Cat pic(s)

[California]

I sat down on the waiting chair in the exam room, he had already jumped to the top of the exam table, then to a shelf ... jumped to a high corner shelf and was already swatting the little cat that is a cut-away statue showing all the internal organs.

By any chance was his most recent visit there, to neuter him?

 

[California]

I found an old photo I posted in a different thread here in 2020, of the same Bobcat in post #311. Or maybe this one is the daddy of that recent one.

My comment the first time I posted it: "Enlarged out of a 20x zoom, actually 60 yards down an orchard row. Unconcerned that I saw him. He just wandered off".

 

[California]

I don't know if the cats we occasionally see watching gopher holes in the orchard are feral, more likely they come over from neighbors.

But come to think of it with my critter cameras showing the Bobcat visiting about once a week, and a pair of foxes patrolling down the deck nightly, this may explain why we haven't seen any housecats for a while.

I'm reminded of the sad story of the little girl who finally figured out why she kept losing beloved pets: "Daddy - all you're doing is going back to the pound to get more cats to feed the coyotes!!"

It surprises me to see the skunk, raccoons, possum, bobcat, foxes, cross in front of the cameras sometimes separated by minutes and they don't seem to bother one another.

 

[fatjay]

Latte often bugs me when I'm in my office. Pawing at my chair or getting up in it if I'm not there. When it's time to sit, he resists in every way possible.

 

[California]

Very mischievous, with an above average energy level. He likes to swat everything on counters or tables onto the floor. It’s all bearable because of his loyalty and kindness. Follows me around like a puppy and wants to play fetch everyday. Needs to be involved in every indoor project. ... gets to cruise to his personal appointments in the Subaru or F250 with sunroofs open to the sky. I think the F250 is his favorite ride because it sounds like a tractor!

TK(?) sounds like a great friend! Great personality, interested in everything you do. You're lucky to have him.

My daughter's cats were loyal to them, like that. We have photos of Taters in one daughter's bicycle front basket, she loved to take the cat around the block. A notable event my cousin's wife still talks about was when both daughters, quite young, served up an elaborate mock dinner made from mud pies and grass clippings. The principal dish, brought out last, was a big casserole dish. When the lid was opened to serve the relative, there was Taters! She loved to participate in the kids games.

That cat lived to 20 years old, eventually our responsibility after the kids left for college. Her favorite perch then, was spread out on top of my warm computer monitor.

Younger daughter's cat PurryCat (we let them name their cats) was selected at SPCA to be mature, we knew the pet for a small child had to be more durable, and more capable of self defense, than just a small kitten. Soon proven by seeing PurryCat dangling from a stranglehold. But she never bit or scratched. We have cute photos of both of them in bed, the kid and her cat, just two heads peeking out from under the covers with PurryCat in the child's arms.

Occasionally I would come home late from work and just crash on the bed face down. Then soon find Purrycat curled up on my back.

Cats are great pets! We now run back and forth from home in town to ranch (orchard), 100 miles each way, so it's not a good time for pets. Setting up security cameras for pictures and videos of all the wildlife at the ranch has become a minor hobby. That place is hopping, we are just guests of all those permanent residents.

 

[Oaktree]

Black cats have the ultimate stealth technology! Invisible until they want to be seen!

I'd say that's true for all cats. Countless times I've looked everywhere for the cat & can't find it anywhere. 5 minutes later, it's right there somewhere underfoot.

 

[California]

This is the cage I built for feral cat recovery after neutering or spaying.
It’s just cheap shelving with chicken wire wrapped around with large washers and self tapping screws. I welded some wheels on the bottom so I could move it around.
I also have moving blanket that I can throw over the top so they can feel a little more secure. They are more calm if they think they are hiding.

That looks great, thoughtful, comfortable for the feral cat.

But how in the world do you get the cat to go in there?

Without you getting shredded?

 

[California]

must admit though, it makes me quite angry when they get into my shed and piss on my hot rod!

!
My wife had been chasing off a neighbor's cat that stalked the birds she was putting out birdseed for.
Darn cat retaliated, he went and pissed on my tractor seat.

 

[California]

Question: I've taken quite a few wildlife photos, both with a good camera (bobcat photo above) and on the security cameras that are set up for that purpose (fox photo). I initially set up the critter cameras to learn what was making the racket on the deck waking us up. Now I also have a couple more cameras looking out into the orchard where the real show is, night and sometimes day.

Is there another forum on here more suitable for sharing these photos? Sorry, we don't presently have a cat!

 

[Grumpycat]

View attachment 2180829
My wife uses a small animal trap like this one. This is what the shelter requires for each cat being transported to the care center for surgery. Putting an old shower towel over the cage during transport helps keep them calm. There is a lady that crochets little blankets and donates them to the care center for all the stray/feral cats to go home with. The care center operates from donations. My son gave us his older Subaru when he bought his new car so we decided to donate it to the shelter. They sent it to auction and mailed us a receipt for a tax deduction. I thought that was kinda cool. It seems like a good service they are providing. It was explained to me that, even though feral cats have a low survival rate, they still multiply like bunnies. It’s important to keep the population down without gathering them up and euthanizing. Just letting them live out their lives without reproducing. I suppose that’s the most humane choice. I must admit though, it makes me quite angry when they get into my shed and piss on my hot rod! I bought a car cover to help reduce the effect. My wheels have been stained.

A "fixed" male cat will not have the desire to piss on your car wheels. An unaltered male marks his territory so other males know, and females know.

Feral cats serve an ecological need in reducing mice, rabbits, and apparently some bugs. Releasing TNR cats helps keep this balance.

Had a TNR in my neighborhood that I'm sure was not feral born. A feral born cat stays wild. This one only let me touch her twice but enjoyed our chats while I gave her dry Purina Cat Chow and water.

It got to the point she would sit in my bedroom window. I'd speak her name, she would speak my name. I know my cat name is "meow"! Would go to the front porch, call her, and she would come running around the house.

A few years later she was bleeding at a neighbor's house in her patrol territory. Required my small animal trap similar as pictured in a post above. Lots of sutures and antibiotics, vet wasn't sure the cat would live. But from then on she became one of my neighbor's indoor-only cats and is happy and well integrated with the other cats.