i'm vicious when it comes to defending my garden. before kitty came, i was shooting one bunny every month, laughing in glee as they died.
i should thank them. between practicing to shoot them n shooting them, i became one heck of a pistol shot.
you know, coyotes are worthless at controlling bunnies.
it's up to me n drifter.

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susie

susie:

It would be your luck the big cat would adopt the deer!



Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

This dry country sure is gettin' wet, ain't it, suzieqz? Here a bit east and a little south of you in West Texas, we are in this particular place bumping right up against an all time record high for summertime rains. As usual, it depends on where the gauge is placed how much it's rained, but I can tell you the skeeters are pretty thick in the late evenings!!!

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So long ... Ken

Susie think of it this way. The cat probably likes its freedom and has chosen you to be part of her life. She may well value her solitude at times and probably does have a safe get away from it all place. If you chose to let someone else into your life and they then tried to make you change very much you would probably resent it.

I would just keep doing what your doing. Make he welcome and give her the option for more. I think she will gradually spend more and moree time with you. Winter may even help her decide that coming into the warmth of a house is a good idea. If she is young she might not appreciate warm as much but in time she will. This has gone a long ways, don't rush it now. I predict that if you start leaving the door open and going inside when she is around that one day she will follow you inside. Let her check it out and leave a bunch before you ever close the door and if she does decide to move in install a cat door so she still has her precious freedom.

i guess prairie cats don't have much to do with birds.
my hummingbirds were cutting up.
during their aerial dogfight, drifter became aware of them.
but, she didn't understand they were up in the air.
it was pretty funny.
this crazy cat was zipping back n forth, chasing hummingbirds, who she thot were on the ground, while they danced happily 10' over her head.
after a bit, i think she realized they were in the air, because she was thinking of climbing to the top of my arbor.
they left n the fun ended.
i have cat proofed my feeder, i'm fond of my hums.
fond of the cat too.

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susie

Sounds like you and the kitty are getting along really well now. It may never be a lap cat but it seems to want to be your friend.

i've been reading up about feral cats.
apparently, what people do, is trap them.
stick them in a locked room for a couple days.
then to the vet to get neutered.
they are big on cutting off parts.
then, back to the locked room for a couple of weeks, while the captor tries to make friends while the animal is groggy.
like as not, the cat spends the rest of her life hiding under the bed
or she gets released because she's just not an indoor cat.
it never occurs to these people that the cat might just hate them.

that is not the kinda thing i do.
in fact i don't have to.
drifter is a scheming wench who is already trying sneak inside.
she knows when she gets fed n if i'm 10 minutes late she gets upset.
a few days ago i had gotten my stuff out n i was leaning in, to get her breakfast. she climbed the steps n put both paws on the sill.
surprised me.
but this morn i was late again.
i was pouring food into her bowl n there she was, inside, eating.
she would still be there if i hadn't moved her bowl out to my arbor, where she eats.
doesn't look like she's afraid of the house.
for sure, she's not afraid of me.

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susie

Susie:

I gave you a like on your last post because of your obvious caring attitude towards drifter. But I think you are coming down a little hard on the folks who are trying to help the feral cats...folks like Jennifer, who has worked with feral cats for years. Let me defend these folks without any disrespect to you. You know how much I admire you for building a relationship with your kitty.

Out where you live, it appears that there are very few cats. But if you could see some of these colonies of feral cats, dozens, maybe hundreds of them breeding and adding to the number in the colony if they are not fixed, it is heartbreaking. There is never enough food for all of them. Many will suffer and die of starvation, or disease because no one cares or has the resources to take care of them. Animal shelters can only deal with a relatively small number.

Spaying and neutering are a way to try to stop the uncontrolled breeding. These folks who do this work are not uncaring, cruel individuals, they are mostly people who love cats, and are trying to improve the lives of cats who would otherwise die very unpleasant, early deaths, and spread dangerous diseases to other cats.

Sorry if I seem sanctimonious, but working in law enforcement, I was in all sorts of environments, and I am also a cat lover, and it is truly heartbreaking to see some of the conditions that these animals have to endure.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

city people are divorced from reality.
they forget all the good feral cats do.
i consider them valuable livestock.
in fact. i know of no rancher that wouldn't like half a dozen barn cats.
they feed any cat they see.
ranchers buy feed by the ton. this draws rats.
nobody likes rats. even mice spread disease here, the hunta virus is prevalent.
what we need is a cheap way to ship city cats to where they are needed.
no, i'm not criticizing jen.
one does what one has to. .

