tonight I heard this terrible howling from the front of the house. When I went out to investigate, I saw Jingle but could not see the other cat who was under a fir tree on the corner of the house. I was clapping my hands and yelling, to try to break-up what was going on to no avail. Suddenly, Jingle dove under the tree and a moment later he and the other cat were howling, clawing and rolling around in the plants and mud out front. I could not really see the other cat well because it was so dark, but I think it was Blackie. Normally, I would try to intervene physically myself, but they were going at it fiercely and I was afraid of getting in their way. (I have been bitten before and gone through the whole rabies thing------that's another story.)

Finally, the other cat took off and Jingle went reeling after him-----around the corner of the block. I was petrified that this chase would lead them out into the street and there were cars coming in both directions. For a moment my heart sank as the ramifications of that hit me, but thank God both cats careened around the corner and down the block into a neighbor's yard. I looked for Jingle and called him, but got no response. About 10 minutes later, I saw him in the yard. He was wet and muddy because it has been raining tonight, but he seemed OK. He was agitated------didn't want to be touched and parked himself right in front of the porch door as if to convey, "Nobody comes into my space without tangling with me."

I went about my normal clean-up on the porch and in the house, putting the food dishes up, picking-up cat toys and so on. When I finally went over to Jingle to calm and reassure him, I found he was bleeding on his left cheek. Now I do have a tendency to over-react where the cats are concerned (as my husband will tell you) so I stayed calm and tried to get a look at it. Jingle was not cooperative at all. A few minutes later, he had blood on his ruff under his neck as well. I think (I hope) that is from the same spot on the cheek and most likely got there just from him moving around and perhaps trying to groom himself. I am not sure if it is a scratch or a bite. Of course, a bite is far worse-------infection can set in and the wound can abcess leading sometimes to surgery and drain tubes being placed--------I have been through that with several other cats and it is not pretty so I am truly praying that he has just been scratched. Thank goodness he is fully vaccinated against FIV (cat HIV), leukemia and rabies. All out door cats really should be, but especially males as they are more likely to fight. We are watching him tonight. So far Jingle seems OK------he was on the porch resting, but now has actively joined the other cats in pursuit ANOTHER mouse that Hunter brought home---------this is the third one in 24 hours!!!( I saved the other two, but I'm afraid this one is one his own!) So maybe he will be all right. Please say a prayer for him.........Thanks!

It is hard to believe the summer is coming to a close. It is always this way in Wisconsin------just seems like summer arrived and then it is already over. It has been very hot this July and August. The cats continue to laze around the yard and garden in the heat. They are quite content to lie in the grass at night when it cools a bit. I am already thinking of when and how we will "winterize" the porch. It changes a little every year. The two-story heated house is loaned out to a neighbor who has a few cats that we have worked together to TNR (trap-neuter-return) so this gives us more space to configure the beds for the winter. I recently bought a new one I think they will like. I make sure every cat has a heated bed and also provide a couple that aren't heated for the cats who are warm enough with their coats. It is good to have enough "space" for them to walk around to prevent any tiffs. We won't close-up the porch until then end of September, so for now-----I guess I should just enjoy what's left of the nice weather. Winter will be here soon enough!

As I was sitting in the yard tonight, after feeding the cats their "dinner", I observed Snow and Braveheart together as usual, nudging and grooming each other. Braveheart walked away to lie under one of the huge hosta plants in the garden. Then Snow walked up to Hunter and actually head-butted him and then touched noses with him! These are both good things in the world of cats------and it shows that after 8+ months, Hunter is finally beginning to be accepted by her. That is also a good thing because as we all know, Snow "rules the roost" so to speak. So if she accepts him, the others eventually will too. Now breaking through to the two boys in the group is still another matter. Most of the time, they tread lightly with Hunter-------they all try to stay out of each others' way.

For the first time Snow actually touched noses with me. This is a big deal! It requires a lot of trust.  Cats touch noses with each other as a sign of affection, acknowledgement and bonding. It has taken almost 5 years for this to happen so it feels very special.

