Back from the Vet

Pepper was released by the vet earlier today, and she is now back home. Unlike her sister and mother who went off to be by themselves for a couple days upon their return home from surgery, Pepper has stayed near the condo and was scratching and looking into our windows that same night.

Off to the Vet

Pepper had been spending a lot of time with Blackie over the weekend so we were motivated to get her to the vet. We didn't deem it a difficult catch because Pepper is pretty tame and usually lets me pet her and even pick her up. I did that this morning and all was fine until Erv came out with the cat carrier. She fought valiently and bit me several times in the finger. Ouch. I let her get away. By then, however, she was in the house; and off she went. Alex chased her and (we're proud to say) herded her into the guest bathroom where we finally got her. We wrapped her in a towel which helped to calm her down and put her in the carrier. Unfortunately by then my finger had leaked blood in quite a few places. We're glad bathrooms are easier to clean up than most other rooms. Surgery is scheduled for tomorrow.

New Face in the Yard

Late this afternoon I noticed a large yellow cat in the back yard. It is about the same size as the yellow longhair that fathered Mama Cat's first litter. This cat, however, is shorthair and a much lighter shade of yellow. It seemed to be headed for the porch and I ran for my camera, but it was gone when I got back. Scarface and Harley were watching the cat from the roof of the condo, but they did not seem overly concerned to see it.

What a View !

There's always a window nearby, so Alex our housebound Maine Coon seldom gets bored. And there's usually one or more cats in the view outside the window (in this case, Pepper and Blackie).

Missed Kodak Moment

I opened the door this morning to take breakfast out to the cat colony. Harley stepped into the house while most were milling impatiently around my feet and spied Alex who usually sits close by to observe. Harley approached Alex nose to nose. I forgot my camera while I waited for a cat fight. But no - just a kiss and she was back outside for breakfast.

Back to Business

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.