I’ve been trying something different with the outside cats, as the temperatures drop. Along with heating water for their water bowls, I’ve started boiling water to soak their kibble, with the lysine powder added, until it’s very soft. Not quite cat soup, but no longer crunchy.
I experimented with it last night and was shocked by just how much water kibble can absorb. No wonder cats with dry diets can get blocked so easily!
Anyhow; this gives them warm food, and we’re not wasting lysine on the bottom of the food trays.
They seem to like it.
It does mean no kibble on the roof of the cat house, which some of the cats prefer. We’ll still give them a top of during the day of dry kibble, but this morning, they had to go to the liquid proof trays to eat.
As I was putting the food out, I kept hearing a meow from… where? The cats I could see were all busy eating.
Eventually, I traced it to the shelf shelter. Each shelf has its own food bow for those shier cats.
Like this one!
It was tucked way into the corner, and not going anywhere near the food bowl, just inches away.
I’m not sure I know this cat. It might be one of the extras that have started showing up.
I didn’t even try to do a head count this morning.
I do, however, have excellent news.
We have contact!
Full contact! Not just pets and scritches, but actual pick up and cuddle contact.
This unfortunate photo was the best I could get.
That, my friends, is Kohl!
I was able to pet her yesterday, but she would still run off at times when I reached for her.
This morning, she was right in there with all the usual adults that fight for attention when I first come out. When I opened the doors from the old kitchen into the sun room, she actually made a run for the door and tried to get inside!
As I was putting the food out, she eagerly accepted pets. When she got in the way of closing the storm door to the old kitchen, I picked her up and she let me cuddle her. Even outside, where tolerance for pets usually disappears, she even came up to me for pets.
I am so happy!
I believe this makes her the third female kitten – maybe the fourth – that we’ve been able to socialize. It’s been so hard to get the females friendly, without having to basically catch them and bring them inside.
Once the cat isolation shelter is finished and set up with a heat lamp, we’ll be able to work with the rescue to start getting the little ladies spayed over the winter.
Kohl’s brother, Rabi, meanwhile, stays well away from us, even at feeding time.
Ah, well. You can’t win them all!
The Re-Farmer
The Re-Farmer 
It always feels good when you are able to make headway in socializing.
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Yes! It has made my day!!
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