Jimmy update!!!

When the weekend gets here I will be able to post some pics of their outside adventures. Today was chilly and when I got home and opened the door, all the cats except 4 ran in the house with me. I have 18 by the way. And they are all tucked in safe and sound with carpet on their kitty doors.

I have lost several though the years. Yellow will probably be next. He is healthy but close to 16 years years old. Except for one, all are between 8-11 and 16 years old. I have one 4 yr old. They are all getting old.

I have so many that are close to the same age that I dread the next 5 years. I will probably be losing quite a few at around the same times due to old age.

I'll just love them while they are here. The last one I lost was Turtle which was last week. We have her buried in the front in our little kitty graveyard. She has a tombstone with a wolf etched in it that a friend made. She was an adult when she came into our lives and we got her back in 2002 so she was an old girl who did very well with us. RIP little Turtle.

Jenn

Here's Jimmy in his little wind break area on the porch. Our porch is around three sides of the house. So the spot in front of the fireplace, I put one of their blankets down and blocked the sides with wood for a resting spot.

Toe, Star and Jimmy love it..... I am fixing to get them all in the shelter for the night. Several are inside with me right now.

They are really loving their new found freedom. I know a lot of people may not agree with my decision of letting them run free in the day, but I am liking it and so are they. We live in such an awesome area and it was a huge decision on my part to letting them out of the enclosure. I think they are happier cats now. They still come inside. They still use the enclosure at night if not in the house but during the day, they can play and ran as fast as they possibly can across the yard. They dash up trees. I think it was the right decision for us. I know house cats live longer but I'm not sure if the quality of life is worth it after seeing them playing like they are playing this last week. Most are old and deserve it. Our old 16 year old laying in the sun brings tears to our eyes. I will never keep my cats completely closed up again.



Jenn

Originally Posted by jcribbs

I know a lot of people may not agree with my decision of letting them run free in the day, but I am liking it and so are they.

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Everyone has their own opinions on things - it's part of what makes us human. I myself have strictly outdoor/farm cats - S/N & receiving vet care. Yes they have free roam, and yes - they are safe. I don't think I like in as wonderful an area as you do, but no one is hit by cars or attacked by wild animals here.

As far as the enclosure goes - you've got to be pretty darn proud of that! And Jimmy - the patience you must've had with him, the time you spent with him, that is also something to be quite proud of. So many wouldn't even bother. To me, the "feral" ones that are tamed are the most loving cats.

ah, thank you white cat lover... that's means a lot to me.

No one gets hit by cars here either. We live on a one lane dirt track, pig trail actually but minus the pigs.

We have one bobcat that roams but he not out during the daytime. He's a big one too. Neighbor saw a bear a couple weeks ago but I have never seen one. We have tons of coyotes. They howl all night. I have never seen them either. They up up top somewhere hid from people. On our road, occasionally someone passes through but not often. At night if someone drives along, we spotlight them as it's so unusual.

Where we live, the animals are the majority. Not many people but we like it like that.

I'm not cruel but it makes me feel good that the cats can catch birds and chase rabbits now and eat lizards. They love lizards. I have found lizard tails by the front door since they are out. It's like they are real cats now. I was so fearful they would run away and get lost. Opening that enclosure door the first time was very hard but I am so glad I did. Several have NEVER been loose. Snoopy, Hank, and Jimmy are three but they have done awesome. JJ my three legged cat is done well too. But I don't leave him out when I am gone. He is fat and could not get away if a stray dog came up. I don't know if he could climb a tree. I have always made him steps and put ladders in strategic places so he can climb. I guess I could make a platform in a tree for him.

We also have two sheds they can take shelter in. This next summer, I am thinking about getting the electric company to put in a light on the pole for the nighttime.

The only one that has not went outside yet is Princess Minny Pearl. The reason is she is a loner. The other cats all stay together basically. They are friends. Minny is a loner and they pick on her. They don't like her. I have kept her in the house and out of the enclosure. She has never even tried to go outside. I'll probably keep her in till spring so she has a better chance. If she got lost in the winter I would never forgive myself.

I am attaching the upper road on the mountain. Our road is much much smaller than this one. But this does lead down to our house. I call it my running road because I aspire to run but alas, I only "jogged" for a week. This was taken last year before spring bloomed out.



later, Jenn

Wow are your kitties luck to have you.

Yeah, and you're right about the ferals too...... absolutely!

