The perils of outdoor-feeding

Hi all - I have a bit of a dilemma with a rogue hedgehog!

3-4 days ago, when I was taking the pans out of one of the Happy Hutches, I noticed some bizarre-looking poop in there. I had a quick squizz at the Internet and basically became pretty convinced that it was hedgehog poop.

I cleaned the straw (and poop) out of that Happy Hutch and have continued to feed in just the one hutch, as Rudi and Little Cow don't seem to have any problems sharing the hutch (as long as they don't see the other going in!). Moreover, I realised that they were giving the 'mystery poop' hutch a wide berth, as if the interloper had 'scented' it in some way.

The last few days I've been having some lovely bonding sessions with Rudi on the back step of the house. This usually involved my sitting on the step with food (and, importantly, special cat milk and treats) near me while Rudi rubs around me, demanding strokes and love before he tucks in to his hard-earned food (dry - Burgess, wet - it depends. They seem to like variety). Anyway, last night I left the remaining food out there when I went to bed and, through my night vision scope, I saw him tucking in with gusto. Tonight, we've had the same routine. Only this time there's no Rudi, just a prickly little chap sat on our back step filling his face!! It's very cute, but it does pose a bit of an issue.

I guess the easy solution is to take all food in at night. But both Rudi (and to a lesser degree, Little Cow) are pretty nocturnal so I'd really rather not upset their routines. In England (and, I'm assuming, elsewhere), having hedgehogs around is considered a sign of a really healthy patch of land and they do wonders for the garden so I'd actually like for the prickly ones to hang around. It's just I'd rather they don't eat the cat food!! Are there ways of handling this, other than the easy solution? I've had two thoughts:

1) lift the boxes up to a decent height....but hedgehogs can climb, I guess?
2) just go with and put extra food out!

You know, this may be why Little Cow in particular seems to do all her feeding during the day!
bests

Actually, several members of TCS have hedgehogs as pets and love the little things!

I have no idea if they can climb. Out our way we have a problem with raccoons, skunks, and possums.

I don't know how large their hutch is - but can it accommodate the kind of outdoor patio type table that has a pedestal in the center to support it rather than legs? Because that deters our nocturnal creatures from getting at the food - if you get the right size, they can't jump onto it (but the cats can), and they can't climb it.

This type:



I couldn't find a picture of the best type - one that doesn't have the legs that spread out at the bottom, but drop down into a heavy circle that holds it upright.

Or if you're handy, you can just construct a feeding platform on a pole post you support by getting it down into the ground.

Love the table idea, thanks. No hedgehog could defy gravity!
I wish I were handy - sadly I'm all fingers and thumbs.
Let's see what I can find. And I may devise a special hog hutch too!
Btw - more cat-specific question. I'm guessing lots of people's cats do this. Rudi seems to love 'standing up' on two legs with his eyes closed when he comes in for affection - am assuming this is a good sign? He's still a little temperamental (though no surprise when you consider he's been a stray for so long). Something really spooked him a couple of days back mid-pm : one minute he was in the courtyard all loving, the next I saw him dash off startled. He didn't surface again for 4-5 hours! I was starting to get worried!

Lazlo was rescued and moved indoor with us full time when he was about 10 weeks old. He hides for company, and he'll still bolt sometimes when we drop something or have a good sneeze. (Sometimes he'll sleep through it or ignore it, so don't ask me what the difference in the triggering is!).

Two of our 8 stand on their back legs to approach us when we're walking about if they want pets - but this doesn't sound like what you're describing? (And if I lean down, Billy hugs me! ).

I have had the same problem with my shelter of late. Although, I took down my winter shelter and just have a feeding station now. But there were racoon (I saw them often) and one possum who were also eating out of the winter shelter. They were pooping in there as well. I had to keep cleaning out poop and it wasn't cat poop. It really irritated me.

I have an old wooden child's swing set in my back yard. Was there when we moved in fifteen years ago. It has a play platform about four feet off the ground. And I have seen my ferals on that platform. My hubby suggested putting the feeding station on that platform! So I am going to move it there tomorrow, but am worried they won't eat for a day or two because the station has been moved again.

For next winter, I plan on buying one of those feral villas and hopefully racoons/possums can't get in there. It really bothered me about the poop in my kitties shelter .

p.s. That is absolutely hilarious about the cats standing on two legs!!! The only cat I have ever do that was Potsie. He would hop on two legs for a milk carton ring, too. Very funny.

Originally Posted by LDG

Two of our 8 stand on their back legs to approach us when we're walking about if they want pets - but this doesn't sound like what you're describing? (And if I lean down, Billy hugs me!

).

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AWWWWWWWW I love Billy (and so does Perla)

thanks for all the advice.
just had a very strange experience with Rudi. I was sat with him on my back door step, having a good old love-in. After about 15 minutes something a little worrying happened:

* he tried to bite me! I saw him open his mouth (not all the way) and make for the hand that wasn't stroking him.
* simultaneously, he clawed/ scratched my leg

Fortunately no damage done - I pulled my hand away in time and had long trousers on (although I can definitely see scratch marks on my leg) ! I'm guessing he was just playing and overstepped the mark/ was a bit rough without realising it. Any ideas?

