About 4 months ago I moved into an apartment just on the edge of Memphis and shortly after moving in I started to see a feral female Manx who had just had a litter of 4 kittens. They would come out from under the fence just opposite the driveway in front of my apartment and sit on a concrete drainage cover to soak up some sun and play. Since I had rented a semi enclosed car port right across of my apartment I started to put out a large bowl of dry food each day which I could tuck between my covered motorcycles and the adjoining garage wall. this kept the food bowl pretty well hidden from view, not being sure if the apartment management would object. As it turns out they hardly ever come back to this end except for the maintenance guys who are very laid back. As winter came on I put a shelter out there, again being between the bikes and garage wall, consisting of a large plastic storage bin with an opening on one end and lined with several fleece blankets. Shortly after that two more feral cats showed up, a large all black male and a small tuxedo colored female. So now with three adults and several kittens I started mixing in a can of wet food with the dry food each morning. That was generally all gone withing minutes so put out more food each afternoon. Sometimes the large male would use the shelter or several of the kittens as they matured but it often remained empty as the cat seemed to have found shelter in the tree line behind the fence. Then about two months ago Whitey (the black cat) and WB (the small black and white female) would start showing up at my front door each morning waiting for me to come out, and would meow rather loudly as they followed me cross the drive to the shelter.
Then about a month ago as I was checking to see if they would waiting for me before putting out the food, I had left the front open a bit and when I turned around with the food bowl in hand, WB had come inside just past the front door! So I put a small bowl of food for her just inside and got another bowl to take out the shelter. Over the next few weeks WB would come further further into the apartment, a one bedroom with a decent sized
living/dining area in front. Soon she was coming to the kitchen, meowing and demanding I hurry up and get the food ready! Then we would play and she would explore a bit then leave. Now over the past two weeks she spends more and more time inside and last week spent the night after coming in and jumping up on the bed and while I distracted her with one hand, I was able to reach around and pet her with the other. At first she wasn't to sure about this but after several minutes she calmed down and over the past week she not only lets me pet her, but will come and demand attention but rubbing against me, follow me around let me rub her tummy and even pick her up! She's just tiny bit of thing, not much more than 7 pounds so probably still less than a year old but has become very affectionate and purrs and purrs and purrs when petted.
she still spends most of her time under the bed or looking out the back patio door and we are working the issue of the using the cat box, pees in it but poops in the cat bed. But better that than the rug! She does cry to go out in the morning but I am trying to keep her in as much as possible and so far she has returned each day if she does get out. So this Tuesday she is off to the vet for checkup and shots and then to get fixed.
I have to say I had been really lonely lately due to a recent breakup with my partner of 22 years and not knowing anyone in Memphis having just moved here from DC but she has brought a lot of joy as we have begun to bond. The first time she let me pet her I admit shed a tear or two of joy! (yeah, I an old softy esp. when it comes to cats, having lived with them my whole live.)
so wish me luck on my journey, this has been much more rewarding than simply going to a shelter and getting a domesticated cat.
So that's the Tail of WB ( short or White and Black). Hope it wasn't to long winded and I didn't leave out to many words too many misspeeling < (intended) I'm severely dyslectic and writing is a real challenge although I enjoy it.
Jeff aka Rocketman < My motorcycle handle.
Then about a month ago as I was checking to see if they would waiting for me before putting out the food, I had left the front open a bit and when I turned around with the food bowl in hand, WB had come inside just past the front door! So I put a small bowl of food for her just inside and got another bowl to take out the shelter. Over the next few weeks WB would come further further into the apartment, a one bedroom with a decent sized
living/dining area in front. Soon she was coming to the kitchen, meowing and demanding I hurry up and get the food ready! Then we would play and she would explore a bit then leave. Now over the past two weeks she spends more and more time inside and last week spent the night after coming in and jumping up on the bed and while I distracted her with one hand, I was able to reach around and pet her with the other. At first she wasn't to sure about this but after several minutes she calmed down and over the past week she not only lets me pet her, but will come and demand attention but rubbing against me, follow me around let me rub her tummy and even pick her up! She's just tiny bit of thing, not much more than 7 pounds so probably still less than a year old but has become very affectionate and purrs and purrs and purrs when petted.
she still spends most of her time under the bed or looking out the back patio door and we are working the issue of the using the cat box, pees in it but poops in the cat bed. But better that than the rug! She does cry to go out in the morning but I am trying to keep her in as much as possible and so far she has returned each day if she does get out. So this Tuesday she is off to the vet for checkup and shots and then to get fixed.
I have to say I had been really lonely lately due to a recent breakup with my partner of 22 years and not knowing anyone in Memphis having just moved here from DC but she has brought a lot of joy as we have begun to bond. The first time she let me pet her I admit shed a tear or two of joy! (yeah, I an old softy esp. when it comes to cats, having lived with them my whole live.)
so wish me luck on my journey, this has been much more rewarding than simply going to a shelter and getting a domesticated cat.
So that's the Tail of WB ( short or White and Black). Hope it wasn't to long winded and I didn't leave out to many words too many misspeeling < (intended) I'm severely dyslectic and writing is a real challenge although I enjoy it.
Jeff aka Rocketman < My motorcycle handle.