They are so happy to be inside sleeping tonight....... awwwwwww.... This is Tink, Cookie and Pebbles. They used to hate Pebbles the longhair. We used to tell her they "hated her because of her beauty"....

But now they love her. But when we first got her, they would NOT let her eat at all. They tried to stave her to death. So she got lots of special treats and as a result, she is absolutely spoiled and rotten.





Now I'm crashing like the girls...........Jenn

Holy moly!! Your cats are so lucky and I'm with Laurie - I wanna be one of your cats!!

You have given them a wonderful life. That enclosure is fantastic! I remember when I first joined, and I had first gotten Larry (formerly feral, born on the streets of Brooklyn) I read your thread about Jimmy and it gave me hope for Larry becoming less fearful and more loving - which he is now, achieved through lots of patience!

Your kitties are beautiful and handsome and obviously well cared-for! yay!

Thank you Nanner. That enclosure did not happen overnight. A lot of blood sweat and tears went into it. It is our second enclosure. The first one when it was finished -- we saw all the mistakes and knew how we wanted out second one.

guess I better get some catnip seed to plant for the spring. I think I'll put it underneath a huge huge tree in the front yard.

yawn.....

Jimmy Star and Toe are sleeping in a tent tonight on the porch. They absolutely did not want in the enclosure. So, to husbands dismay, I gave them out best fluffiest quilt and made them a tent. It will wash. I keep going outside to see if they have changed their mind but nope. They like it very much. Toe and Star and also loved being a porch kitty. It's going to be in the 40's tonight

Ok, I just came back from outside talking to Jimmy. My husband had brought a bunch of big trees to cut up and dumped them in the front yard today. I sat on a huge limb and fed Jimmy bologna. He meows at me and talks which makes me feel so good. He trusts me so much finally. The first time (a year so so ago) that he meowed at me in conversation bowled me over. I'm still not used to it. He doesn't follow me around like some cats do meaning right under my feet. He stays at a respectful distance of a 3-4 feet. If I have bologna in my hand and he knows it, he wil follow me anywhere. I got to pet him real good before I head to bed.. He is piddling around in the front yard perfectly content with Star and Toe Man with a belly full of bologna. So he will have a little entertainment, I lined one of the tree limbs with little pieces for him to discover later on. If toe doesn't find them first. It's hard to hide bologna around those two. Star is different. She hates all snacks. Even bacon. She only eats catfood or something she actually kills to eat. She has always been that way. I have never seen her eat anything other than catfood, a rabbit, a mouse, a bird, a lizard..... That's her diet so she is happy to be back outside in her element.

Toe is an old hand too. They will teach Jimmy well about stalking things.

I also think Jimmy is MORE trusting since going outside. He realizes how safe he really is with me. He is talking to me more. Following me more. And appears to want more from me since he is out and about. And that is very very cool. Jimmy has not wanted to come in the house since letting himself back out. But he sits at the door and watches every move we make.

And the cats still won't come to Juan.... Only a couple. the others run from him if he tries to pick them up. Wooley, Cleo, Yellow and Toe are the on ly one that come to him. On occasion, Tink or Cookie but that is it. He absolutely cannot get them in the enclosure. He tries, but they just don't cooperate with him.

Well, today was a new day. I have all the kitties in the enclosure tonight so I can rest worry free.

The cats love it when we sit outside. It makes them lively. So, here's a couple new pics I took today:

This is Jimmy under his tree that he LOVES with his friends...this is a huge tree.


And here's the road kitties. They were all standing and playing in the road. Jimmy was fixing to pounce. They feel so good out there playing.


And here's Jim in quiet contemplation.


And here he is stepping out --


And here is is just walking around. He loves his yard. He has not left it one single time except to walk in the road today..... He's a home body. And that's my husband's cute little head. He was drinking a martini!



And here's the rest of my husband. We pump water from the creek from drinking and bathing. he was getting us ready for the upcoming winter the other day. This was his "surprise" face!



And more another day...
Jenn

Jenn, I don't want to alarm you but, in your road photo, there appears to be an impostor in their midst.

Originally Posted by Ellsworth

Jenn, I don't want to alarm you but, in your road photo, there appears to be an impostor in their midst.

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LOL!! I was thinking the same thing!! Long and reddish/brown.

aha....... You must mean Muffin. ssssshhhhhhhhhhhh -- Don't tell her she's not a cat. She thinks her only problem is her "broken purr button".....

