They don't wear watches

My feral cat, Grenval, comes around at dusk for her supper, and has been doing so for several months now.  So, lately, that has been between 5 and 5:30 p.m.

But, since the U.S. went off Daylight Savings Time, her tummy is telling her I should be feeding her at a bit after 4 p.m.  This does not work well with my schedule as I don't get home by then some days.  So, then she is waiting for me and, I think, wondering where I am and why I am so late.

This is my first time feeding a feral, and I'm just learning about these things.  In the morning I feed her as I leave for work.  This is also an hour later for her now.

Poor kitty.  She doesn't tell time. 

Robin

Awww...... I know it's stressful, but her tummy will adjust! And it won't take long. She'll get the groove! :nod:

Yeah, it throws everything out of sync. Our inside kitties, too! :lol3:

Yeah, Grenval will get use to the change quickly.  Cats go by hunger, that is, how many hours have passed before they were last fed.  So after the first one or two days, it will be the same number of hours.  (In my case, during the days I work, around 12 to 13 hours.)

My own furball walked on me at 2:30 a.m. on Sunday to let me know it was (HER) time to eat.  By Tuesday, it was back to 4 a.m.

NO :lol3: they don't wear watches ... but have a built in time clock. We could always install a dinner bell to the Villa's . But might scare them away ..... Don't worry, Grenval WILL not go hungry. All feral's have very high self-preservation and will not miss more than a meal or two :nod:. They WILL get used to what ever schedule you decide to stick with. It always changes according to the time of the year, sunrise to sunset. I am now only feeding in the morning hours. I am only seeing Willow now . Have not a clue where Dixie has been or the other's . If I see Willow out there around 4:00 p.m., I will bring out another warm wet meal. He is getting used to the new schedule already :nod:

After being there this morning, a little after 7 a.m., and seeing me off to work, and pretty much giving me a piece of her mind over how late I was (an hour late to her), she didn't come for dinner tonight. I am upset. She hasn't done this in weeks.

I understand that if she found prey this afternoon, she wouldn't be hungry. But it is cold. We had snow flurries today. She hasn't not come for dinner in weeks.

If she disappears, or I find her body on the street, I don't know that I can cope with that.
I love her now.



Robin

Oh Robin :touch: Grenval did not miss dinner because you were late. She lives mostly in your yard and would wait an hour or even two for food. That is what they do, they are good at waiting. I know it easy for me to say, don't worry. But really, don't worry . When caring and feeding for feral cats, we have absolutely no control over their whereabouts or safety . But they have a better life having found a caretaker offering food and shelter than not having anyone. Also, since she probably has been around your neighborhood and on her own for awhile, she knows how to keep herself safe and knows how to survive. I am sure she will be home soon. But before you, she must have had someone caring for her because she is already TNRd. My point being, she could be roaming back and forth between you and the other territory. :dk:. Just make sure you tell yourself that it is possible she could disappear at times so you are prepared. It is hard on our hearts :heart3:, an emotional roller coaster when we get attached to them, and it is hard NOT to get attached . It, the worry and sometimes loss, just comes with caring for the little feral cats, there is no way to avoid it. I am sure your Grenval will return