Hi all - these are non-urgent, but any thoughts appreciated.
1) Rudi/ cuts and bare patches on ears. Ever since I've known and been able to pet Rudi, I've noticed that the outsides of his ears are a bit tattered. By that I mean that they seem as if they have little scars/ tiny bare patches on them - almost slightly pockmarked, if that doesn't sound daft. And today I've also noted that he now has a little cut where his one of his ears meets his head - this is the 3rd or 4th time he's had such a wound. I've always put these down to scuffles past and present, but I'm just wondering if there's another issue that is responsible and/ or adding to it. I don't think it's fleas, as he was treated a few weeks back and doesn't look 'itchy' all over. But am wondering if the cuts etc are maybe self-inflicted if he's scratching? He's lazes around in long grass most of the day at the moment, so is there something in grass that can cause this? I'll try and get a photo.
2) Little Cow/ feeding. Less worrying but still a bit weird. I want to get a good look at The Interloper, a little black cat who I have christened Pudding (as in Black Pudding, a bit of an English 'delicacy'). I have now seen 'Pudding' twice from about 30ft away. I suspect it's a female as it's Little Cows size, maybe smaller, and I fear it may have some well-hidden kittens, probably not on the farm itself but somewhere very close by. Anyway, judging by the way food has been disappearing, Pudding appears to eat at Little Cow's feeding station, which is just outside the courtyard, partially obscured from our view by a trellis fence. So I've moved Little Cow's feeding station/ happy hutch about 15 ft from just outside the courtyard to just inside it. This means that, if Pudding shows up (and no sign yet) I can get a proper look at him/ her. I did this switch yesterday morning. And now, bizarrely, Little Cow seems to be eschewing her box in favour of Rudi's, which is right outside our back door!! I could literally put my hand out of the window and stroke her (if I wanted my hand savaging, that is). To clarify, she had done this Rudi-box behaviour once or twice before so it's not 'new' and, indeed, it's what made me think some of her food was being pinched by Pudding. But why is she walking by her slightly-moved box - which she sniffs at and pokes her head in, but turns from - and going to Rudi's? Could it be because Rudi's food is served in bowls on top of his box and so her escape is easier? Or is it just the fear of change? Either way, are there any ways to get her to start going back in her station? Don't get me wrong, I'm delighted she's ballsy enough to come up to the station outside the back door, but I fear all hell will break loose if Rudi ever catches her there. Should I maybe force the issue by removing all Rudi's dry food overnight (he generally only eats when I'm with him anyway, and his wet is never left out), thereby forcing her to use her box? Or is it just a matter of time?
3) On the Pudding front...both times I've seen him/ her, it's been in the last 30 minutes of so of daylight (so about 8:30 - 9:00 local time). If it were a mother cat, would it be coming more often, or do mother cats generally only leave the nest once-twice a day? I guess there might be no hard and fast answer for this, but any advice is appreciated.
apologies for length of note....watching these cats is fascinating and hence explaining things is sometimes harder than I imagine when I first start typing!
1) Rudi/ cuts and bare patches on ears. Ever since I've known and been able to pet Rudi, I've noticed that the outsides of his ears are a bit tattered. By that I mean that they seem as if they have little scars/ tiny bare patches on them - almost slightly pockmarked, if that doesn't sound daft. And today I've also noted that he now has a little cut where his one of his ears meets his head - this is the 3rd or 4th time he's had such a wound. I've always put these down to scuffles past and present, but I'm just wondering if there's another issue that is responsible and/ or adding to it. I don't think it's fleas, as he was treated a few weeks back and doesn't look 'itchy' all over. But am wondering if the cuts etc are maybe self-inflicted if he's scratching? He's lazes around in long grass most of the day at the moment, so is there something in grass that can cause this? I'll try and get a photo.
2) Little Cow/ feeding. Less worrying but still a bit weird. I want to get a good look at The Interloper, a little black cat who I have christened Pudding (as in Black Pudding, a bit of an English 'delicacy'). I have now seen 'Pudding' twice from about 30ft away. I suspect it's a female as it's Little Cows size, maybe smaller, and I fear it may have some well-hidden kittens, probably not on the farm itself but somewhere very close by. Anyway, judging by the way food has been disappearing, Pudding appears to eat at Little Cow's feeding station, which is just outside the courtyard, partially obscured from our view by a trellis fence. So I've moved Little Cow's feeding station/ happy hutch about 15 ft from just outside the courtyard to just inside it. This means that, if Pudding shows up (and no sign yet) I can get a proper look at him/ her. I did this switch yesterday morning. And now, bizarrely, Little Cow seems to be eschewing her box in favour of Rudi's, which is right outside our back door!! I could literally put my hand out of the window and stroke her (if I wanted my hand savaging, that is). To clarify, she had done this Rudi-box behaviour once or twice before so it's not 'new' and, indeed, it's what made me think some of her food was being pinched by Pudding. But why is she walking by her slightly-moved box - which she sniffs at and pokes her head in, but turns from - and going to Rudi's? Could it be because Rudi's food is served in bowls on top of his box and so her escape is easier? Or is it just the fear of change? Either way, are there any ways to get her to start going back in her station? Don't get me wrong, I'm delighted she's ballsy enough to come up to the station outside the back door, but I fear all hell will break loose if Rudi ever catches her there. Should I maybe force the issue by removing all Rudi's dry food overnight (he generally only eats when I'm with him anyway, and his wet is never left out), thereby forcing her to use her box? Or is it just a matter of time?
3) On the Pudding front...both times I've seen him/ her, it's been in the last 30 minutes of so of daylight (so about 8:30 - 9:00 local time). If it were a mother cat, would it be coming more often, or do mother cats generally only leave the nest once-twice a day? I guess there might be no hard and fast answer for this, but any advice is appreciated.
apologies for length of note....watching these cats is fascinating and hence explaining things is sometimes harder than I imagine when I first start typing!