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susie

guys, i was talking about people who try to make animals into something they are not. by using force.
i was not talking about managing a colony, tho i do question tnr.
i don't believe drifter would respond well to the tactics i mentioned.
if you want love, gentleness is key.

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susie

Just like long ago - cats guarding the Egyptian granaries.

Bekeart

someday, rat poison won't be available.
then, farmers with lots of cats will thrive,
the chemically dependent guys will die off.
i don't trust our modern supply train as much as most.
it may last for my lifetime, but not forever.

anyway, i just feel good about not using poison anymore.

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susie

Keep us updated please. I enjoy reading how You and Drifter are making out but have to confess that I am a little nervous opening your posts fearing that something less than good(read Yote) has happened. Keep up the good work. I know there are a lot of people here pulling for you both.

I just discovered this thread last night. Although I am not much of a "cat guy", I do love all animals, and I really enjoyed reading it. I am among those pulling for you and the kitty, Suzieqz.

My beloved dog died in April. Long story short, I ended up recently with a "used" dog (about 4 years old) from the animal shelter. She had a traumatic life. She is perfect in every way. As I was reading Suzieqz's saga of making friends with the cat, it reminded me of my current relationship with my new dog. Like all of my other dogs, and in her own way, she is the best dog ever. I call her Mini...

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drifter is close to being promoted to barn cat, first class.
all she needs to do to qualify is to allow me to pick her up.
i'm close to that.
her usual after supper routine is to exchange touches, then walk away to lie down n stretch, groom, scratch.then come back to me.
since this is our relaxing time, it seemed silly for her to go away to lie down.
so, as she walked by, i reached out n pulled her to me.
she resisted but wasn't afraid.
i got her to lie down, cuddling n lying close.
of course, i immediately let her go.
she knew she could leave so she didn't fight.
she decided this was nice n stayed for 10 minutes or so.

then, after a walk about, she returned to the same place.
this was something she wanted to do, but didn't know she wanted.
she now believes that i'm not gonna hurt, even if i do something weird like shoving her off her feet.

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susie

warren, i'm sure glad you rescued mini.
older dogs tend to get euthanized pretty quick.
the dog makes you happy, you make the dog happy; everybody wins.
i love dogs n i love cats.
i just love criters.

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susie

Except rabbits, right?

only my bullets caress evil bunnies.
i'm surprised that i didn't realize that
i had a new predator in the neighborhood.
i average shooting one evil bunny/month.
i see them out the window, grab the gun n shoot.
only 2 this year tells me my little hunter has been around for a while.
super smart kitty because i just read cats can make 30mph, but coyotes, 46mph.

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susie

it turns out, that feral cats play, just like normal kitties.
she has fun with locusts.
when she spots one, she pounces. then. she lets it go so she can catch it again.
if the bug stops moving, she gently shoves it around with her paw til it jumps.
she doesn't eat it until the bug is too broken to play.
this is lots of fun to watch.
things are progressing. when drifter gets tired of interacting with me, she no longer leaves the garden or even goes to the other end.
instead, she goes n sits on the steps, or maybe the roof of the arbor, or she chases bugs.
i leave her alone til she comes up to me.
this works for us.
oh! we have come to terms about my sunday shoot.
i feed her n say hello.
when she's done eating, i go to te front of the house n fire a couple of warning shot.
this gives her time to leave without panicking,
then i come out n do my normal shooting.
she comes back by supper.

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susie

susie,

She has trained you well.

Bekeart

I think for a feral cat she is training susie remarkably well. Got her bringing her food at proper times, scratching when needed and now giving warning shots before actual practice begins. Smart cat.

Suzieqz; how about some pictures of that cat one of these days?

well, i got to the mailbox, with only a few mud holes. so, i got the memory card..
even went to town which was great because i was out of milk, potatoes, fresh veggies, everything.
thing is, now cat hates me.
i was drugged up n overbalanced yesterday n i guess i hurt her.
then, this morn i wasn't well enow to get out there, except to take her breakfast out.
she ignored it.
went out this eve. long time after i called she showed up, ran to dinner n sniffed it.
then she ran around like a maniac n left the garden.
she didn't let me touch her.
i sure wish i could have an actual pet.

