MY GARDEN IS PROTECTED !

YOW! DID YOU SEE THAT? I POSTED A PIC, ALL BY MYSELF !!!
this drives me crazy. sometimes, when i click ADVANCED, i get a window where i find PAPERCLIP, so i can post a pic. other times i get a couple of big blank windows that have no symbols at all.
 
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i haven't seen big cat since drifter went out of heat.
he doesn't seem to be a bobcat because he is solid smokey grey.
interestingly, 2 of my kits look solid grey at a glance. only if you look real close can you make out spots.
stripes is always around, which tells me big cat is gone.
stripes is huge for a normal cat, 15 lbs, but would be no match for big cat.
if drifter goes into heat she won't get out of the house, since there are horny boys all over.
Not if..... When... Good time now to neuter her if you have enough kits.. Or neuter the kits (all at the same time) when they get to be 5-6 months. Keep her in if you do that with the kits because she'll go all over outside looking for them. Then you can neuter her if you want and keep them all in till she gets home or they'll go looking. Sometimes the larger pet store have good deals on neutering and you can do them all at once because the young ones will all mate together and that's not optimal for their genes to do that. If you want more cats (and the coyotes will view them as"food supply" if they're little- not every cat is as good a Mom as drifter is) have them mate with non family members.

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im not really a cat guy, growing up in the country and being an avid bird hunter, feral cats had about the same life span as a snowball in hades.

but 45 years ago i ran into a very gorgeous red head who had a pair of pet cats, to get her i had to endure the cats.

she has an old tom house cat that been in the house for about 15 years now, about 10 years ago we came in from dinner one night and heard a kitten crying under the house, a feral cat had raised a litter under our house, and something must have happened to it because the kittens were just about dead when i got them out that night under orders from the said redhead

she brought them in and rescued them but i put my foot down about any other house cats, so after they got wened i built her an actual cat house outside, and now we have a large group of cats that live outside and i have not seen any mice in years
but i know that if i die before my bride of the last 44 years, she will become the neighborhood cat lady :)
 
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DECISIONS, DECISIONS
i wanted a house cat. i know how to get one, too.
all you do is never let them out of the house til they get stall stayed [victom of agoraphobia].

i know this, but i own a walled garden.
i can't think a better place for kits to play.
i'm not tough enow to deny this to our babes.

anyway, i was reading in the garden when drifter came up n told me she wanted to bring the kits out.
i was really surprised because when i brot one out the other day, drifter was very upset.
well, mom knows best so i propped open the door so she could do what she wants.
she ran into the house n soon was at the door with all four kits.
she came out n called them to come.
the one i had shown the outdoors rushed right down the stairs.
the others came out a little at a time scared but entranced by new smells n sights'
they all came out. they knew both mom n me were there to protect them.
they had a wonderful time.
dirt to play in, green stuff to sniff, sun to feel on their backs.
getting them back in the house wasn't as easy. three followed me in when i carted in some sheets that had dried, but bear wanted to stat out.
he wouldn't come to drifter's call n is way too fast for me..
finally, he stopped to chomp a weed n i scooped him up by the scruff of his neck.
he was not pleased/


when all the kits were in i pointed this out to drifter n she joined them.
she took them to the living room so i was also able to bring my stuff n myself in.

i'm already paying a price for this.
a while later, drifter went out again.
when i went to let her in, there were four kits, noses to the door who wouldn't move.
i don't know if drifter called them, or if they had decided on a mass prison break, but when i opened the door a crack, they rushed the opening, so i had to close it. kits don't respond to NO or my shouts like drifter does.
i about gave up when i knocked over a vacuum.
they scattered when it came down with a crash, so i was able to let drifter in.

drifter never needed obedience training, but these guys do.
 
i wanted some outdoor pics for their 9th b day, but as soon as i finished my sunday shoot, a really bad sandstorm kicked in.
sand was in my mouth, my nose, my eyes, while it sandblasted my skin.
from indoors, i could barely see. visibility was sometimes out to 6 car lengths, but other times 4.
this is what happens when you ge no snow or rain for 150 days.
the weeds die n without roots to hold the sand, it flies into the air, especially with winds of 50mph.

anyway, i'm not sure what i have here. drifter is a feral cat that lives indoors.
she's feral in the sense she doesn't want much cuddling, but she only goes out for an hour or two everyday.
she won't leave the kits for longer that.
so, she seems to be a house cat. she is comfy indoors, so the word feral doesn't fit.
she decided this house is home.
she has a comfy weatherproof den someplace, but when she chose a place to give birth, she wanted to be here with me n my food.
she trusts me.
not other people tho. the only human she met she wanted to attack.
when kits are involved, she will take on something that's 20 times as big as she is.
size doesn't matter. only my body between her n that repairman stopped a fight.

