Census - Captured Cats

 I've really been slacking on posts, but not with the cats. 

Some new-ish developments are the elevated cat house, my back yard (a dog zone) being mobbed by the cats, moving the feeding area closer to my house, and Handsome Dan becoming very friendly.

Cat House... In late February the low temperatures were forecast to be around 0 F. I decided to give the cats a safe space within reach of an electric cord for some warming pads. I had a rough idea of how I wanted it built and got to work cutting a 4x8 sheet of plywood along with an insulated panel and some 2x4s. Thomas and Smokey stayed close to observe and supervise the construction.

 

 

The finished house has two doors facing outward from my fenced yard and access for electrical cords at the back. I still intend to paint it green to blend in with the surroundings. I'm not sure that they used it much during the extreme cold weather, but I often see up to four cats coming out of it now. The cats have sat on the front ledge calmly while Kevin, our old Dachshund sniffs around below. (The pic below is when it was nearly finished. I added vinyl material for flaps to cover the doorways.)

 

 

Cats in the dog zone... Some evenings at dusk I have seen the cats playing and exploring in the back yard, up to eight at a time. That didn't happen in the past. Only one or two cats traversing the area wasn't uncommon, but not a large mob. I have mentioned cats at the back door and that has expanded as well. Bobbie often waited at the back door for me to bring food to the cul de sac and would then be attacked by Tanya while eating. I started feeding only Bobbie with a small portion in a bowl at the door. Now in the morning and evening I often see Thomas, Smokey, Bobbie, and Dan gathered at the door. Thomas sometimes sleeps on the doormat. When the dogs find them there, they chase and bark at them, but are no longer overly aggressive about it.

The new feeding area...  While I was traveling for several days, my wife moved the food bowls from the area by the spring to an area by a large holly bush near the back gate. It worked out well. The cats can gather under the holly bush until they feel safe to come out and eat. I have not seen the skunks, opossums, or raccoons eating there, but I expect that they do visit occasionally. I'll put my trail camera out soon to observe through the night. 

 

I still feed cats at the cul de sac as well. Boot, Tanya, Thomas, Smokey, Terry, Dan, and Anita go there most days. Fluffy comes by there a couple times a week and there is a cat that sneaks in from the north, but darts away whenever I try to identify it. 

Dan... Some time in February Handsome Dan decided to trust me. At first he walked with me as I put the food out. I started reaching to touch his back and side while he was eating and he didn't retreat. Now he rubs on my ankles when I'm near and I can carefully pick him up. He likes to do the 'fist bump', a gentle tap with the claws fully retracted.