MY GARDEN IS PROTECTED !

[susieqz]

doug, i suspect that.
i've studied these coyotes n this just doesn;t fit.
the problem is, other big predators are unlikely to be that close during daylight either.

i'm comfy letting my kits out during the day, or at least i was.

if i keep them in all the time, they would hate it,
but i could protect my figs.
i have 5 years of hard work getting figs to grow where figs can't grow.
the kits are not spending enow time out there to defend my trees.
my only option is poison, but poisoned mice walk around looking drunk before they die.
an appealing meal, but poisoned mice kill cats.

 

[susieqz]

after les's post about his guys fighting, i decided observation was the smart move.
the first thin is, drifter starts the fights. she's not getting bullied.
second, after a fight, no one runs away.
more likely, they cuddle up n take a nap together.
so, whatever is happening, it isn't what it looks like.
drifter hisses, growls n screams with rage.
when she attacks she looks very fearsome, fangs showing as she goes for the kill, but no one gets hurt.

something is going on, but i don;t understand it.

when i go to bed, i call them.
they don't come in a blur like they do when i call from the kitchen, but they come.
drifter gets there in a couple of minutes, then cud shows up n they fight on top of my legs.
they wrestle n tumble around
it actually feels really good since i'm under 4 blankets.
all night long i feel them moving around n it's comforting.
not sure about summer tho.
those are real fangs n claws they are using n i'm the innocent bystander..

 

[Redbert31]

As long as they cuddle up after and take a nap together you're still ok. If there was going to be WW3, it would have happened between them a long time ago. My two pups growl occasionally and roll around like a fighting dog ball for a few seconds then it's all over. Jackson is bigger 9 lbs and older. Logan is smaller 7 lbs and younger and likes to play. Nothing bad happens even tho my hubby thinks it could. They've been together 4 1/2 years and I think if something bad were to happen it would have already. Same with drifter and cud. Since Logan has a little bit of disability remaining, he is in his playpen for his own protection so he doesn't fall if he jumps off the couch, if we both leave, and Jackson is free in the house. Just a little "insurance" for us. We're rarely both out of the house for more than a couple of hours. No worries [emoji175][emoji175][emoji106][emoji106][emoji120][emoji120]

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[susieqz]

i think i know who the local monster is.
there's a mangy coyote that lives about a mile from here. he dens near the road so i often scare him up when i drive to the main road.
i don;t know if the rest of the pack got killed, but he's alone.
i've studied the local pack n know how they behave.
they would never come near during daylight.
but, a pack animal who is all alone may not be entirely sane.
i can't predict how he will behave.

if he would promise to leave me n mine alone, i'd feed him.
since he won't do that, i'll shoot him.

 

[les.b]

I know how you feel, susie, I have coyotes here as well, and they certainly pose a threat to kitties. We have also sighted foxes nearby, and hear them at night sometimes as well. I know that the coyotes are a threat, but am not sure about the foxes. We also have hawks and owls who may pose a threat. Here at the cabin, Bella and Lucky stay in all the time, but the GF lets the other cats out during the day, and back in in the evening. I worry about them, but the threat is higher at night.

Best Regards, Les

 

[Watchdog]

...a pack animal who is all alone may not be entirely sane.

I had to sorta smile when I read that. We see that same thing as it applies to humans, too, don't we?

 

[Redbert31]

But we humans can even out the odds with a pistol or a rifle if we encounter the predator. The kitties don't have those options. I would imagine a hungry fox would grab a kitty too; they're not herbivores.

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[susieqz]

i have read that foxes n kits can co exist.
i have no personal experience with foxes tho.

i will certainly kill any coyote i see but i don;t do that for fun.
i dislike killing things that eat mice like coyotes n rattlers.
so, i kill only those who come near the house.

 

[Old TexMex]

Okay, here's my story. Night before last Marshall the 10 month old 12 lb tabby didn't answer the ships bell I ring to call him (he normally comes straight to it at sunset). We have coyote here. I started searching and finally got a pair of eyes with my flashlight. It was a boar coon. Marshall came streaking out from the dark, hot on his tail! I hollered stop, and managed to tackle the rascal (Marshall, not the racoon) before the fur started to fly. I gave that young cat a good talking to. Racoons don't tap out like those kitty cats you play with, boy.

 

[susieqz]

great story, tex.
great that marshall didn;t get hurt.
there are a group of people who think coons are tougher han kits, but i keep hearing that a cat can teach them their proper place.
i don't know if a kit could kill a coon tho.
drifter's fav thing is the bite on the back of the neck to kill.
i think coons are too sturdy for that to work.