The group has dragged home all types of "things" this week------the usual cicadas (yuk!), a dragonfly (I managed to rescue him) a and last night-----a mouse that was no bigger than the tip of my thumb. Hunter brought the mouse in his mouth. Just the tail hanging out (OMG), but of course the mouse was not dead. Hunter released the mouse and all the cats were chasing it around the porch. I usually try to intervene, but Hunter picked the mouse up in his mouth again and I thought, "OK, he's a gonner." Well, he wasn't. The cats continued this "activity" out on the front lawn for about an hour. (I know, I know-----the poor mouse.) Then I noticed they were back on the porch chasing something again. I could not believe it was still the same mouse and he was still alive! He was backed into a corner behind the floor lamp where the cats couldn't get him and appeared in tack. So, I went to work----I managed to capture the mouse in a towel and deposited him in some bushes in the yard. I figured I give him another chance. I did not find any "surprises" this morning, so maybe he made it!

Today as I was preparing the dinner for the cats, Kibble and Hunter were in the kitchen with me. Usually there is animosity between these two as Kibble wants to be the only cat in the house. But today, she went over to Hunter while he was lying on the kitchen floor and began smelling him. I have seen this before, but then------- she began grooming him on the head! I almost fell over. She licked him and licked him, and he moved his head closer and squinted his eyes------a true sign of relaxation. So I have hope that these two will maybe eventually form somewhat of a bond. That would be nice for both of them.

Jingle is my Tuxedo boy. He is from the second litter that Snow had. He has a beautiful, soft, silky coat, with a beautiful, furry tail, that somehow stays untangled, and-------he has big round eyes. He is my most photo-genic cat. For some reason, he just knows how to strike a pose-----don't you agree? He is truly an outdoor cat. Not that he isn't interested in the house-----he does like to come in for short explorations, but he definitely prefers to be outdoors, even in the cold weather. It is not unusual to see him out in the sun on a cold winter day. Of course, he also enjoys having a warm porch and heated bed to sleep in. He is a loving cat and often vocalizes to me. He also really enjoys playing in the yard when I bring out any of the "wand" toys that I have for them.

He is very close to Snow and Braveheart, constantly swishing and head-butting them. He will also do this with me, especially when I am out in the yard. He will follow me all around sometimes and meow and swish against me. He loves having his head and neck scratched. Jingle was very close to "Fuzzywig" as well. When I was trapping the second litter, two of the kittens were suitable for adoption, so when I brought Jingle home......the only family he had left was his mother, Snow. Snow was beginning to separate from him as he was getting older and it was time for him to go off on his own in her mind. I remember looking out the window at him, all alone once, and being struck with profound sadness that I had taken away his family. It was at this time that Fuzzywig came to our yard. He and Jingle were about the same age and so they bonded immediately. I was so happy about that. I know he is feeling a bit lost now without Fuzzywig, so I have been trying to give him extra attention.

Of all the cats he also has been the most "vetted" cat. Lucky him. There are several stories to tell about that-------but those are for another day.

It happens every year-----in July and August we get these large, black bugs in and around the yard. We have always called them "heat bugs" because you hear their buzzing during the heat of the day. They are God awful, ugly! Think of a fly that is 2 inches long----yuck. Anyway, Kibble, the "princess diva" is a master bug catcher. She stalks them, watches them, catches them and of course----brings them home to me. Sometimes they are dead, and sometimes they are not. The fun is in playing with them-----batting them around and jumping at them if they fly. All the cats will gather around the bug for the entertainment. It is the one time I don't see any conflict among them. They are all focused on the bug! The heat bugs are the sloths of the bug world------very slow moving. Sometimes it is difficult to tell if they are even alive or not because they are so inactive. I have observed Kibble sit under a tree watching a bug until she finds an opportunity to nab it. This morning when I went out to the porch------there were three of these bugs. Two dead, one alive. I do the right thing and herd the living ones off the porch (even though they give me the creeps!). The smart ones fly away. The other ones------well, they just may find themselves back on the porch for another round of play.

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.