new and improved Feralville (aka: Feral Kitty City)

Before putting the cats back into their kennel, I totally restructured it for them. Before, I designed it based on what my indoor kitties would like. After having the feral cats for almost two weeks, I learned that they don't think the same way that indoor
kitties do. They prefer their houses lower to the ground... more hidden. I gave them a lot more nooks and crannies to hide in. Also, after learning where they liked to potty the most, I added a built in litter box. I put the lid of a large tote on the ground and filled it with clay kitty litter. It WORKS!! I'm sure moving two of the houses to ground level also helped...b/c it takes away from floor space to potty. I also added a light (for my convience, and to help warm the place up when it is cold). I can already tell they like it much better! (or they were just happy to be out of their traps). Sir Sampson (the big black male, with a little bit of white finally got a name) was the first one released back into the kennel and he went straight for "the big house" -the one in the shelving unit - which is where he stacked his claim before. Cruella and Damion were released at separate times, but went straight to the same new hiding spot (I swear ... they are a little kitty couple).

Pics of Emmy... crazy cat

This is how I found Emmy this am...... the second picture is my
favorite.
Annie-- Emmy is my most siamese cat. We call her our "white girl" b/c
she is the only cat that we know of that can't jump.

-Shannon

Biff.... on my shoulder

Biff has a new obsession: shoulder surfing. He will jump up and drape himself over your shoulder and just ride along while you are walking around or doing housework. But...Just to let you know... it is hard to take a picture of yourself with a cat on your shoulder... especially once he notices the camera. But, as always... he did take some time to give me a kiss!

Blanket on Floor + Cats = A Super Fun Time!

the pallet palace in feral kitty city

you make them nice beds and what do they do... turn the pallet (which was just for foundation) into their personal palace!

Feralville/Feral Kitty City... First 3 Inhabitants

I was successful yesterday!! 3 kitties trapped. I could have trapped more, but wanted to wait and see how these three do in my kitty city before I trap anymore. The black and white one (who sex is yet to be determined, was obviously still pouting this am, and wouldn't look at the camera) was the first one caught. right now, I am calling it "Oweo" (like a kid saying Oreo)... I was there when he/she was caught. It was still light out. The other two were caught after dusk/dark. Sometime between 4:45 and 5:30. I heard quite a bit of scurrying when I was gathering them up. So, there were a few others around that were checking things out, or waiting for food. I believe the tortie is the mama kitty. she is bigger than the others and was a little more fiesty in the trap. The little brown tabby is also a female (I'm pretty sure)... she is tiny, probably around Biff's age(7 months)... I am calling her "Chicken Nugget" ... b/c I have always wanted to name a brown tabby that...to match my "Tater Tot." The
black and white one is about that 7 months too. I know there is a solid black one about that age too. He was hanging out in the yard when I would come check on the traps. ... kind of taunting me, like "ha ha try and get me." It was too dark to tell the age and number of the rest. Hopefully I will eventually get daddy.

So... here is the best part. the "caretakers" have two (fixed) cats of their own... a black and white one (very big) and a brown not so pretty cat (those are her words...so I don't know if it is a tabby or what)... after I caught the little brown tabby, I went and knocked on their door to make sure it wasn't theirs (she was calmer than the others in the trap). No, not theirs... theirs has more brown?? anyway, she thanked me again for what I was doing and said that they have tried for years to deal with this, and didn't know what else to do. I asked if her cats went indoors. she said yes. I said, well... for starters, don't feed them outside, if you eliminate the food source, they wont hang around and go to where there is food (which will be my house
from now on)... she was like "oh, I never thought of that" DUH!!! seriously! and what about getting the ferals fixed???? I didn't say that. I just hope that they like it at my place and that she stops putting food out, so they will want to stay at my place. people can be so, so very stupid. (I'm pretty sure their solution was to catch what kittens they could and turn them in to the spca or animal control). and to quote the bench lady (another neighbor)... "and I thought they were supposed to be a well educated household"...

The Baby and The Beast...

Evelyn and Mustachio