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susie

susie:

She'll come around. She might be a little skittish for a day or so, but you guys have started on the path to a good relationship. Just keep up the routine. Kitties are easily stressed. There are all kinds of things that stress them out, for being really tough fighters, they are surprisingly sensitive to social situations. So you think you actually "hurt" her, as in some sort of physical injury? it might make a difference, but I'll bet she will forgive you.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

oh, i can't believe she suffered any real pain.
she just didn't like it.
she is a real pain.
i just got this huge delivery from chewy. food, drugs, litter box, litter.
i sure feel stupid for spending all that money.

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susie

I don't think you are stupid, you are caring, and i think it will pay off in the end. Hang in there, susie!! I'm glad you got some meds and other stuff for kitty. Keep up the good work.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

well, all is forgiven.
i went out at dark to gather up the food.
i don't leave food to draw other animals. but, as i went in, she appeared on top of the fence so i invited her to eat.
she ate n there was even some touching.

she was acting like there was something scary around, besides me.
very skittish.
if i could, i'd get her to stay safe in the garden, but i can't.
i guess the fault here is mine. i kinda want a pet.
drifter is not a pet, she's a wild animal that looks like a pet.
but my feelings get hurt when she acts like what she is.

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susie

Susieqz, the animal shelters here have more cats than they know what to do with. Is there a way to get one to you? I could send you (PM) links to some shelters here that might have a way of getting one to you. Let me know.

warren, that's very kind of you.
if you know of a shelter that might send me a kitty, let me know.
i suspect shipping costs may be prohibitive, or they could be sending lots of cats to the plains. we are cat poor here.
ranchers buy feed by the ton, which draws rats.
barn cats would be treated well, here.

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susie

OK, I will send you some links (hopefully) tomorrow, and you can contact them directly.

My niece has been at a non-profit, volunteer fostering and placing kittys in homes for years, but adopting is done in person.

This site allows you to search for non-profit shelters:

Animal Shelters in Your Area; Search for Dogs and Cats.

my poor kitty is sick.
she has always had a brown/red discharge from the corners of her eyes.
i have been advised that probably means an upper resperatory infection.
now, she developed a dry cough.
plus, i saw her panting like a dog, mouth open, tongue hanging out.

so, i bot some amoxicillin, for fish with no script.
i bot a couple cans of tuna n i mix the antibiotic in a tablespoon of that.
this is the third day.
no more coughing, but her coat is dull.
that might be because she persists in rolling in dirt.
she thinks she's a dog.
i find it quite interesting to see the changes in her.
she has developed a fondness for me. n likes to cuddle for short periods, on some days.
other times she prefers to stay away.
her attitude towards me has changed, but what she is hasn't.
this is the same wild animal that first thot i was gonna eat her.
by the way, it's time for a name change. i like the sound of high plains drifter, because she actually is a high plains drifter.
but, when i talk to her i always call her kitty. she thinks that's her name.

so, she is high plains kitty.
that makes zip godmother..
we have no registry, but she would apprieciate a silenced pistol.

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susie

"Kitty" as a name sounds just fine to me...I think you have a friend there, susie!!! I wish you could get her to a vet, though, there are so many parasites that cats can pick up in the wild, and although I spent some money on Bella at first, it has paid off in the long run, as she now is free of all those debilitating parasites and other nasty enemies of healthy kitties.

Bella says "Hi"!!!!



Best of everything....Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

i have both the wormer n flee stuff. i just don't want to use them while she's on antibiotics,
if she ever calms down, she'll see a vet for her shots.
my old vet died, or i'd administer the shots myself.
i don't know any small animal vets.