She loves the kitties and snuggles with them during the cold nights.

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Right now, every one is chowing on a deer leg. We just filled our freezer. We're not killers but the neighbor took one down and gave it to us..

My big dog Emma has never eaten a deer leg. She sniffed at it and then it was like some wild instinct took over and she lay down with it, draped her arm over it and got with it. Low growls ensued with other dogs staying away until she was finished. Like a pack.

I love all of the pictures! That is truly a cat paradise!

Thank you Catbehaviors. We try real real hard to give them everything they need.

They are all tucked in for the night in the enclosure. I keep the back light on for them to deter coyotes from coming in our yard. They have their own motion detector light OUTSIDE of the enclosure so if anything approaches, a spot light beams on .

Star and Toe are on the porch tonight. They have two rubbermaid crates facing each other about a foot apart with blankets tucked in each one and up over the sides so the sides will be warm as well. Then I have a big piece of carpet draped over both of the crates. They are warm warm warm....and totally happy.

OMG, I love the new forum look/style!!!!!!!!!!

The reason I stopped by was to post another update.  Jimmy has decided the only way he will go in the enclosure at night is IF I give him a snack first.   I call it "wienee snacks".   He runs behind me meowing.  After he eats it  I have to pick him up and carry him.  I made sure to set him down gently and stoke  him after he is back on the ground so he feels he did a great job.  

He also has to be either the first cat or the last cat in the enclosure at night.  Don't know why as that's his decision.

Today I walked a path to the creek that my husband had mowed and looked behind me and there was Jimmy.  He went on a walk with me.  He meowed and talked after he saw me notice him.  He is really doing great.  When I left to come back to the house, he followed right along behind me.   He's a real little trooper and has came so darn far.  He still won't lay in my lap however.

I have a little video/audio tape of him meowing at me somewhere.  I'll have to find it.  

Jenn

Here a pic of JIMBO that I took today.

With the cold weather setting in, he prefers to sleep inside again.  Bless he little spoiled heart!!  He is so relaxed on the "couch bed"... I went to town and bought a hamburger and he wants it.  You can see his mouth open meowing at me.  lol.........  He has been inside all this week.  He does not want outside.  It is possible something scared him and he just feels safer in the house.  OR, he has discovered he has a choice -- outside with the enclosure OR in the house..  His choice is obvious which really pleases me immensely.  

The enclosure, by the way, is stuffed full of straw now with their blankets burrowed down in the stray.  They love it!  I have also ordered our bathroom heather (therm controlled) which we are going to use from our restroom to heat the enclosure.  Total fire safety.  The heater should be delivered to my husband's job this week.  After we get it installed and figure out how we plan on heating their enclosure from inside our restroom, I'll post some pics.  Husband is planning on some sort of blower system keeping it at around 36-40 degree all winter. That is plenty warm with fur coats.

I was paranoid last week.  Thought I lost Star and Tink.  But they were tucked in the enclosure napping.  Jeez.  I've got to relax.  It's just so different with them running around outside.  On bad days, rainy, cold, whatever, I keep them enclosed/housed with us.

They have gained mega weight since being outside.  They are squirrel/rabbit hunters  and I can tell the difference.  They are all so shiny and fat since hunting.  I never realized how much they really needed to be free.

Every evening around 5pm, I take a weinee outside and call them and they all run inside the enclosure for me for their treat.  I use my "written cat list" and count them by name to make sure all are accounted for.  We ususally have 4-6 in the house at night.  The oldest usually stay in with us at night.   We have a system and it works!

Last week I was gone (sick in hospital) and husband had to put them up two nights.  NONE cooperated with him.  He had to leave them out for two freaking nights.  They would not come in the house for him and they would not go in the enclosure for him.  The weinee trick did not work.  hahahahaha..  Thank goodness they were all alright.  What he is doing now is when I go put them up, he goes with me so they will be used to his presence in case I am absent again.  He is practicing his cat call to try to sound like me.  Ferals get used to one thing or one person and it's hard to deviate from it.  I am trying to help them with him, but he is not their person.

Jimmy is rotten.  He is laying here letting me pet him.  He has his little head burrowed down in my palm and he is working his little paws making biscuits in the covers while I scratch his ears.  He is an amazing cat!  He is there and he knows it!!

Jimmy looks so at home in that picture. I love the wienie story - cats are so manipulative! :lol3: