We have a guest

skippymjp · Dec 17, 2008

I saw him/her just a few hours ago, slipping through a broken spot in the underpinning of the work shed. It's a little gray tabby, 10 months to a year old I'd guess. It's either a female or an altered male, I'm guessing female. She is pretty skinny, but obviously not afraid of people, just really wary. So, I'm guessing she isn't feral, just a stray, but thus far, touching isn't allowed

I've put two bowls of food under the shed, about 2 hours apart, and she's eaten all of both

She is where it's good and dry, and I've tacked a piece of plywood, lean-too style over her opening to keep the wind out, while still giving her plenty of room to come and go as she pleases.

It's getting really cold out there, so in addition to having shelter, I felt a little warmth might be welcome. Sassy Sasparilla supervised every step of assembling an improvised heater. A heat resistant ceramic light fixture, inserted through a hole drilled in the bottom of an M&M's Christmas candy tin, and enclosing a 100 watt bulb, ala' "easy bake oven" style.

If the little tabby is still hanging around for breakfast, I'll go into the city and get her a real heat lamp. I'll also see if I can entice her out for a picture or two

skippymjp · Dec 17, 2008

I gave her another bowl of food, and put the heater in place along with an old towel on top of some plastic sheeting. I was able to snap this picture, but she didn't find the flash to be the least bit amusing!

She retreated back under the shed.

The food won out though, and she was back in less than a minute. I'll leave her alone for tonight and let her get some sleep.

carolina · Dec 17, 2008

He/She is a cutie pie!!!!

eilcon · Dec 17, 2008

What a cutie! Bless you for caring.

skippymjp · Dec 17, 2008

I just checked on my little stray again. She is still under the shed, curled up under her heater on her towel, just snoozing away. It's a little above freezing, so I set a bowl of water out for her so she won't have to drink out of puddles. She is actually pretty crafty and found herself a good spot. I didn't even know the sheds underpinning was broken till I saw her push it aside to go under the building

gemlady · Dec 17, 2008

Do you have a Jellicle name picked out yet?

Smart and lucky girl to find you, Mike.

laureen227 · Dec 17, 2008

Originally Posted by gemlady

Do you have a Jellicle name picked out yet?

Smart and lucky girl to find you, Mike.

looks like a new house kitty is in your future!

skippymjp · Dec 18, 2008

Oh well

She had left by the time I got home with the stuff to fix up her shelter. Apparently my shed was just a handy place to get in out of the rain. I've been watching for her, and have seen her a couple times. She seems to really like the old oak slabbed hen house that my farmer neighbor converts to a feral shelter every winter. She has heat, water and food, and comes and goes as she pleases. He claims he isn't "cat people" but he sure has a hard time convincing anyone of that

So, I replaced the broken underpinning with a new piece, that included a cut and lined opening, should she ever need it again.

Never know when you might get caught out in the rain.

addiebee · Dec 18, 2008

Even if she is using that feral shelter... she knows she has place #2 to come to should she need it!

rapunzel47 · Dec 18, 2008

She's a real sweetie, Mike. And having alternate digs never hurt!

ldg · Dec 19, 2008

What a cutie!!!!!!!!!!!!! Me asking a dumb question - is someone going to get her spayed?

Or did your "not cat people" neighbor already do that?

Laurie

skippymjp · Dec 19, 2008

Originally Posted by LDG

What a cutie!!!!!!!!!!!!! Me asking a dumb question - is someone going to get her spayed?

Or did your "not cat people" neighbor already do that?

Laurie

The shelter vet is going to give her "a full workup", but they are booked solid on non-resident appointments for 3 weeks. She was back this morning (guess she likes the premium food better

), and I got a few scritches in on her chin and back. Hopefully, by the time her appointment comes around, she'll be relaxed enough that I can transport her without it being too traumatic.

eta: She got her appointment under the tentative name of "Zephyr", as she is always breezing in and out

rapunzel47 · Dec 19, 2008

Lovely name! Glad she's not abandoned you.

skippymjp · Dec 20, 2008

Well, a new name is in order

I was finally able to get the gray tabby to let me check him over, and he's not a she. He's very he, it was just hard to tell from a distance because he's got fuzzy britches.

laureen227 · Dec 20, 2008

Originally Posted by Skippymjp

Well, a new name is in order

I was finally able to get the gray tabby to let me check him over, and he's not a she. He's very he, it was just hard to tell from a distance because he's got fuzzy britches.

well, IMO, Zephyr is a gender-neutral name...

jcat · Dec 20, 2008

Zephyr is good for a male, too, Mike! He looks like a real sweetie!

rapunzel47 · Dec 20, 2008

Yeah, I'd have thought Zephyr was gender neutral -- and it's a great name.

skippymjp · Dec 20, 2008

Oh good

Because I really like that name. As Jellicle cat Alonzo Zephyr, he can be called Alonzo, Zephyr, Al, Zeph, or just Zo

howard · Dec 21, 2008

Originally Posted by Skippymjp

I gave her another bowl of food, and put the heater in place along with an old towel on top of some plastic sheeting. I was able to snap this picture, but she didn't find the flash to be the least bit amusing!

She retreated back under the shed.

The food won out though, and she was back in less than a minute. I'll leave her alone for tonight and let her get some sleep.

That looks like my little tabby too!

howard · Dec 21, 2008

Originally Posted by Skippymjp

Oh well

She had left by the time I got home with the stuff to fix up her shelter. Apparently my shed was just a handy place to get in out of the rain. I've been watching for her, and have seen her a couple times. She seems to really like the old oak slabbed hen house that my farmer neighbor converts to a feral shelter every winter. She has heat, water and food, and comes and goes as she pleases. He claims he isn't "cat people" but he sure has a hard time convincing anyone of that

So, I replaced the broken underpinning with a new piece, that included a cut and lined opening, should she ever need it again.

Never know when you might get caught out in the rain.

If you ever want to "call for her" just knock on something metal acouple times. This might work.

Some strays respond to that.

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