We are now up to three, regularly visiting, adult cats that we collectively refer to as the “dad cats.”

Not sure that’s what they actually are, but it works. 😀

It has been a chilly, blustery day today – as I write this, the temperature is at a not-to-bad -3C, but the windchill puts it at -12C! – so it was a good day to stay indoors as much as possible.

No surprise, of course, that when I went through the Old Kitchen to feed the outside cats this morning, the kittens were in a big pile on the swing bench they love so much.  They started to scatter as soon as I opened the second door, which is when I noticed an extra cat, sitting on the dresser I use as a tool chest!  He ran off as soon as he saw me, as he usually does.  It was the black and white “dad cat.”

I’m glad we found a way to prop the doors into the sun room, just enough for the cats to get in and use it.  There’s no insulation or heat in there, but it’s still better than outside!

After putting out the food and fresh water, I started heading towards the garage and noticed another cat, sitting in an area where I’d cleared a path to some Saskatoon bushes over the summer, watching me.  It was the grey tabby with a bit of white we’ve started to see more often these days.

As I went by the feeding area later, I saw him again at a food bowl.  He ran off, but just around the corner of the house.

I couldn’t get close enough for a decent picture.  The kittens and their moms don’t seem to mind him at all – even Rolando Moon went by without hissing at him at all!

Then later this evening, after it was full dark, I glanced out my office window to see the grey and white cat peeking in at me!

He took off before I could try for a picture of him.  When I looked out, I saw the food bowls were empty.  I was thinking the grey and white cat might not have had any food at all, yet. I had some leftovers set aside for the outside cats and, since it’s so chilly out there, I decided to warm it up and bring it out for them.

I didn’t see him around when I got outside, but Doom Guy and The Outsider immediately came over, then both went at the warm food as soon as I put some into the first container.  The Outsider even let me pet him!  Though it may be he was just too interested in food to notice that I’d touched him. 😀

There was snow in their food bowls, so after I put some food into the second one, I moved it under the little shelter over the basement window (which is what the dad cat climbs on, to be able to look into my office).  Then I took the bowl the kittens were eating from and moved it under, too – after prying it loose from the ground it had frozen to.  Doom Guy moved over to sniff at the bowl I’d used to carry the food out, but The Outsider just stayed there, staring at the circle of snow-free grass that was under the food bowl.  Like he was trying to figure out where the bowl went! 😀

So I reached over, picked him up, and moved him to where I’d put the bowl of food.

And he let me!!!  Didn’t flinch or try to get away or anything.  He just started eating, right away.  Yay!!

Then I picked up Doom Guy and moved him over, because he was still snuffling around.

With Corvo still gone who-knows-where, we currently have 5 kittens, plus The Outsider, the two moms and Rolando Moon, here pretty much all the time.  Add in the three dad cats that now visit regularly, we are up to a dozen outside cats.

It should get very interesting, if more of the cats we were feeding all last winter start showing up again!

The Re-Farmer