Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => Pets without Feathers => Topic started by: Kate and her Ducks on January 02, 2013, 14:15
-
Sorry if I have already posted this. Thought I had but now can't find it.
Well last year my sister had her cat spayed and chose to have it done by tubal ligation (like humans) rather than the usual of having the ovaries and uterus removed. Unfortunately the vet turned out not to be too good at this and in the summer 3 little kittens arrived.
My sister just didn't have the space to keep them and asked if we would be willing to take them as we were moving to the countryside and would be able to have them as feral, barn cats to keep the rodent population down. We already have 2 cats so no room for more in the house but thought that would be fine, especially as the duck food can attract vermin.
So here are our 3 feral kittens.
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm5/katemerriman/IMG_0090-3.jpg)
-
Yeah, right! :D
-
Hmmmm
Feral, you said? :lol: :lol: :lol:
-
The boy at least is living up to his side of the bargin and catching rodents for us. Unfortunately they mainly seem to be shrews and voles that aren't really a pest but at least he has the right idea. The 2 girls do terrorise the local population of dead leaves!
-
The boy at least is living up to his side of the margin and catching rodents for us. Unfortunately they mainly seem to be shrews and voles that aren't really a pest but at least he has the right idea. The 2 girls do terrorise the local population of dead leaves!
:lol: :lol: :lol:
-
apparently it is all the fault of the ancient Egyptians - they treated cats as gods and the cats never forgot it- if/when the cats want to be feral they will let you know but until then keep up the good work .............
R
-
I am really missing Bagpuss who passed away last year. I have been really good despite looking on the RSPCA website constantly as I really don't want to replace her. Your kittens have brought a tear to my eyes, they look as if they are in heaven. It must be lovely for them to have company and plenty of space to roam. Thanks for sharing the photo. ;)
-
They are grorgeous! We have lots of feral kittens brought into our sanctuary but it is always better if they can be tamed. A much nicer life for them in my opinion. They certainly fell on their feet with you. ;)
ANHBUC, I know what you mean, we lost our lovely Max last February as I still miss her terribly and get tearful if I think of her but I did get a kitten a few months later. She will never replace Max and is completely different in character and looks. It does make the loss easier to bear in a way though as you have to get on with it. James Herriot always said the best way of dealing with the loss of a pet was to get another one. I don't think I could have done it straightaway though.
-
They are grorgeous! We have lots of feral kittens brought into our sanctuary but it is always better if they can be tamed. A much nicer life for them in my opinion. They certainly fell on their feet with you. ;)
ANHBUC, I know what you mean, we lost our lovely Max last February as I still miss her terribly and get tearful if I think of her but I did get a kitten a few months later. She will never replace Max and is completely different in character and looks. It does make the loss easier to bear in a way though as you have to get on with it. James Herriot always said the best way of dealing with the loss of a pet was to get another one. I don't think I could have done it straightaway though.
I still expect her to be downstairs on a morning or when I get home the hall seems empty. I am trying to see if the lack of an indoor pet helps with hubbys asthma. Another reason is that the one thing I don't miss is the amount of fur she left behind.
You can put your new kittens picture up and I will share in the joy of your new pet and friend. ;)
-
I know what you mean about the fur. I have clothes for lounging about the house in as I get covered in fur and muddy footprints! I spent a small fortune on a Dyson which is the only vacuum cleaner I've had that can keep on top of the furry carpets I have at the end of each day. Bloomin' cats! ;)
-
Our Mili came out from the garden across the road with a baby rat, unfortunately it was not dead, she let it go and it ran off :(
Pamela
-
:D Definitely vicious and dangerous. Someone has to keep the leaves under control :D :D
-
What beautiful kittens. They look so happy. I really feel for those of you who have lost your lovely cats. I know people think that they are not companions in the way that dogs are, but they really are. Do show us more photos of those 'feral' kittens when you get chance. :)
-
Awww they look very at ease with the rodent threat ;) we cat folks are softies!
-
What a very comfortable barn they live in! :lol:
Tree lovely, lucky kitties!
-
We do love them. They are so funny together. Even though they all look very similar they are such different characters and so full of fun.
Will have to try to get them to sit still long enough to take a few more pictures.
-
so are you going to get another couple of feral cats that will live outside? ;)
-
NOOO!
This house has too many cats in it already and I think we can all see where feral cats end up here. ::)
We had them all "done" last week so no surprises either.
-
just wait - I'm sure Cara or John and Val may find you another 1 or 2 :lol:
-
There gorgeous I bet it's hard to tell them apart. Nice quilt too! I thoug I was always reccomended to remove everything these days to prevent the risk of uterine cancers.
-
I don't think uterine cancer is all that common in cats (but don't know). I actually asked my vet about it more from curiosity than considering it (given the obvious evidence regarding success above). She was surprised to hear that anyone in the UK did tubal ligation although some places (maiming in europe apparently) remove just the ovaries. Interestingly the only thing she commented on was the theoretical risk of osteoporosis in those without ovaries but apparently they just don't see it so she didn't see the benefit in preserving them.
-
oops. That was meant to be mainly not maiming! Darn autocorrect!
-
:lol: :lol: :lol:
-
have these feral cats trained you in the barn duties and allow you in the house:D...our cat of 20years passed on two years ago,miss him still and remember him as kitten like it was last week.
-
Amazing what an impact our cats make on us. My first proper cat was my 18th birthday present from my best friend and I had to have her put down a few years ago at 18. I still miss her and no other cat is quite the same and certainly not a replacement for her. She was such a character and so much fun.
-
So..... these kittens. Update?
(I timed our old lady this morning... less than 60 secs from the back door to in the cat flaps in the front. I didnt know she could move that fast any more. :blink: Well, she asked to go out .. :nowink:)