Hi all - I think I may have found out why Rudi has been behaving erratically (he seems to have taken to climbing lots of trees this week, but has otherwise been very regular with his visits for food and loving) - we have a new stray on the farm.
It's a white cat with large darker patches on it - far more cow-like than my Little Cow! I first saw its outline 2-3 nights back whilst trying to get Paddy to come for her supper and then I saw it tonight through my night vision scope from the upstairs window. It was right outside Paddy's hut in the courtyard, walked around for a minute or two, looked at me sat upstairs and then disappeared from view behind a car. So I went downstairs, put my shoes on, opened the back door and, within seconds Rudi and Paddy were there requesting supper. I can't believe they didn't sense the other cat, and I'm guessing it might have been under a hedge in the courtyard just feet away while they chowed down. Have noticed a lot more food being eaten recently and had originally put it down to a change in the temperature but now I think I know better.
My original impression on seeing the cat wandering was that the darker patches were calico which, I've learnt from this site, basically means female and quite possibly means she's nursing/ pregnant - though with it being a night vision I can't be sure. So I'm going to keep a careful watch for the next few days. My instinct says it's not a feral but that, a bit like Rudi was, it's a long-term stray. I called to it and put a bit of food out specially but it hasn't been back in the couple of hours since so I think it may be on the twitchy side - and I can't imagine that it being bonfire night over here helps on that front.
So looks like I'll be renting a trap and trying to catch him/ her these next few days. Wish me luck - I'm sure I'll inadvertantly catch both Rudi and Paddy and have to release them first. If I inadvertantly catch Little Cow then I'll take it as a sign and get her to the vet for a check-up. But hopefully I'll catch this new one - if it's someone's pet, they are probably missing it like mad. Moreover if it's a stray that could become friendly, the local shelter owe me a couple of favours (and don't put cats down). If it's a feral .... well, maybe he or she can come back to the farm. But I'm getting ahead of myself - let's hope it's just been passing through and has a good home somewhere near.
It's a white cat with large darker patches on it - far more cow-like than my Little Cow! I first saw its outline 2-3 nights back whilst trying to get Paddy to come for her supper and then I saw it tonight through my night vision scope from the upstairs window. It was right outside Paddy's hut in the courtyard, walked around for a minute or two, looked at me sat upstairs and then disappeared from view behind a car. So I went downstairs, put my shoes on, opened the back door and, within seconds Rudi and Paddy were there requesting supper. I can't believe they didn't sense the other cat, and I'm guessing it might have been under a hedge in the courtyard just feet away while they chowed down. Have noticed a lot more food being eaten recently and had originally put it down to a change in the temperature but now I think I know better.
My original impression on seeing the cat wandering was that the darker patches were calico which, I've learnt from this site, basically means female and quite possibly means she's nursing/ pregnant - though with it being a night vision I can't be sure. So I'm going to keep a careful watch for the next few days. My instinct says it's not a feral but that, a bit like Rudi was, it's a long-term stray. I called to it and put a bit of food out specially but it hasn't been back in the couple of hours since so I think it may be on the twitchy side - and I can't imagine that it being bonfire night over here helps on that front.
So looks like I'll be renting a trap and trying to catch him/ her these next few days. Wish me luck - I'm sure I'll inadvertantly catch both Rudi and Paddy and have to release them first. If I inadvertantly catch Little Cow then I'll take it as a sign and get her to the vet for a check-up. But hopefully I'll catch this new one - if it's someone's pet, they are probably missing it like mad. Moreover if it's a stray that could become friendly, the local shelter owe me a couple of favours (and don't put cats down). If it's a feral .... well, maybe he or she can come back to the farm. But I'm getting ahead of myself - let's hope it's just been passing through and has a good home somewhere near.