Poison leaves dead mice in your house that smell for a long time. We poison them in the very old house we stay in where I hunt and I wish we had cats but we can’t because no one is there for long periods when it’s not hunting season. We leave nothing to attract the mice and we still have a problem.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

They, the mice, just come in for comparative warmth I guess... Sounds like Cud just likes playing with the the baby mouse like a cat toy. Drifter is all business. Sounds like you're going to have a wonderful first good harvest!! Congratulations on your hard work and Drifter and Cuds participation

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HO HO, I WON!
well, i couldn't train cats like i do dogs. i can't even beat them into submission.
but, i need them to spend a certain amount of time hunting.
i've learned that i can use their nature to get what i want.
see, these guys love routine .
if they do the same thing every day, they are happy.
so i set up a schedule for them.
i had to hunt cud down n drag him out at first, but no more.
right after breakfast, at 7am, they go out.
they come in for a snack n a nap at 10. then, when i go out at noon, to garden n read, they come.
then, back in for a snack n nap at 2pm.
at 6, we go out to pick figs.
they don't follow me in. i call them in at 9 or 10 for a snack that we all have.
then we all cuddle on the couch til i leave for bed.
i no longer drag cud out. drifter always comes anyway.
cud now runs to the door. he's happy because this is normal.
i won't ever vary this schedule n they won't either.

if the weather is bad, i'll open the door so they can see the problem.
then, they will have the option of staying in, but that door will open.
drifter sometimes stays out longer, but that's fine.
only the curfew call is mandatory n she knows that.
my garden is protected. as an added benefit, since they leave right after breakfast, there is much less litter box cleaning to do.

__________________
susie

Well, susie, it looks like they have you trained properly now!! (Just kidding). Sounds like a great routine though, for all of you. So glad to see that things are working out.

Best Regards, Les

__________________
SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Good job to all 3 of you that's a win-win-win!!! How often in life does that happen? It works because you studied their behavior till you find the key that unlocks their souls And no less significantly, they found a way into your soul.. Congratulations to all

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les.b....a little off topic but here goes.. How do I change my profile on this forum to change my NRA status to lifetime. Right now it says none. This is on the Smith and Wesson forum I believe. There are different line items on my profile for non gun related threads and topics I think. I'm not too great at figuring out how to change things once I entered them. You can pm me if you want.

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Linda:

First go to the top right hand of your screen, and click on "Quick Links", then choose "Edit Your Details". This will give you a screen where you can click on "Life" for NRA membership, and while you are there you can put in a few things you might want others to see in your profile.

Let me know if you run into any difficulties.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

This is what I get when I click the 3 dots in the upper right part of this screen. I'm probably on the wrong screen, but maybe I'm not seeing"quick links". Which screen should I be on to click on the upper right corner and find quick links come up?

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Here it is

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Here is a screen shot from my tablet (iPad). In the upper right hand corner, see the "Quick Links"?.... Right above where it says "Welcome les.b"



That is where I'm talking about clicking. If you are in "mobile view", you may have to exit that and go to the traditional view.

Edit....maybe you need to get out of tapatalk and just log in to the forum as a web page....

Best Regards, Les

__________________
SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

I'll try that, thanks, Les

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cud is more trouble than he's worth.
little things i over look.
like i can't set a cuppa peppermint tea down, if he;s around.
if i'm not watching, his whole head is in my cup.
yesterday, he didn't come to call, so i left him out.
this morn, he was complaining but i was in no hurry to let him in.
he tore his way thru the screen.
now, i gotta replace the whole thing.
i have no idea how to stop him from doing it again.
if i had seen him half way in, i coulda whacked him, but i didn't.

__________________
susie

So I dont have to read 962 posts, did the original cat survive?

yup. drifter is alive n well.
she protects my garden.
we have become family.