you know, i never realized how well behaved drifter is, until i met this unruly group of kits.
if i say NO, drifter stops whatever she's doing. if i call her BAD DOG, she hides in the bath.
in fact, she never breaks rules, without any training.
outside of her dislike of cuddling, she is the perfect cat.
we fight, but only like any family fights.
the kits, on the other hand maraud thru the house, causing havoc when they pass.
when i wake in the morn, i have a major cleaning job every single day. they like messing the living room .
if they can't find stuff to mess up here, they will bring stuff from the other end of the house.
today, it was dozens of cleaning patches they wanted in here.
i've given up even trying to enforce my rules.
i have a no cat on the bed rule that i no longer enforce.
it took 3 times to get drifter to understand that.
but, i've tossed the kits off my bed hundreds of times n they haven't noticed.
i just can't keep them off.
worse, now that there's likely to be a pile of kits asleep on my bed, drifter goes up there to tend them.
right now, it's no big deal because they are indoor cats n clean.
i made the rule because drifter loves rolling in the dirt. but i bet she teaches them to rollin the dirt n then i'll fight.

i see no way to train kits. they ignore shouting or my angry voice.
they aren't afraid of me.
i have always voice trained dogs n it works with drifter, so i assumed it would work with kits.
it doesn't.
i don't get angry because they are babes but they are very trying.
force is out unless i see aggression.
i'm out of ideas.
has anyone trained kits?
 
i wanted some outdoor pics for their 9th b day, but as soon as i finished my sunday shoot, a really bad sandstorm kicked in.
sand was in my mouth, my nose, my eyes, while it sandblasted my skin.
from indoors, i could barely see. visibility was sometimes out to 6 car lengths, but other times 4.
this is what happens when you ge no snow or rain for 150 days.
the weeds die n without roots to hold the sand, it flies into the air, especially with winds of 50mph.

anyway, i'm not sure what i have here. drifter is a feral cat that lives indoors.
she's feral in the sense she doesn't want much cuddling, but she only goes out for an hour or two everyday.
she won't leave the kits for longer that.
so, she seems to be a house cat. she is comfy indoors, so the word feral doesn't fit.
she decided this house is home.
she has a comfy weatherproof den someplace, but when she chose a place to give birth, she wanted to be here with me n my food.
she trusts me.
not other people tho. the only human she met she wanted to attack.
when kits are involved, she will take on something that's 20 times as big as she is.
size doesn't matter. only my body between her n that repairman stopped a fight.

you know, i never realized how well behaved drifter is, until i met this unruly group of kits.
if i say NO, drifter stops whatever she's doing. if i call her BAD DOG, she hides in the bath.
in fact, she never breaks rules, without any training.
outside of her dislike of cuddling, she is the perfect cat.
we fight, but only like any family fights.
the kits, on the other hand maraud thru the house, causing havoc when they pass.
when i wake in the morn, i have a major cleaning job every single day. they like messing the living room .
if they can't find stuff to mess up here, they will bring stuff from the other end of the house.
today, it was dozens of cleaning patches they wanted in here.
i've given up even trying to enforce my rules.
i have a no cat on the bed rule that i no longer enforce.
it took 3 times to get drifter to understand that.
but, i've tossed the kits off my bed hundreds of times n they haven't noticed.
i just can't keep them off.
worse, now that there's likely to be a pile of kits asleep on my bed, drifter goes up there to tend them.
right now, it's no big deal because they are indoor cats n clean.
i made the rule because drifter loves rolling in the dirt. but i bet she teaches them to rollin the dirt n then i'll fight.

i see no way to train kits. they ignore shouting or my angry voice.
they aren't afraid of me.
i have always voice trained dogs n it works with drifter, so i assumed it would work with kits.
it doesn't.
i don't get angry because they are babes but they are very trying.
force is out unless i see aggression.
i'm out of ideas.
has anyone trained kits?
When drifter gets finished safety and hunt training the kits, then you'll get your chance. You may be surprised and drifter will train them for you. I've never trained kids when their Mom was around. Usually when I've adopted kits, then the mom stated with the previous owner and usually one or two at a time. They got declawed when they got neutered because they were indoor kits, and then they didn't climb up curtains any more and gradually they got trained by repetitively putting them if of things or giving them toys that satisfied their hunting instincts. By the way, they are probably fertile by now or close to coming"in heat" You have a short time before you going to have pregnant kits. . What sexes are the kits? They can even impregnate drifter, but she may not allow that, given her nature. If you don't want that (& genetically that would be less than optimal) you need to neuter them now.

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I am no animal psychologist, but if "anger" doesn't stop negative behavior (on the bed), how about rewards (treats) for positive behavior? Maybe seeing 'positive behavior' is too infrequent for rewards.

