Critters

Well, at least one will be done

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Crud.

One of my daughters and I had just loaded the 3 cat carriers into the van for their appointment with the vet, when my other daughter came running out.

She had just found the cat food bin in the basement had been knocked off the shelf, spilling kibble all over the floor.

Which means Tissue and Big Rig would have eaten during the night.

I went into town with all three, anyhow. Once parked near the clinic, which wasn’t open yet, but I had a signal. I texted the same person who contacted me the first time we tried this, even though I wasn’t sure she even had a shift today. As I was messaging her, I did see someone unlock the door and go in, though.

I did get a response saying that they would typically reschedule, due to the risk during anesthesia. Potato Beetle was alone in the sun room, though, so he was good to go. Then she asked if I was at the clinic. I told her I was parked outside. Next thing I knew, the woman I saw going in was waving to me at my window! 😄

She took Potato Beetle in with her. We’ve been there often enough, he remembered my daughter’s name – all the cat files are under her name in their system. Her computer wasn’t even up and running, yet, so she wouldn’t be able to check him in. She told me I’d get a phone call from someone else later, and we could do the paperwork over the phone, and the ladies will be rescheduled.

Well, at least Potato is getting done, and we’ll soon be able to let him out of the sun room. He will only need 4 days for recovery. After that, when it’s time to put Tissue and Big Rig for their fast again, we can use the sun room to isolate them.

One out of three is better than none!

The Re-Farmer

So many kitties!

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We had some rain this morning, which made the temperatures much more pleasant outside, though it did start heating up again awfully fast. We dipped to a low of 10C/50F overnight, and are expected to hit 29C/84F by this evening!

When I headed out this morning, there were many, very hungry kitties waiting for me.

Even Ghost Baby was waiting. She was so very wet, and so hungry, she didn’t run away! She jumped onto the roof of the cat house and hissed at me, but stayed close. So I made sure to put some kibble on the roof for her, and she dove right in.

The bitty kitties are no longer in the board pile, so I brought the trays I was using for food and water over to the kibble house. The cats like having a bit more space between them when eating.

I toss a couple of handfuls of kibble into the shelf shelter, and this little tabby was quite happy with that!

This is the black and white that I have not been able to touch. It usually runs off as soon as it sees me, but with the food tray on the ground, it was willing to hide under the kibble house and eat at the same time.

Hungry babies!

Hungry Ghost Baby, still eating, even as I kept moving around her, leaving kibble in the usual spots. She didn’t even run away when I used the hose on the water bowls!

I so want to socialize this one. She looks like she’s having a rough time of things. 😢

The Re-Farmer

Butticcus Spotticcus

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Cheddar has a thing about invading my butt spots. Usually, he takes over my office chair. At night, he tends to jump onto the bed and WHOMP himself down against my butt. I’m so used to it, it doesn’t even wake me up anymore.

One morning, however, I found he was not alone!

Nosencrantz was managing to snuggle both our butts!

They seemed so perplexed that I got up.

The Re-Farmer

Greetings, human! Feed us!

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Look who was waiting for me this morning!

Every morning, the mamas gather outside the sun room door, waiting for me to come out with the kibble. Usually, at least one of the bigger kittens are with them, too. This morning, the little kittens were there, too!

I was even able to pick up and cuddle a couple of them, while their mamas stayed well away.

Even the big kittens are coming around in the mornings! These ones are more cat-tens than kittens. 😉 Just look at the size of that tabby! You can see the black and white, under the spirea. The tuxedo was around, too.

The littler ones have been hanging around the kibble house and in front of the sun room, playing enthusiastically. Hopefully, the older kittens will start coming around and staying, too.

Oh! Last night, while crossing the outer yard, I might have, maybe, possibly, seen a kitten following Broccoli into the tall grass. The first possible sign of her litter.

I suspect we’re going to be seeing a lot more new kittens showing up at the kibble house over the next few weeks.

The Re-Farmer

I see you!

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With the groundhogs having completely torn apart and removed most of the old tarp covering the board pile, the old tire rim that was being used to keep it from blowing away isn’t needed anymore.

The kittens love playing in, under and around it, though, so it stays!

It’s also a secure place where they can watch the giant, food bearing creature that sometimes picks them up and does nice scritchy things to their ears.

I see you!

The Re-Farmer

Morning kitties, young and old

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Heading out this morning, Potato Beetle really wanted out of the sun room – but was content to stay once I refreshed his food bowl and added some treats and catnip. 😉 I really want to get some meat back on those skinny bones of his. It’s going to be hard to keep him in the sun room until after he’s had his vet visit, but we don’t dare let him out, or we might not see him again for weeks.

At least he’s finally started using the litter box. 😄

This guy is one of the other reasons why I don’t want to let Potato Beetle out.

I’ve been trying to get close to The Distinguished Guest and get a better look at his injury, but it’s all I can do to get even this photo. He used to let me near him while he was eating, and even pet him at times, but no more. He’s far more nervous.

The older part of the injury looks like it has fur trying to grow back. It seems he’s been injured at least twice, possibly three times, in the same area, with the wound extending further across his shoulders each time. This is Sad Face’s doing, and the few times I’ve been around to break up the fights, I can see how this one spot keeps getting hurt again. Sad Face managed to latch on to there and hang on, even as they roll across the yard as they fight.

What Sad Face is doing to TDG, TDG has been trying to do to Potato Beetle, and I would really like to prevent that!

Of course, once the kibble started hitting the trays, all manner or cats came running, including some little ones. 😊

The kittens love dashing into here. They are still small enough to be able to turn around inside it. At the other end, they can get under the entry way of the cat’s house.

Later on, I saw a mama nursing this fuzzy one, and the fourth, darker tabby that is even harder to catch glimpses of. The other two of this bunch were in the board pile, with the bitty kitties. 😊

I’ve taken to leaving small amounts of kibble by the grape vines regularly now, instead of at the pump shack, and here you can see two of the oldest kittens had come out. Later on, I just caught a glimpse of the tabby, disappearing under the spirea. Once in a while, I’ll spot them at the kibble house, too, but they get startled off very easily.

I don’t know why, but all of the outside cats seem to be acting super nervous lately. I’m used to them moving away when I get close. Every now and then, though, I’d be able to touch Broccoli while she was eating in the kibble house, or give Rosencrantz some pets. These days, not even Rosencrantz will let me near her. They all are acting like big balls of anxiety. The only exceptions have been Rolando Moon, who likes to follow me around while I do my morning rounds, and Potato Beetle, who just loves attention. Not sure what’s going on!

The Re-Farmer