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susie

He's a baaaaad putty cat! Was your screen in the door made of plastic? If yes, they do make metal screening that might be more sturdy. I replaced my plastic screening when my little dogs were puppies... They used to stand up and scratch at the screens and tear them constantly The metal ones worked well

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oh, grrr!
i bot this super expensive revolution stuff,
to protect stupid cats from worms n fleas.
cud was easy. he doesn't mind me holding him down.
when i tried to treat drifter, i missed her n got a horrible hiss.
i think if i hit her on the head with a baseball bat, she might be stunned long enow for me to treat her.
drifter isn't tame enow for me to hold her.
this stuff cost like $90!
you'd think she'd be grateful n forget about being feral for a while.

__________________
susie

Overcoming all the lessons and baggage that got her by in hard conditions is not easy.

__________________
NHI, 10-8.

drifter remains feral. i'm happy to report that the operations have not changed either cat.
i feared that it would.
i wish i could get a pic of us from across the room.
when i call them in for the night, we all have a snack.
then, cud cuddles. he presses to my chest n wants to be in my arms
he even purrs..
drifter lies between my legs as i'm stretched out on the couch.
this would make a cute pic.
this works because drifter would fight if i tried to get her in my arms.
i can move cud around.
drifter will not go past my waist.
drifter is not a pet n allows nothing that interferes with her freedom.
i did dose her tho. i warmed the meds against my body. then, i was stroking her n telling her how wonderful she was n she didn't notice the med.
i've been handling cud since the day he was born, so i can pick him up n treat him like a pet.
doesn't look like drifter will ever become civilized.

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susie

It has long been my opinion, one for which I really have no credentials except observation, that domestic cats remain closer to their wild history than domestic dogs, and will thus go feral more completely. That opinion and a suitable amount of cash will get you a cup at your favorite coffee place.

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NHI, 10-8.

doug, it's hard to understand, but drifter is feral even tho she lives in the house.
but, when she lived outdoors, i could tell she was lonely.
she doesn't live with me for food. she had that as soon as she started hunting my garden.
she likes my company.
when i called her for supper after she caught a bunny, she came to see me n ignored the kibble.
a true wild animal wouldn't get lonely.
so, she wouldn't fit in in a normal house but didn't fit in in the wild.
she is a misfit like me, so we get along fine.

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susie

I have 2 dogs of the same breed (Papillons). They both get revolution (besides worms and fleas and ticks, prevents heartworm) One of them sits quietly while I apply the dose, the other one runs and hides under the bed where I can't get him out, as soon as I put my hands into the drawer where the revolution is kept. I do the scaredy one first so he doesn't really know what I'm taking out of the drawer. Somehow, he does know because he doesn't run away if I take a dog bone out of the same drawer. They all have different personalities and react differently even if they had been brought up the same way. I must have a different look on my face when it's the medicine coming out of the drawer instead of the dog bone...

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Hi! Susie how are you doing?

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Since Dixie passed in March, I had to find homes for all the pets except Jake. When I have to go away on the truck, he has to stay by himself. He can get into the utility room thru a 4" opening in the door. I leave him a big bowl of dry food on a shelf, but he could probably make it on his own. He is basically a feral cat that likes to sleep inside. He really gets lonesome though. When I come home he is very clingy for a few days. I really am thankful for Revolution as I don't have to worry about parasites making him weak.

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV

I'm sure Jake does miss you while you're out on the road, even thought he's feral and doesn't depend on you entirely. The extra food you leave for him and the Revolution that protects him from parasites goes a long way in helping him survive and be comfortable in the utility room shelter that you let him hole up in. Even though he's on his own for a while he does enjoy your company when you return and you get to enjoy his company then, too. Sorry about your loss in March.




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dix, it's interesting to hear that other feral cats are like drifter.
she can feed herself, but stays with me because she gets lonely.

sometimes i wonder what emotions cats feel.
if i was the government, i'd spend $427,000,000 for a study.
but, i notice all mammals are alike.
now, when 2 humans say they love each other, they mean they want to be in each other's company.
so, i deduce drifter n jake truly love us.