 

[les.b]

Hey, folks....I'm really bummed out today, and thought I'd share with you, as I know that most of you have been down this road before. I had to take my GF's sister and her cat to the vet today to end his suffering from cancer. I go back with this cat a dozen or more years, and he and I bonded the first day I saw him, all those years ago. His name was "Rocket", and he was one of those special ones.

Here he is in, I think, 2011, posing at their mothers house in the back garden:

We had taken him to the vets a month or so ago, and they discovered the cancer. He was on medication to make him comfortable, and give us a little more time with him. But yesterday he started passing blood, and we knew that it was time. This morning, we took him to our vets, and they put us in a private room and fitted Rocket with a port. We spent some time saying our goodbyes, and he purred the whole time, as though to tell us "Thank you for loving me so much." He was such a good boy, he would ride with us in the car with no carrier. When we got to the vets, he would sit in our laps with no restraint necessary.

Then the vet came in, and it was time. We kept our hand on him while he calmly passed. Purring until he stopped breathing.

The vets put him in a small coffin, and I took him to my farm where my furry friends from the last 60 years have been buried. I dug a grave for him there this afternoon, and he is now resting next to our beagle Megs, who passed in 2010. Underneath a 100 year old hemlock. It drizzled rain all afternoon. I planted daffodils on the grave, and put in a temporary marker, I'll make a more permanent one later.

I'm not sure how coherent this has been, as I couldn't see the screen most of the time, seems a little blurry.

Thanks for reading, I just wanted to share with my friends who I know love kitties as much as I do.

RIP Rocket...

Best Regards, Les

 

[susieqz]

that's hard, les.
i'm not sure i could deal with that.
drifter has taught me that one can be very close to a cat.
i guess this sounds unkind, but i'm a little relieved.
after i read the first 2 lines, i thot you were gonna say something happened to lucky or bella..
they are my friends.

 

[les.b]

Thanks, susie. Lucky and Bella sense that something is troubling me. I'm stretched out on the bed with my iPad typing this right now, and they have been taking turns keeping me company. Bella is up beside me now. Which is not her normal spot. They seem to know when they can help me, and just how to do it.

Here's a recent picture of Lucky.... Almost a formal portrait!! He says "Hi!" :

Best Regards, Les

 

[Redbert31]

Les... You and your girlfriend have my sincere condolences upon losing Rocket[emoji120][emoji120] What a beautiful kitty he was.. You can see the warmth and intelligence in those beautiful eyes in his photo. May he rest in peace alongside the dear ones who accompanied you along your journey. Love and prayers, Linda [emoji175][emoji175]

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[susieqz]

um, i hate to change the subject, but i might have a problem.
cuddles has thrown up 5 times in the past week.
often, it's right after he eats, so the kibble hasn't even dissolved.
he has normal energy n isn't acting sick at all.
a couple of times, he tossed up when he got upset at not getting out.
i could sure use some ideas about home remedies.

 

[les.b]

Susie:

My kitties do this on occasion as well. Generally it is not a cause for concern. But I would try to keep track of how often it happens, and see whether there may be some stress or competitive behavior involved.nHere is a little info from the iams pet food folks:

Cat Throwing Up: Normal or Cause for Alarm? - IAMS

Best Regards, Les

 

[susieqz]

thanks tons, les.
he did vomit once, but the rest is regurgitation.
not sure how to correct this, tho.
smaller portions is hard when you have 2 cats.
they have 2 bowls, but they both eat from both bowls, as the mood hits them.
if he ever comes back, i'll just love him up.
he went out at 7am n it's almost 3 n he's not around.
hopefully, he just caught something good to eat.
he's seldom out this long.
only once before.

 

[susieqz]

guys, if i don't post here, it's because i've been banned.
if i feel like posting, i post, even knowing admins will get upset.

 

[Redbert31]

Why would you be banned trying to get help for your kitty! I hope cud has returned. Please watch to see that he doesn't spend more than a couple of days without eating. Cats who don't eat more than 2-3 days get a fatty liver syndrome that needs quick veterinary intervention. See if you can see down his throat in case there's a bone lodged in the back. If he's not pooping, he could have an obstruction that needs prompt veterinary care as well. I'm hoping that he's back with you and feeling better. Please PM me if you get banned and let me know that he came home and how he's doing. Good luck [emoji120][emoji120]

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[les.b]

Linda, I'll PM you.

Best regards, Les