Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler CatBrat

I like having my big feral Tom (we call him Tommy) coming around every day. I certainly don't try to run him off as they have a rough life out there. Several years ago I befriended one for a couple of years & we became great buddies. Unfortunately he lost his life to an idiot driver who didn't even stop to check. It was a very sad couple of weeks for me.

On my way to the pub tonight, I had a beautiful Border Collie dart right in front of my car. I panic braked & swerved hard right & just managed to miss him. I was surprised that my reaction time is still pretty good. Whew...

TAM

I can see how cats in the city would be more of a concern but I live in the country and our outdoor cat is treated like a superhero around here. Most of my neighbors are summer cottages which tend to not be built as tight as a full time house. If it were not for my cat, they would be infested with chipmunks who love to nest in them in the winter.

He wanders around all the neighbors on his 'patrol' getting treats, cheese, bowls of milk, etc. from all of them. Quiet a life for a cat.

When I accidentally ran over his leg one time and he had to recover for months indoors, neighbors actually kept coming down to check on him, bringing him bags of treats and saying that they were having mice and chipmunk problems again since he went on "sick leave".

I only wish I was as popular in my neighborhood as my cat!

Try running over your own leg and gauge the level of concern?

My mother lived in the country and kept feral cats outside in the barn as pets. To me they were no good as pets and should be euthanized.

Edit: This was before I read the last page here. I do see now how they can be useful in keeping pest population down, but the females probably should be caught and spayed.

IMO, feral cats have their place, especially on farms or rural properties where they help keep rodents in check. They are part of nature & have been around as long as we have been walking upright.

Besides the SPCA here, we have an excellent volunteer group in concert with local Pet Food Stores & some kind Vets - Kitty Cat Pals - that traps feral cats, pays to have them neutered &/or takes kittens & puts them out for adoption. They 'rescue' unwanted cats as well. It has a great track record in adopting out kittens & adults by displaying them in local pet food stores - 6 feral kittens went in a couple of days this week in our local 'Woofy's' store. Kudos to all involved.

Two of my most recent cats came from this worthwhile project...

TAM

I got an older male Siamese cat from a similar group once from a pet store. Kept him for a week, until I discovered he had 1) litter box problems and 2) a biting problem. Back he went and I was around $75 poorer.

Siamese are lovely to look at, but can be uncommonly nasty. My daughter has two.

The male is great but the little female is a witch & is one of the few cats that hasn't taken to me or anyone else...

TAM

Just heard on the radio news - it's happening again!!! Bring on the felines, especially ferals:

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/349290/Invasion-of-the-killer-mutant-rats

TAM

I can certainly believe they came from France LOL