Critters

Now and then

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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!

The Re-Farmer

Safe at home

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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

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