For Zannie's Mom and other posters

I just wanted to add to your story about Buddy. During the winter and early spring months, I was feeding a stray/feral orange cat that one night looked like he was mauled. The fur on the side of his face was ripped out and his eye was partially closed. My husband calls this infrequent visitor the "Old Warrior" cat. After feeding him some nutritious Nutro kitten/adult dry food and some expensive Nutro Max cat and Hills canned food for a few weeks, "Old Warrior" looked as good as new. His fur grew in the side of his face beautifully and his eye healed. This cat, definitely a feral or stray that was used to the outdoors, had healed himself in the worst winter on record here. Please don't lose faith in Buddy. You're doing a great job and thanks for relating such a wonderful story!

About "Old Warrior" cat, we haven't seen him for several weeks. He was a very unpredictable visitor when the weather was bad. Now that it is so pleasant outside, will he return?

Hey caterpillar..that is a great story. I've heard of ferals going away for quite some time and then miraculously appearing months later. Here's hoping Old Warrior visits you again.

Katie

P.S. Was Old Warrior fixed??

I'm not sure if Old Warrior is fixed. All I can say is that he's not very tame, even more skittish than Mooie cat, another stray outdoor cat I've been feeding. Mooie, unlike Old Warrior, appears for his meal every night like clockwork. I noticed the orange cat sitting on my wicker porch sofa a few times and when I approached the door, he ran away. He became tamer as he'd wait by the door for some food and wouldn't run away when I opened the door.

During the winter I'd leave dry food out on the porch and now I have to bring the food inside. Raccoons are a nightmare! I was leaving dry food on the porch in the morning and during the rest of the day thinking raccoons won't be around. Then my son noticed a small raccoon eating the food at 4:00 in the afternoon when he got home from school. He told me that this raccoon hides under the porch. I just hope it isn't living there! This raccoon, like Mooie cat, began appearing like clockwork.

Thanks for the story. Lil Buddy is healing rather quickly, I think. I would say his wound is about half the size it was and it is not draining at all any more. I noticed today that his hair is growing back where it was shaved. He probably won't win any beauty contests in the future, but he will be presentable. Becky

That's good to hear! Your story also reminds me of our lost cat, Mysty, who was a black and silver tabby feral male. We tried taming him when he was about seven or eight months old and it was very difficult. Unfortunately, we weren't wise enough to get him neutered in time (it's a good thing that you did to Buddy), and we lost him last April. He went missing and never returned.

Originally Posted by caterpillar

That's good to hear! Your story also reminds me of our lost cat, Mysty, who was a black and silver tabby feral male. We tried taming him when he was about seven or eight months old and it was very difficult. Unfortunately, we weren't wise enough to get him neutered in time (it's a good thing that you did to Buddy), and we lost him last April. He went missing and never returned.

Click to expand...

Hey Caterpillar! I'm so sorry about Mysty. It is always heartbreaking when they don't return.

I don't know how much you've read of the posts here, but just to make sure you have the information, if you put a little work into trapping the strays you're feeding and getting them spayed or neutered, they won't wander as much (and may stop wandering altogether). Obviously if spayed and neutered they won't father or mother any more kittens, but the immediately obvious benefits are that they'll stop fighting as much so be far less prone to potential injury, and they'll stick around more. There are many more benefits, and if you'd like to read more, please click on the link in my signature line. Also, if you have other strays that turn up, or if Old Warrior comes back (here's hoping!), you can search for low-cost spay/neuter services in your area, also a link in my signature line.

If you need help with ideas on where to rent a trap, how to trap, etc., just let us know and we'll be here for you.

You're these kitties' angel, and I hope Old Warrior comes "home."

Thanks, LDG! Only Mooie cat (the black/white tuxedo) stops by every evening for his meal and a little companionship. I'm positive that Mooie is fixed (neutered) if male or spayed if female. Mooie has been hanging out consistently on our back porch since last October (when we rescued Punky) and has never been in heat. Also, when Lucy and Punky were in heat,
before being spayed, Mooie never showed any interest in either of them.

One night Mooie was licking around its tail, and I thought I saw a small sac, that looked like a fixed male. I just assume Mooie's a male cat because of his size, big head, and large paws. Lucy looks so tiny and petite next to him by the screen door. Mooie has a very nice temperment, he just squeaks, no meows, and never hisses. I only saw him swipe at a raccoon that was after his food once, and about 99% of the time, Mooie will just jump on top of the porch railing or straw bales and let the raccoon or possum eat its fill of his food!

When Old Warrior was visiting for some food, I tried to notice if it was a male or female. I didn't see any male plumbing, so it's possible that this cat is also fixed. Old Warrior is an orange tabby. Hopefully, we'll see him again. He's a stocky, short, bulky cat with a large head. I honestly don't believe there are any intact males around the neighborhood. Like our Mysty, it's just too treacherous traffic-wise for a roaming intact male around here. We have a beautiful wooded area, but if a male cat goes wandering beyond half a mile, he would be lucky to survive crossing two dangerous streets. Late at night, I've heard a female cat in heat twice.

LDG, two of your gang of four look just like our Lucy and Mooie cat!