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susie

Susie, I agree wholeheartedly...I know that we have no problem believing that our dogs love us, because they are so much more demonstrative than cats usually are. But I really feel that my cats love me as well as each other. If you could see the antics that Lucky goes through when I come home after being at work all day, there would be no doubt that he is ecstatic to see me. Bella is more reserved, and waits til Lucky is done running around like a dog, and then she shows me how much she missed me.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

temps in the 30s with light rain. nobody was willing to leave the house.
we spent the day cuddled up.
the warmth of 2 cats is not to be sneered at.
in fact, i'm changing the rules.
filthy old drifter didn't like the idea that cud could be on the bed with me, so she is now allowed on.
i ordered a washable bed spread to keep my blankets clean while the cats keep me warm.

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susie

We're getting our first hard Frost tonight. Winter won't be far behind I got my snow tires on a week and a half ago

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day after day of cold rain is unusual here. we mostly sleep.
once, i let them out n i didn't notice it was raining.
when i opened the door n said WOOF?
they streaked in.
now, cud doesn't want to leave the house, again.
winter is weeks early.

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susie

LOOKS ARE DECEIVING!
cuddles is the meanest looking cat you ever saw.
he wears a death mask on his face.
it's very beautiful but scary.
also, he is huge. very long, he walks like a tiger.
he looks like the meanest ally cat on the block..
if he was larger, you'd shoot him out of hand.
but, he is a clutz n his big ambition is to be a
house cat.
he is a purring machine.

now, petite drifter, on the other hand, looks like a pampered princess.
she looks like she should loll around on satin pillows n eat caviar from silver plates.
but, if you got close enow to see this, she might leap at your face n try to scratch your eyes out.
she is a stone cold killer.
when there were still rabbits here, she would move close to an evil bunny who was chomping on driveway grass.
she would move as close as she could, just leaving a little screen of grass to hide her. she knows cover well.
then, all crouched down, she would settle in to wait all day, as the bunny hopped around.
eventually, the bun would hop into range n drifter would spring.
4 feet is easy for her.
she doesn't ever chase.
she ambushes.
now, you would expect a big fight, since drifter only weighs 6 1/2 pounds n the bun maybe 4 pounds n the bun didn't want to be eaten.
but, there was no fight.
drifter was interested in lunch, not a fight.
she has this trick.
as soon as she gets to the evil one, her jaws close on the back of its neck.
the rabbit was spasming, but it was dead as soon as drifter leapt.
the rabbit died just as fast as he would from a bullet.
adorable.

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susie

Drifter is a sniper, no wasted movements. Cud is the poster boy for"looks are deceiving" Must make life on the ranch very exciting Jackson and Logan are world's apart in temperament also. Jackson is the perfect well trained gentleman-Logan is a barking crazy ruffian who knows his commands, but applies them sparingly. Logan always wants to play and has that never give up attitude. Jackson looks at him like he's thinking"silly boy". Both are Papillons but that's where the similarity ends. Love them both to the Moon and back!

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well, i got this cheap , ugly but washable bedspread for my bed.
the kits sleep at the foot of the bed because they like being near to me.
they sleep when i do.
cats that get to rampage around outside during the day are not nocturnal.
in fact, i suspect that drifter denned up nights even before she moved in.
she has a weather proof storm proof coyote proof den outside n she is smart enow to know when coyotes are about.
cats on my toes will be very nice in winter but i was forced into this.
i have no problems with shedding. brushing is a big treat. if i want drifter to come, i hold up the brush n she trots over .
but drifter rolls in the dirt every day, so she wasn't allowed on the bed.

but sometimes i feel like getting purred to sleep, so i pick up the spare cat n bring him to nap with me.
i saw drifter watching this. she didn't say anything but her feelings were hurt.
i can't live with myself allowing cud a privledge that drifter doesn't have.
it's ok to pamper drifter, due to seniority n quality of work, but not vice verse.
this is the problem with loving an animal. i can't stand hurting their feelings.
like, when i'm watching tv n typing here, drifter expects to be between my legs n cud expects to be in my arms.
this is not always convenient, but if i didn't allow this, they would think it a punishment.
i am not capable of hurting someone's feelings for no reason.

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susie

Susie....

That is an excellent observation. Only folks like us, who love cats, probably notice that cats have feelings that can be hurt. They are forgiving, but I'm like you, I just can't stand to hurt their feelings!!

