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Sunshine and a little rain have gotten rid of most of the snow in the back yard. The cats have been quite busy lately revisiting their property now that it is not hidden under the snow.

Setting the Table

Looks like a lot of cat food for Pepper, doesn't it? The cats do not share. So, every morning I set out 6 dishes. I started out with the small oval dish for Mama Cat. When the first 3 kittens came to eat, I added the 2 round CAT dishes. Yellow Ears was always the one who waited for a dish to open up. I shopped for more dishes, but could not find any I thought were satisfactory. So I set out the plastic container to accommodate Yellow Ears, too. When the second 2 kittens joined in I added the two paper plates (sometimes they double as cat frisbees). Blackie makes 7 cats, but he generally shows up after some of the cats have eaten. Actually, about one CAT dish of cat food comes back inside each evening - but that's still a lot of food for 7 cats. At least it's a lot based on how much Alex eats each day. Guess the colony cats get in a lot more exercise outside.

Just Like Dad

Little Rollo likes to spend time with Blackie. Just like a little boy, he mimics the things he sees his dad doing. Blackie's head is big and doesn't fit well in a couple of the food dishes, so he flicks out some food with his paw and then eats off the rug. Now Rollo flicks out cat food and eats off the rug, too.

Possum in Condo

The possum came back last night, and my camera was nearby. We had taken the food inside. I opened the door to take a picture and the possum hurried into the condo.

Raccoon Visit

At about 10 pm last night the back yard security light went on. I glanced out to see which cat had triggered it on their way out into the back yard. Nothing. About 2 minutes later 2 raccoons made their way away from our back porch and down the cat path. I guess that allowed just about enough time for them to check out the feeding area and find that there was no cat food to be had.

Rollo and Dad

Little Rollo is displaying all the little boy attributes of wanting to be just like Dad. When Blackie comes to eat, Rollo shows up too. When Blackie is out and about in the back yard, Rollo is usually around trying to get his attention.

Breakfast

We treated ourselves to breakfast at Cracker Barrel this morning. But now before the colony and Alex received their breakfasts.

Lake Tracks

We had a small amount of snow last night and the cats were all away at breakfast time, though they came back soon after the food went out. It's very unusual for them to be away so early, but they are quite intent on making lots of tracks through the new snow. I guess they are getting the "lay of the land" again.

This picture shows cat tracks out on the lake, which is now frozen. Hope those cats remember that there is water under the ice.

Breakfast Lineup

How's this for a Valentine's Day greeting? It's Sunday and the cats had to wait until after the 8 AM church service for breakfast to be served. Even Mama Cat was waiting, but a bit off to the side.

Kittens Have Names

We've settled on names for the two gray kittens. The female is Pepper. The male is Rollo. Pepper has white feet, and is on the right. Rollo (all gray) has his back to us.

It's about time. The gray kittens are almost full grown.

Cozy Condo

Last night the temperature dipped to 5 degrees. Last evening the remote temperature in one condo was 20 degrees. All the cats but Mama Cat crowded into that condos. At 5:30 am this morning the remote thermometer said the temperature in that condo was 62 degrees.

I wonder if any of the cats had to get up during the night and make a trip to the back yard potty. The necessary unwinding would have been a sight to see.

Mama Cat is still "Mad"

Mama Cat seems to be making a habit of coming early for breakfast with the rest of the colony. She still goes off at night to sleep by herself, though. She does not seem to be over her "Mad", because she hisses and lashes out at any of the cats who come close to her dish and then leaves as soon as she is finished eating. She prefers to drink from the heated bird bath instead of the heated dish we set out for the colony.

Guess Who Came For Breakfast?

Today is the first morning since her surgery (over a month ago) that Mama Cat was waiting for breakfast with all of her kittens. Perhaps she is over her "MAD". We're really hoping so.