Yet Another Cycling Forum

Random Musings => Miscellany => Where The Wild Things Are => Topic started by: Ham on 13 July, 2014, 10:56:42 am

Title: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Ham on 13 July, 2014, 10:56:42 am
To be specific, multiplication.

Following the discovery of a week old kitten on a neighbour's doorstep (who was away) which was deposited with a vet, for the management of, and the subsequent discovery of another puddle of about 3 or 4 at the back of our garden since moved to a nearby shelter by the mother, we have a Cat Issue.

We've been putting food out for the mum, who is starving, this may result in the kittens surviving (all dependent on local foxes, I suppose)

What then? I have  a vague plan that the mum and kittens might be captured and neutered, no idea who would take that on. Have no wish at all for a menagerie chez chateau Ham, of any size.
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: SteveC on 13 July, 2014, 11:07:10 am
Could ask Cats Protection League for advice. They've been helpful to us (admittedly not with really feral cats, but with a house down the road which 'leaks' cats at regular intervals).
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 13 July, 2014, 11:08:13 am
Tell your local cat rescue shelter. They'll either take them in and attempt to socialise and home them, or they might do a trap, neuter, release on them.
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Kim on 13 July, 2014, 12:04:10 pm
Trap, neuter, release seems to be SOP around here.  Or at least that's what I was told when I rang cat protection to ask for Zev advice.  I suppose there aren't many other options with cats that haven't been socialised with humans.
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Ham on 13 July, 2014, 12:47:08 pm
The CPL were worse than useless when Mrs Ham contacted them to help deal with a problem of 13+ feral cats in her school. All she got was Teh Mad Cat Woman who made matters worse; as a result I am reluctant to contact them. I suspect that the mother is a recent convert to life on the road, or is young herself.

Lets see how it all pans out - wondered how anyone else had dealt with it. Timescale wise, I suppose it will be around 3 weeks before the kittens are self mobilising.
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Gattopardo on 13 July, 2014, 01:24:08 pm
No pictures  :'(
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 13 July, 2014, 01:45:00 pm
Quote from: Ham on 13 July, 2014, 12:47:08 pm
The CPL were worse than useless when Mrs Ham contacted them to help deal with a problem of 13+ feral cats in her school. All she got was Teh Mad Cat Woman who made matters worse; as a result I am reluctant to contact them. I suspect that the mother is a recent convert to life on the road, or is young herself.
There might be other organisations though. Here, there is the SSPCA, the CPL, Lothian Cat Rescue and Seafield Cat & Dog home. Try googling to see what else there is.
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Ham on 13 July, 2014, 05:21:57 pm
Quote from: Gattopardo on 13 July, 2014, 01:24:08 pm
No pictures  :'(

Sorry! The abandoned one, courtesy Miss Ham
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NSrebvbnUqU/U8KxwSNP-iI/AAAAAAAArmQ/kbUuMiEagLc/s800/10513243_10152513285652908_5524539685848663520_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Ham on 13 July, 2014, 06:15:19 pm
And mum

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mMadMU6-6d0/U8K-CsTV6JI/AAAAAAAArmk/EZ-WXBBMsYA/s640/%255BUNSET%255D.jpg)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ftKTnls_Mr8/U8K-POcQfqI/AAAAAAAArms/IXLw5SvW3HI/s640/IMG_20140713_180940.jpg)
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Ham on 14 July, 2014, 10:01:37 am
Just a thought - how much time would you expect catwoman to spend with catchildren? Thinking this one seems to spend a lot of time away (waiting in our garden for food, basically, now) - wonder if the foxes might have had away with the littl'uns already.
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Gattopardo on 15 July, 2014, 12:41:02 am
Maybe she ate them or they are nearby.
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Ham on 15 July, 2014, 08:37:58 pm
Well, mum has gone from "don't come anywhere near me, six feet is close enough" to "ooo this stroking thing is all very nice" in about 5 minutes flat. We now have a tart miaowing at the back door for Moah! Now!
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Ham on 16 July, 2014, 07:33:34 am
The Damascene convert:

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FeqnnKgzwPo/U8YYHcZIr8I/AAAAAAAArnM/CNJ7JgA5ERI/s640/%255BUNSET%255D.jpg)

I strongly suspect that she must have been socialised with humans as a kitten, she has gone from a terrified feral cat to one who wants to be with me all the time in about 5 minutes. This poses its own set of problems.
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Andrij on 16 July, 2014, 07:58:26 pm
Just say NO.  :hand:
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Kathy on 16 July, 2014, 10:17:56 pm
Possibly abandoned? The more owners a cat has had, the clingier it is. Ours, who are both on at least home 4, are incredible tarts as soon as they've decided someone is trustworthy.
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Ham on 17 July, 2014, 10:30:50 am
Taken to the vet to get spayed today. Didn't enjoy the journey but didn't take it personally.

Miss Ham want to name it Mossy, after Kate Moss, as she is just a bag of bones and fur.
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Gattopardo on 17 July, 2014, 02:14:41 pm
So welcome to cat ownership.  Wonder if the kittens will appear.