I had a feral at a barn that had that same behavior towards me from time to time. They can get overstimulated/confused by just your presence. And petting causes more of this. Not all of them do this, but some of the males will IMO. Coalman would go for my hand and also go for my leg as I would walk up to feed him. Coal is now in a home environment and never does that behavior anymore at all. I think Rudi is still adjusting to the fact that he now has a human friend and it causes some confusion in his mind still. As time goes on, this behavior will cease. We also had a barn cat named Charlie who was very aggressive just like this to the people he loved which was me and a friend. When someone else would come around, he would bite or scratch as us as to tell us not to socialize with those scary people . I wouldn't worry too much because I am sure Rudi will never meaningly hurt you. You are his family and he was just trying to share his emotion with you and figures you will know what he is trying to tell you

Thanks, FeralVR. Interesting to know I'm not the first (I somehow guessed I wasn't )
When I got back from work tonight, Rudi bounded up to me in the courtyard as if nothing had happened! He got some petting from me - I just took it a bit easy and stayed standing rather than sitting on the step.
As you say, I know he feels no malice, only exuberance. I'm just guessing he's getting used to his human chum. It's at times like this that I wish he and Little Cow were friends! Indeed, I think LC may be behind this at one remove - and not her fault in any way! By this I mean I've noticed that, if Rudi and me are near the back door/in the courtyard, he gets kind of agiated if I walk towards the barns where she lives to put food in the happy hutch. This shows itself in Rudi being very vocal and cutting across my path as I walk down there - almost as if he's saying 'oh no you don't Mister - you're mine, not hers!' I've a feeling he's one of those cats who really needs to have a playmate to get some of his energy out but is temperamentally in the wrong place at the moment. Maybe, just maybe, he'll let me get him some company one day....
Anyway, I shan't hold it against him. I'm just glad he's bonded with me, even if I will have to keep a close eye on the scratch on my knee!

Yes, I had a few scratches on my legs. When I would go feed Coalman at the barn in the mornings, I would walk up to the back barn where I fed. He would come bounding out to me and meet me half-way. As I kept walking, he would sometimes lunge at my leg as to tell me to hurry it up. He did calm down a bit after his neutering, but he just had that tendency outside. In his new home, he hasn't put a paw out of place . Your scratch should be just fine, not to worry. I have had plenty and am still walking around

I have had such experience before and I have read that when cat gets too much of good feeling it must release that energy buildup that comes from that good feeling and then closest object is what will suffer, let it be hand or leg.

if they haven't been handled by people soon after their birth, kittens grow up to be cats who can get overstimulated by to much petting. They have sensors all over their backbone and these can get very sensitive if you touch to much. They will bite you because they can't handle the sensations they are feeling. It is close to what they feel when they are sexually stimulated.

On the hedgehog front- elevate your food feeder and get pieces of tin to surround the base with. Hedgehogs can climb but not jump- the tin will prevent them from climbing. It isn't the prettiest solution, but it does work. Kind of makes it look like your feeder is wearing a skirt.

Many thanks, all, for the help. On the hedgehog front, I've not seen any any the past few days. I realised the answer was staring me in the face: the top of the happy hutches! Basically the roof overhangs just enough I reckon to prevent all but the more daredevil hedgehog from getting up there! No more biting/ scratching incidents either.
Sadly, though, am going to have to take Rudi to the vet tomorrow night. When he turned up tonight, one of the poor lads eyes was almost totally closed. The top lid was very puffy. I only saw him quickly this morning and thought it did look slightly strange - but nOthing like tonight. Also looks like he's got a scratch behind his ear. I'm guessing he's been in a scrap. He seems chipper enough, though. So fingers crossed that I can get him into his carrier (step 1) and that all is well with him (step 2 - the big one)
Best to all

Well that's a convenient solution!

Vibes for Rudi and getting him into the trap so he can get the medical attention he needs.

Best to get Rudi to the vet, eye issues are nothing to ignore. Please let us know how it turns out!! Rudi, Go in the crate like a good boy

Sadly no luck catching Rudi. Very frustrating. Poor lad's eye still looks swollen but whilst we can pet him as much as we want, the moment we tried to grab him he scooted off. The vets are clearly used to such palavers and have said that, if we get lucky (cos I ain't quitting) then they are open most of sat and Sunday. Could even call a vet in, but I'm not sure that will help. So it might have to be the trap.
Cats, eh?! If only they knew that, every day, they have the capacity to break your heart and bring you joy in equal measure.
Best to all for the weekend from a very frustrated Anglian (region of England, in case unsure!)

Oh shoot! I saw you posted and was so hoping....

Ramping up the "be ABLE to get Rudi to the vet!" vibes. !!!!!!

LOL, and studies indicate having a pet REDUCES our stress!

I just wanted to say that I have been keeping up with your posts. I too am sending you and Rudi lots of good luck vibes as well as love vibes

Hopefully you will be able to get him to the vet this weekend!!

He sure is a handsome boy and I just loved the pic of him at the gatepost!!

Hope everything goes well!!!

Also sending love for Little Cow too!!!

Originally Posted by LDG

Oh shoot! I saw you posted and was so hoping....

Ramping up the "be ABLE to get Rudi to the vet!" vibes. !!!!!!

LOL, and studies indicate having a pet REDUCES our stress!

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Pets reduce our stress level, so they say . I don't think that includes outside feral pets?? .

I love LDG's use of RAMPING.... So I am ramping up more vibes as well for Rudi. So sorry he didn't get in that trap. You are doing the best you can