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susie

STUPID CAT !
i went out with her supper n a book to read because it was nice n cool.
i called her n called her but she didn't come.
finally, i looked up n there she was, up on the roof.
i told her to come down, but she ignored me.
she is very good at ignoring me.
i know full well that she knows what com'ere means but she only comes if she feels like it.
i don't know what she does up there, unless she's hunting road runners.
beeps like to get up high to spot prey.
i could take the ladder down but it's at the far end of the garden n she can go there without leaving the safety of the garden.
since the roof is coyote proof i won't stop her from messing around up there.
finally, she did come down n ambled over for a snack.
this was important because next to her dinner was antibiotics in tuna.
she had no time for me today. after she ate she climbed to the top of the fence.
some days, she just wants to get high.
it is cool how cats use ladders.
going up, she climbs an upright, like any pole.
coming down, she uses the rungs.
she drops her front paws to a rung, then brings down her back legs.
she balances there til she drops to the next rung.
this is cool to watch. not sure how they get down trees if they insist on going headfirst n her claws won't work that way.

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susie

They come down backwards from what I have seen over the years. At least most of the way then turn and jump the last few feet.

When you said she likes to get high I had this picture in my mind of a cat laying on the roof with a big doobie in her paw.

oh, i don't share pot with her, but i think she has a source of drugs.
last week she was just weird. she was acting like some scary animal was around. she would das from place to place.
when i called her for supper, she'd hop on the fence, look at me n hop back out.
is this perhaps a sign of being in heat?
how do you tell if a cat is in heat?

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susie

Male cats will start showing up and then you'll hear lots of cat noises and before long little kitties will be everywhere. Then you can take one of those and make a proper pet.

no way will a male come around. i've read that a male can scent a female in heat for a mile.
the irrigation canal has stopped running so no cat will be able to get that close.
by the way, zip, i tried that site for animal shelters but it could find none within 50 miles.
i would very much like a litter. i'm convinced she has a superior blood line that should be saved, also, if i get my hands on babies, i'll handle them lots, so they will be normal kitties.

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susie

i knew females were sneaky.
we all are.
but i didn't know female cats could make n execute long range plans.
she thinks i don't know what she's doing, but i watch.
her feed is right inside the door, so i don't have to go up the steps to feed her.so, a couple weeks ago, i noticed she had her front feet up on the door sill as i poured.
ok, she was hungry n i was late.
i was a little surprised, since everyone says feral cats are afraid of indoors. i don't think see sees any difference between inside n out.
so, a few days ago, i was late with breakfast again.
as i poured out her kibble, as if by magic, there was a cat eating from her bowl, all the way in the hall, on the carpet.
hmmm.
now today, i was moving my stuff in for the night, a big project .
i was half way up the steps n something flashed right by me. she stopped in the hall, then dashed into the bathroom.
she looked around, noticing everything n dashed back out.
she thinks i don't know whats going on, but i know military history.these are preliminary patrols, prior to an invasion.

things are always interesting around here.

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susie

I think you're going to have a buddy in the house this winter. At least part time.

Whatever else she may detect or fear about the house, she likely suspects that it would keep her safe from whatever is outside that might harm her.

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NHI, 10-8.

Quick, get a littler box or you will start finding little surprises here and there.

oh, i got a litter box n litter, but i was thinking of cold weather.
i couldn't deflea her, i got this advantix II n just before i applied it i read the warnings. it said MAY BE FATAL TO CATS yow!
i threw it out n reorderd, for another $30.
haven't got it yet.
anyway, she's not welcome til i can pick her up. i tried today, she fought.

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susie

This one watches my yard

that's one neat kitty. looks lynx-ish.
kitty must be scared of the house, this morn, she ran in a few feet, then ran back out.
it's like she's afraid something bad will happen, so she's testing.
i bet she'd go crazy if i closed the door.
i can't keep it open, this is peak fly season.
i don;t want her in anyway. the flea stuff is in the mail, so she'll have to wait til she's de-fleaed.
plus, i really don't want an animal inside that i can't pick up. that seems important.
if nothing else, if she eats my dinner, i need to toss her out to protect her from me.

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susie

Best is Revolution. Applied between the shoulders once a month. Fleas ticks worms all gone, except tapeworms.......

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV

the stuff i got for worms says it's for tapeworms. do i need to treat for other worms? the flea stuff that's coming is called frontline plus.
i didn't know flea stuff would kill worms. do i need to get more stuff?

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susie

I would use what you've got but read up on Revolution. It is the best we've used. Dixie swears by it ............

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV

thanks, dix.i just did.
i guess i need that but i can't keep spending money.

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susie