One of the things about leaving the sun room doors slightly open for the kittens is that sometimes, other critters get in, too.
Usually skunks.
Last night, the girls went to see the kittens and work on socializing them, when they saw a strange critter running around. If looked kinda like a squirrel, but the we have red squirrels around here, and it wasn’t one of those. Possibly a chipmunk? Seeing it run around some more, they thought it looked like it might be a flying squirrel, which couldn’t be possible. Could it?
I tried to get a picture, but this was the best I could manage.
We did get a better look at it as it tried to climb the walls and around the tops of the windows.
My husband took the compost bucket our for me last night, leaving the sun room door open behind him. When he got back, the sun room was full of kittens, so he left the door open.
I went out last night to close it, and there was at least half a dozen kittens on the swing bench, and others running around, freaking out because I’d walked into the room.
The kibble was out, so I topped up all the trays, including the one in the sun room. I didn’t want to risk trapping kittens in there overnight, so I left the inner and outer doors slightly open, so they could go in and out still.
Before heading out this morning, I looked out the bathroom window and there were so many kittens on the swing bench, I could hardly see the seat.
Of course, the more feral ones ran off as soon as they heard the old kitchen doors as I started heading out, but not all of them disappeared.
The calico ran off a moment after I got the shot, then the black and white one ran into the mini greenhouse shelf. The third one is one of the two that are the most socialized. I was able to pick it up and cuddle it. The other black and white that lets us hold it was nearby, and for a while, I was sitting on the bench holding both of them.
So it looks like we won’t be able to close the sun room door for a while! I’ll have to put the rope/knob system back. Basically, the knobs for the two doors are tied to each other, with the rope going through the arm bar in the door frame. This allows me to have the doors almost closed, and the wind (or rough housing critters) can’t open them all the way.
Hopefully, their curiosity about the sun room will also have them getting more used to our presence, and help with socialization.
I’m happy to say that I’ve been seeing Potato Beetle around. He joined me while I was tending things in the garden, yesterday evening.
The cats do like the cardboard mulch around the silver buffalo berry!
Unfortunately, he’s a bit too spry and back to normal. He went after Rolando Moon. Then I saw him and Sad Face stalking each other. I broke that up before it became an actual fight, only to later see him stalking The Distinguished Guest!
I dissuaded them from fighting, but Potato Beetle is looking like he’s wanting to reestablish his top spot in the pecking order.
Aren’t they supposed to be less aggressive after losing their nibs?
Well. At least he’s staying close to home.
He showed up this morning, while I was putting kibble out, but he had no interest in the other trays. He wanted his personal food dish in the sun room! So I let him in and left the door open, so he could come and go as he pleased.
While doing my morning rounds, I took recordings for a new garden tour video. I’ll be working on editing it later today.
I also had a chance to pick cherries.
These are the cherries that I could reach without a ladder. I could pull some branches down, but there are still plenty higher up that need to be picked. The gallon bucket was about 3/4 full. These have been laid out in a pair of trays in a single layer, and are in the big freezer. Once they’re frozen, we’ll bag them up. I wouldn’t mind trying to make wine with these. It’s bee a long time since we’ve tried to make wine. The problem is having a cat-safe space for the carboy. There just isn’t any. 😕😒
After washing off the cherries with the hose, I starting into the sun room, only to find the netting I’d put on the swing bench, on the floor in front of the door.
The bench was occupied.
The sun room was just crawling with kittens! These three, and their mama, were relaxing, but you can just see the tail tip of the one that ran between the window and the bench. Some of the big kittens were in there, too. My presence was panicking them, though. One ran into a window, and another into the back of the inner door, trying to get out. *sigh* So I was careful to skirt around and make sure they could access the door as I picked up the netting, then brought the cherries inside. The mama ran off, too, but the three kittens in the photo, stayed.
That mama has this permanent angry expression on her face. 😄
Today is looking to be a really nice day for work outside, so I’m going to see what I can catch up on. Maybe say hello to the cows. I can see them on the security camera’s live feed, at the fence along the driveway. 😊
Mostly, though, I need to finish mowing. After working in the old garden area last time, though, I had better check the blade and see if I need to sharpen it, first!
I was a bit later with the kibble today – after yesterday, I allowed myself to sleep in! So there were plenty of mamas waiting for me outside the sun room door.
I was very happy to see Ghost Baby was back. She is so hungry, she almost doesn’t run away while I put the kibble out. In the background, you can see Broccoli’s Mini Me with the black and white.
Oh, I let Potato Beetle out of the sun room yesterday, as he was doing so well. I saw him happily making his way through the outer yard soon after. Today, no sign of him. Hopefully, he won’t have the urge to wander too far, since he won’t be sowing any wild oats anymore.
The little kittens came around later on. I am so happy about these two! They don’t run away unless something has made them nervous. They let me pick them up and pet them. I was even able to pick them both up at the same time, after taking this photo!
At least we are managing to socialist two kittens so far!
It is so fun to putter round the yard, and see kittens playing all over the place!
Some of the mamas are pretty ornery towards them, too. Especially Junk Pile, who just hissed at the cringing black and white kitten. It had jumped up into the kibble house and she did not like that at all!
Junk Pile looks like she’s pregnant again. Which might explain the orneriness, except she’s usually ornery at the best of times.
I’ve also seen the toms spending way too much time following Broccoli around.
This is a really bad time of year for any more kittens. It’s unlikely they would survive the winter. 😥
Junk Pile’s kittens are hanging out more often, along with their second mom. They made short work of the kibble on that tray!
After we’ve finished painting the stairs, that insulator water dish will be moved back beside them. I missed the shot, but that black and white kitten had been balancing on top of it, drinking water. It’s easier for them to reach while sitting on a step.
I haven’t yet looked to see if there are paw prints in the paint or not. 😁
While putting about the yard and doing my evening rounds, I was seeing more kittens closer to the house.
In early July, we found this little guy, cold, wet and alone in the yard. He was reunited with his mother, and then we didn’t see him for many weeks.
Now he comes to the kibble house on his own!
So handsome! And so densely fluffy looking!
The kitten in the background is, I believe, from the same litter that has been hanging around the house for some time, sibling to the calico that preferred to hang out with the bitty kitties. Either that, or it’s a new kitten from a completely different litter.
I saw the tuxedo that is sibling to the black and white but couldn’t get a picture. He kept running behind things and hiding from me.
The important thing is, kittens are getting to know where they can find reliable food, even if their mothers aren’t comfortable being around us. In fact, I think I may have seen a completely new little tabby with more caramel colour to its fur.
By winter, we should finally have an idea of just how many yard cats we now have!
Potato Beetle did well at the vet, and back home again.
He came out of the carrier, active and alert, and immediately going for cuddles – then food!
We’re supposed to keep him from eating too much, but he is good at self regulating, so it’s easy to do.
While they had him, he was looked over. I had mentioned he was favouring a front leg. They did find a puncture wound and some swelling, and he got a 14 day slow release antibiotic inject – on a rear leg! I never even noticed him favouring that leg in all the time he’s been in the sun room.
Though we had been told he’d need 4 days to recover, but when I picked him up, I was told to try and keep him quiet for 7 – 10 days. So that’s more time with him in the sun room. More time for him to put some weight on, without being harassed by the visiting toms. I do have some concerns. Without his nibs, he should be more passive. I’m hoping the toms will somehow recognise he’s not a “threat” to them when it comes to spreading his genes, and they will leave him alone.
Now, we just have to reschedule the ladies. I’ve kept the Cat Lady updated and their spays are still on the books.
The Re-Farmer 