Thatās why my 2 critters are never going outside again.
First inside was probably an 8yo indoor cat that someone just tossed when he developed problems (angry red growths in his mouth that kept him from eating), so on day 3 that I saw him, I took him to the vet, had the growths removed, all fixed up, full workup, baths, trim, etc., and heās my velcro cat, no particular desire to go back out except maybe on the patio.
Second inside had been around a few years that Iād feed every day, would later eat inside then go back out, then would eat and sleep and eat and sleep then go back out, then eat sleep, and stay the night and then go back out, but would always be getting beat up in catfights. Huge down-to-the-muscle rakes on his shoulder and ballooning infection on his cheek/neck, another billion dollars at the vet, and had him recovering in the house while he tore himself up trying to get out. Finally calmed down but still was itching to get out. Now actually is ādomesticatedā in that he comes by me and sleeps right near me (and loooooooves my rubber flipflops) and only recently yearns for The Great Outdoors but doesnāt push it.
So I basically dote on āem and give āem whatever they want to make being inside as fun as possible. Even have a coffin-sized Chewy box that #1 loves climbing into. Lifts up the flap, sticks his head in, slides into, lets the flaps close back up behind him. So yeah, itās staying here as a permanent fixture.
Had way way too many cats come by and then eventually ādisappearā. Smooshed by douchebag drivers, shot, poisoned, who knows. At least they can come here and get some free eats. And wet food, not just the dry crap.
All ours have been inside cats. Except 1 who stayed in the fenced in back yard for short adventures - never after dark. This was before there were any houses across the ally. A quiet place back then.
He was a scorpion killāen dude. He would bash them around the floor till I got them or he parted them out.
As far as I know he never got stung.
They were coming in from the empty fields across the ally. I stopped counting at 30.
By the time he passed away it was all built up and the invasion stopped.
They tend to last a long time.
16y, 21y, 19y, and our current tiny rescue cat turned 22y last month.
I do wish I lived someplace safe where I felt it was OK to have outdoor time.
We have several semi feral cats in the hood. Some will let humans near - others wonāt.
Sidney, so sorry to hear that. I hope there is a special place in hell for anyone who abuses pets or children.
All the Best,
Jeff
Thanks for your compassion. At the time I looked into pressing charges against the fellow. City by-law limits to a $1000 fine for abusing pets. I would have to prove beyond doubt he was the perpetrator of my catās demise and then throw a civil suit to cover my veterinary costs ($940). I had pictures of the said dish of food and the vetās analysis, but this could be counterclaimed as fabrication.
People of such character eventually get back at them. I carried a deep grudge for many years, but fate would have cast its destiny.
I could just picture the dbag getting smooshed like in a car2n.
I was debating whether/not to make a catio. I do have a patio, but open Fe railings and brick steps going down, so Iād have to line the railings at least with chicken-wire, and they can jump up, so that means poles and more chicken-wire, I imagine.
Iād never leave āem out there unattended, so as long as the CW would slow āem down, I could still grab either one if he wanted to make a break for it.
This way, they could enjoy The Great Outdoors, at least somewhat, and Iād not have to worry about them picking up fleas, ticks, etc., from elsewhere.
Douche guy at the end of the alley built a 6ā solid wood fence cause he didnāt like the strays furrowing in his flower bed. Fool; they have claws and in a whoosh, up they go. But heās encroached within a wall. And heās better off as such.
Chicken wire aināt pretty, and they may get their paws caught. Had mine all tangled up in the drapes once, just stood there waiting that I rescue her. Never tried that acrobatic stunt again. Some people have somehow gotten them on a lead. Never worked with me. Wonder if those high-pitched emitters, the ones to train off-limits areas, work?
PS: My stubby fellow is quite laid back and me living on the ground floor, just wanders to the end of the driveway. Never gets in any fights with the territorial strays, and doesnāt care for the bed (which is good ā no bugs or fleas). Always within sight, ventures a bit in the front when Iām taking my morning brew. Never a nuisance but a good companion on those cold dark winter evenings. Cuddles me as Iām watching Youtube.
There was a very well off couple in town.
She loved cats. He hated them and refused to have the in the house.
So she took her own money. Bought the adjoining lot.
Then built a 4000? Sq. Ft. Two story house complete with cat runs and housekeeper cat companion. She had visiting rights. He didnāt.
Left her inheritance to a trust. Guess who didnāt get named.
All the Best,
Jeff
All our cats were indoor-outdoor. We donāt have houses or traffic nearby so it never was a problem. Now there are predatory birds snatching up small pets. Eagles and hawks hunting daily. Lost 2 cats.
Had a couple of crows with one offspring in the neighbourhood for a number of years. Plucked every little critter ā sparrows, squirrels, and small cats. I inquired about controlling them, like re-locating. Ministry said they stay, part of the eco-system. Been a couple of years and donāt see nor heard them. The nest isnāt taken care and deteriorating. Not complaining. Never thought crows are so predatory. One swooped down from behind and clawed my cap. Iām sure he/she was intimating - territorial.
Wow, you werenāt kidding about it being dark. Just watched 1st half of it. Seriously visceral quality about it. I imagine the west was at least this brutal, if not worse. Amazing cinematography!
Did you ever see the PBS Nature program on crows, where they show how theyāve got incredible social communication? They can pass down experiences. A flock had been exposed to a taunting human with a certain grotesque mask. Later, when the crows had offspring, and were alone from those whoād seen the masked human, they reacted the same way upon seeing him. Never had seen him before. Inexplicable, how the parents couldāve communicated it.
Many eco-friendly channels where ravens and other similar birds have developed cognitive and deductive abilities. Some go as far as making tools to trip levers. The best I saw was when a blackbird was given some bread and dumped small pieces into the pond to get fish nibbling ā pecked and caught a better meal.
Last one I saw was where the zoo keeper had some crow and express its needs (food, social). It was a spontaneous behaviour, no training.
Animals in general are very social and smart. I have a herd of white tails on my property that I have been watching interact together. Itās like watching teenagers hanging with each other sometimes. One was lying down on the lawn and another came over to it and pushed him with his front foot like get up. Right now I have a recently separated from his mother small bear hanging around trying to figure life out on his own. Heāll watch me mow the lawn from the edge of the woods. It is comical watching him peer over the rock wall at me. We feed the crows food scraps and they are never far and always come quickly when the food comes out. Fox families raising their young. All very interesting to watch and all smart in their own way. We just donāt speak the same language as them.
And to think some have the āsportā of hunting.
Many years would go to a private lake and much fauna would observe me. Never had any bad encounters ā question of keeping my distance. Duck family would usually make their home, only to be shot down come autumn. Imagine, itās not as the locals need these to survive and they are quite helpless being young and never have taken to much flight.
Had a curious moose follow me on the forest edge, just shy of being seen. Heard him though, and saw the lower branches move then eye contact. She moved on.
Many other small critters but my favorite was the deer couple that came for a drink. The buck would watch over as his doe would sip, then take turns.
Small black bears would occasionally be scrounging some berries in some open space, raise on their hind legs and take a sniff of my presence. Go back to hoarding and that was it.
Iām trying to make what prompted such an incendiary calamity.
Clearly see some pressure relief valve blowing some sort of liquid. Would hydraulic fluid be so volatile and why wouldnāt the press designers release it into some containment vessel?
Man, that ended up like a blowtorch aimed right up at the ceiling.
It probably ended up like an oil-burner, ie, a fine mist of oil (hydraulic fluid) that just ignited and kept going. Hard to start up, but once heated and/or aerosolised, VWOOOSH!