Best Regards, Les

__________________
SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Very true... Cats have deep feelings and though they can be stoic about showing them sometimes, they are always there. You found a perfect solution in that bedspread where they can come up and be with you and share their love with you. I miss having cats currently but plan to have them again one day. We had to put our last sweetie, ZZ, to sleep at 21+ years old about a year ago and my husband begged to have time off from having litter boxes for awhile. For many years we had 4 of them with our older Papillon, Jackson. Actually we selected his breed rather than adopting as we always did, to protect the happiness of our little cat herd. A friend of ours had recommended the breed once we had lost our previous dog because of their tendency to love cats. Jackson was a perfect little addition to our cat flock and they loved him from puppy hood on. One day a kitty will find us and we will have them again I'm sure.

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it would be nice to have a dog. drifter might accept a teeny one but i don't wanna bring a dog home n find out drifter won't come in the house.
she wouldn't accept other cats when i tried to feed them so accepting a dog is unlikely.
she might try to eat a small dog.
probably best not to try.
this house is pretty full with the current population.

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susie

I'd say you are doing great with the four legged family you have. Dogs or cats with strong personalities may be tough when it comes to accepting a newcomer of any type. Cud might accept a small dog as a puppy, but it would be hard to predict the way drifter would react. As great as my Jackson was with his Kitty friends, he's never really totally accepted rambunctious Logan who came when Jackson was 8. For one thing, I probably waited too long to get a second puppy. I waited till I had only 2 cats at that point to welcome Logan as a puppy. Earlier, I was working full time, and 4 cats and 2 dogs would have been too much while we were also taking care of my elderly Mom here at home. They get along ok but aren't the close buddies I had hoped would happen.

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tis the season of feral cats.
i talked to the farmer that took 2 kits.

they will come for food, but won't let anyone approach them.
they are alive, so that's good.
they were cuddly to me but met no other humans. my cats respond only to me because i didn't have other humans meet them.
he didn't say where they sleep.
i hope they survive winter.
drifter's kits should manage.
drifter is skating on thin ice.
she has taken to swatting me if i touch her sometimes.
i can see no difference in my touches from when i touch n she doesn't object.
all my touches are loving carresses.
once she actually scratched me.
this has happened 3 times so far.
she has retreated so fast i haven't been able to whack her.
i intend to hurt her when she does this but she knows i'll react so she moves fast.
she is outside now. it's cold.
i may not let her in tonight.
it's interesting that this last try to hurt me
was just a couple hours after she spent an hour between my legs, getting carressed.
i don't understand this behavior but i won't tolerate it.
i would like your thots on this behavior; causes n remedies.

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susie

My cat who pretty much only associates with me sometimes does not want bothered and lets me know. Every cat has times and places it doesn’t want touched. Think it is normal cat behavior and she is training you. They are tough love animals who do the same to each other from kitten to old age. Doesn’t mean anything to them long term.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

Susie, my wife's recipe for bannock:
preheat oven to 350 degrees

mix ingredients:
2 cups unbleached whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup water

Blend dry ingredients thoroughly then add the water
spread dough into greased 8 inch round cast iron skillet
top with 2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine
bake for 20 minutes

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Keep on Chooglin'

thanks for the recipe ., snub.
i'm always looking for easy recipes.
i'll try it.

vonn, if she's trying to train me, i'm gonna train her right back.

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susie

Good luck!

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

Maybe it's just the mood she's in at the time you touch her, not the exact way you touch her. Maybe she's focusing on something that you don't realize she is. If you distract her, she gets annoyed and loses track of what she's concentrating on. It might even be a scent she's sensing... Not sure. Some kitties of mine liked to be touched certain ways at different times, different seasons... And others you could turn upside down and they'd purr with delight no matter what. They all have very different purr-sonalities! Meow!!!

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i want to inflict pain to stop this. one time, for the first time, was claws out n she scratched me good. lots of bleeding.
i won't hit in anger. she is usually nearby n i could kick her thru a wall.
i would never do that.
i need to inflict pain at the exact time of the behavior or it does no good.
nor does holding back treats or anything else.
she is just too fast n she knows me.
i'm not interested in punishment, just training.