Kittens are curious and full of energy. Making a 'mess' is what kittens and puppies do.
 
road, i haven't seen big cat in a month.
i think he won't come near a house unless the scent of a female calls him.
that means i'll see him soon.
DRIFTER IS IN HEAT!
i can't stand this. she wants out n she's very fast.
somehow, i have to keep her in for 6 days.
i can lock her in a room once, but she is a fast learner n this won't work twice.
can i make a blank out of a 22lr?
noise would drive her from the door.
i'm rethinking spaying for drifter.
somehow, it seems wrong for a wild animal.

natayo may be a boy. he likes climbing up under my skirt.
not just skirts tho. right now, he's under the comforter next to my shins.
his sibs are on top of the comforter jumping on him.
they want to get him out but won't chase him under his cover, so they pounce on him as he bites my legs.
he gets kicked when it hurts but doesn't seem to mind.

i find their relationships interesting. if you saw them fight, you'd think them bitter enemies.
they bite n scratch n seem to be trying to kill each other.
but, when they get sleepy, they all cuddle up to each other.
they act like pack animals.
it would feel like a betrayal, but this is not for my convenience.
i just don't want her to endure another pregnancy.
 
I think that you are right to have drifter spayed, susie. You are not going to be able to keep her from getting pregnant otherwise. She will eventually find a way to slip away. It's not her fault, it's just her nature. Now that you have your kits, I really think she would be happier if you and she didn't have this hanging over your heads. And as you say, she is no longer a wild animal. It seems as if she has bonded with you, and is there for the long haul. Just my 2 cents.

Best Regards, Les
 
YAY!
DRIFTER JUST CAUGHT THE MOUSE THE KITS LOST YESTERDAY.
it escaped behind the stove so it was safe to scare me.

the kits were all sleeping, but bear was on top of my bed, so i grabbed him up n put him down facing drifter.
drifter gave it to him n he's carrying it around proudly.

YOW! that mouse is still alive so bear is working with it while drifter watches.
i hope it doesn't get away again.

RATS! it got away, under a heater vent.
drifter is trying to recapture it.
these kits know what they are supposed to do, but haven't developed the skills to catch n kill their dinner.
 
i can't use positive reinforcement on the kits because
i never see anything to reinforce.
i do cuddle them up, but they seem to think of me as another cat.
i will neuter any i keep.
if they had been born outside i wouldn't bother, because the mortality rate would keep the population in check.
but, these guys think they are house cats.
i bet drifter will teach them to come in for the night.
i can't tell boys from girls, but some must be boys.
since boys spray, i have no choice but neutering.
since they are house cats, i have no objection to this.
i only have an ethical problem with drifter.
 
since i can't keep kits off my bed, i decided to use them as warmers.
i wanted a nap, so i shoved them aside , laid down n pulled them to my chest. they sleep in a pile of squirmy kits, so gentle movements don't wake them.
i woke when they got restive. two were still snuggled to my front, one was on my hip n one was between my legs.
this is what happens when they sleep with drifter, proving the kits see no difference between us.
i've managed to keep drifter in another day, but it's hard. she wants to find a tom.
i'm glad i'm not a cat. i've been in heat n, mostly it just lends a certain urgency to my actions.
but it looks like drifter hurts..
she needs sex very badly n it looks like it's more than just uncomfy.
 
road, i haven't seen big cat in a month.
i think he won't come near a house unless the scent of a female calls him.
that means i'll see him soon.
DRIFTER IS IN HEAT!
i can't stand this. she wants out n she's very fast.
somehow, i have to keep her in for 6 days.
i can lock her in a room once, but she is a fast learner n this won't work twice.
can i make a blank out of a 22lr?
noise would drive her from the door.
i'm rethinking spaying for drifter.
somehow, it seems wrong for a wild animal.

natayo may be a boy. he likes climbing up under my skirt.
not just skirts tho. right now, he's under the comforter next to my shins.
his sibs are on top of the comforter jumping on him.
they want to get him out but won't chase him under his cover, so they pounce on him as he bites my legs.
he gets kicked when it hurts but doesn't seem to mind.

i find their relationships interesting. if you saw them fight, you'd think them bitter enemies.
they bite n scratch n seem to be trying to kill each other.
but, when they get sleepy, they all cuddle up to each other.
they act like pack animals.
it would feel like a betrayal, but this is not for my convenience.
i just don't want her to endure another pregnancy.
I think it would be a good idea (neutering drifter- )there are "blanks" available for every caliber for dry firing and nothing comes out of your gun) you also could make noise box by putting coins in a metal box and shaking it and throwing on floor near whoever you want to chase away... Neutering for all of them... First heat is about 6 months, maybe sooner and males spray, which makes a permanent nasty smell wherever it hits. I've never had an intact male past 6 months so I'm not sure when that starts but I think it's about the same time (6 months) See if you can have them done at the same time because then you will have all quietly recovering at the same time. They will be low key for a couple days then back to normal. Keep indoors for a week so they're not splitting their stitches.. See if your vet will give you a "package deal" That way the males won't impregnate the females. Good luck but at least do drifter first. I think she has to not be in heat at the time because her "lady parts" get engorged with blood in heat and you don't want excessive bleeding. If you neuter the kits separately you have to worry about drifter and the others going outside to look for whoever is at the vet.

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