In other cat related news, cat owners at my unit have a new cat.  Still black and white, but his one dribbles when you stroke him and head butts you if you stop.
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Ham on 18 July, 2014, 06:29:33 am
By rights, I think she should be described as stray rather than feral, although indications are that she must have been thrown out/got lost very young, if only because she is still only somewhere between 6 months - 1 year old. While the concept of "indoors" is strange adaptation has been swift. There is that annoying cat who keeps looking back at her in the patio door at night, but aside from that it has received the stamp (or the pad) of approval.

The kitty litter tray is a Thing of Mystery, but we got through the first night indoors without mishap. Given how warm it was finding her on the granite worktop was no real surprise, surfaces had been cat-prepared earlier. In common with Pete, she wants to be where I am (not that Pete knows me, you understand).

Of the three humans here, Miss Ham wants to keep her, Mrs Ham who coincidentally has been away with her mum for a couple of a days returns today and is not a cat person. I'm ambivalent, but not sure how we'd ever get out of this one if we wanted to. I suspect Teh Cat may have the last word on this.
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Ham on 18 July, 2014, 05:00:32 pm
Ho hum.

This is going to work out expensive.

Any advice on cat flaps out there? (Yes Ian, I know)

I'm thinking of a microchip acutated thingy that I'll have to install into the wall, needs to go above the damp course so a step going in most likely.

And the alarm system will have to be modified.

And and and....
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Ham on 20 July, 2014, 07:08:01 am
Staywell Microchip activated acquired, hole in the wall to be cut, mog to be chipped. Now looking for an old midi tower case as the dimensions will line the hole perfectly. Shame I don't have any these days.
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Gattopardo on 20 July, 2014, 09:55:02 pm
So who decided on keeping the cat?  Have the kittens appeared or is this a different cat?
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Ham on 21 July, 2014, 09:04:46 am
The dynamics of cat keeping were as described, Mrs Ham came around to the idea so the decision was made by the cat (Katie Cat, as she now is). Kittens are inside a fox somewhere, in all likelihood, except for the one that made it to a vet who is doing well, having been taken home by a nurse.

One hole knocked through the wall, made good with steel bar and mortar, microchipping booked for Thursday.
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Gattopardo on 21 July, 2014, 09:40:15 pm
Quote from: Ham on 21 July, 2014, 09:04:46 am
the decision was made by the cat (Katie Cat, as she now is).

You are a slave to a new master.. ;D
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Ham on 25 July, 2014, 10:03:27 am
Good evening all, and welcome to tonight's episode of "I Am The Centre Of The World", the program where we interview those people without whom, it is possible that the world will not turn. Tonight, we are fortunate to have with us international lady of mystery, one time single mum, Katiecat. Hello Katiecat, thank you for joining us, would you like to share with the listeners your top tips for survival"

They did nasty things to me

Oh. From my briefing notes here, I see that you have  settled down in your house now.

They did nasty things to me. They shouldn't live here now.

Umm...apparently you do like food?

They did nasty things to me. Give me food.

And from what I see, your house has been specially modified to take account of your requirements, at no cost to yourself?

They did nasty things to me. Took me to THAT place. Again. Prodding and poking. Again. For the second time.

But as you say, Katiecat, this was the second time, why has this bothered you so much?

They did nasty things to me. Last time they DRUGGED me.

Oh.... Ummm... please? would you mind? Not THAT look? oh, thank you. Maybe it would be interesting for the listeners to hear your ideas about play? I understand that along with that nasty prodding and poking you acquired what in some circles has been known as a toy.

They did nasty things to me. Give me food. Saw that toy thing. Thing to do is to kill it first, really kill it. Then ignore it completely when you know it is dead.

OK, that's useful. Any further tips, Katiecat?

They did nasty things to me. Give me food. Avoid humans.

Thank you, and goodnight.




Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Kathy on 27 July, 2014, 11:00:59 pm
 ;D

I see you've learned kitty translation fast!
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Ham on 03 November, 2014, 07:34:21 pm
For a lazy cat, she does obviously get out and about sometimes, this is #2. I feel I ought to chalk them up above the catflap

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: tiermat on 03 November, 2014, 07:53:18 pm
ThT is totally unfair, you get a whole one! We only ever gets half ones, usually the inside half!
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Torslanda on 03 November, 2014, 09:58:10 pm
Onna stick?
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: tiermat on 04 November, 2014, 10:11:12 am
Quote from: torslanda on 03 November, 2014, 09:58:10 pm
Onna stick?

No, usually on he lawn! :)

You line 'em up, I'll knock 'em down :)
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: matthew on 04 November, 2014, 11:07:17 am
Quote from: tiermat on 04 November, 2014, 10:11:12 am
Quote from: torslanda on 03 November, 2014, 09:58:10 pm
Onna stick?

No, usually on he lawn! :)

You line 'em up, I'll knock 'em down :)

My Bold

Better than on the hall carpet ...   ::-)
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: tiermat on 04 November, 2014, 11:15:58 am
There are some advantages to NOT having a cat flap!
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Gattopardo on 16 November, 2014, 10:04:53 pm
So any more katiecat photo's?
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Ham on 16 November, 2014, 10:25:45 pm
Oh, if you insist.

Kittycrackpushers-R-Us

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rdUEr2Lix6I/VGkkHffYLVI/AAAAAAAAstE/oBUw6elkxC8/s640/IMG_20141103_200913.jpg)
Title: Re: Feral Cat Maths
Post by: Gattopardo on 16 November, 2014, 11:26:32 pm
Seems like a cute furball.