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susie

the bedspread i bot to protect my blankets from dirty drifter is working,
but it has unexpected uses.
cud gets under it n has a good time playing around.
then, he goes to sleep in his tent.
when they sleep with me, their personalities really show up.
drifter trusts me. when she sleeps between my legs she seems totally relaxed.
but, at the slightest strange noise, drifter is flying thru the air. she land son the floor, ready to fight or flee.
this happens so fast i think she doesn't wake til she;s in the air.
cuddles, on the other hand, needs a brass band to wake him. n when he wakes he just yawns n stretches.
note that i said brass band, not a gunfight,
gunfire doesn;t disturb him.
i i fire a round outside, he comes over to see whats happening.
he eventually leaves if i keep shooting.
i have proved gunfire is not painful to cats.
he has heard it every sunday of his life.


cud couldn't escape danger when sleeping anyway.
he is a mutant.
when asleep in my arms, his bones melt.
i could wear him as a stole, or tie him in a knot..

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susie

I wonder what Cud's Daddy has for a personality? Probably more like him, if personality is inherited rather than being a matter of environment and nurture. Hopefully cud will survive the predators even though he's not as"street-smart" as drifter. Maybe he's just a lover rather than a fighter (lol) Hopefully he will earn his keep as he matures and gets those mice and evil bunnies away from your yummy figs

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clearly, some traits are inherited.
cud n his twin were more loving than the other guys.
but, indifference to danger is all environmental.

cud has been taken care of every day of his life.
this house is his universe.
his twin is now semi feral.
that;s sad but there's nothing i can do about that.

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susie

Hi Susie,

As I wrote a number of pages back, our feral (semi-feral?) cat named Sassy is doing well. Been with us almost a year now. He truly understands the word 'treat'.. It is very strange for a feral cat to be this cuddly but he literally wants attention every moment he is awake. He is very respectful to our home (has claws we trim but doesn't scratch up wood work in our home). He likes to play a lot, being from outdoors to indoors I am sure is a bit slower paced. He is an older boy, about 14 years old we think. The only times he gets a little worked up is at sunset and at day break--we think this is when he primarily hunted, because otherwise he sleeps all day. Heck, he sleeps most of the night too, but is more active.

We are so impressed with how he has adapted. When we got him, I called him into our house one cold December night when temperatures were around negative 10 degree and wind. My wife went to answer the door holding him the other day (he is such a baby and loves to be held) and he was worried he was going outside, poor kid. He will not chew on anything scratch any furniture (other than MY chair) and is so well behaved overall.

He likes treats. Did I mention that?

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Rather be outdoors

yeah, hob. i remember the kitty that came in out of the cold.
he is more proof that feral cats get lonely.
as well adapted as they are to life in the wild, they prefer life with humans.
it is not at all a matter of free food.
they want company.

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susie

My one cat, Blue, used to give me little "love: bites sometimes when I was petting her. I would immediately stop petting her and a couple times gave her a light slap. Not stupid and likes being petted. She might put her teeth on me but, no bites of scratches. I have to think light biting and sticking claws on you is some kind of affection thing for cats even if we don't like it.

My other cat Cry Baby is a stone cold killer. Constantly bringing in birds and mice, often still very much alive, to play with and kill in the bathroom. Really upsets the wife. Weird cat, constantly gives little mews, like begging for attention, but, continues even while being petted. Pretty much has her banned frrom the bedroom because of her noises, which she sometimes does in the middle of the night.

steel, have you posted pics of your guys?
i don't remember.
i really don't think claws out is a sign of affection,
at least once i saw a look of irritation on her face when she did it.
drifter bite me once. i bopped her on her nose.
she has never done it again.
i finally was fast enow to retaliate when drifter scratched me.
let's see if that stops the behavior.
this clawing is a new behavior.
she used to bat my hand, but that was claws in.
i had no problem with that.
if she could spend more than 12 months without clawing me, she can learn to go back to that.

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susie