Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Siwsan

(26,178 posts)
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 09:59 AM Jul 2020

I had a long, non-verbal 'conversation' with the feral cat, this morning

I went out to check the progress in the veg garden, early this morning, and there stood Moggy, my current feral resident. (That's my name for her. At least I think it's a female. Hard to get close enough to know, for sure.) She dashed over the fence but then stood staring at me, for a long time. I did the whole slow blink routine and got a quick blink in return, and then she sauntered off. This was definitely the longest interaction we've had. She looks to be well fed and in really good condition. I'm wondering if she's the reason I haven't seen a single groundhog pup, this year.

15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
I had a long, non-verbal 'conversation' with the feral cat, this morning (Original Post) Siwsan Jul 2020 OP
I have one that I am feeding. Polly Hennessey Jul 2020 #1
She definitely looks well fed or pregnant. Fla Dem Jul 2020 #2
Slow blink? wryter2000 Jul 2020 #3
Yes, I first heard abt slow blinking from Jackson Galaxy. fleur-de-lisa Jul 2020 #4
How many stray cats are needed to make up a "colony"? NurseJackie Jul 2020 #5
As many as you can feed before going broke? fleur-de-lisa Jul 2020 #8
Thanks! I thought it may have meant some specific (or greater) number. NurseJackie Jul 2020 #9
Six live on my property. fleur-de-lisa Jul 2020 #10
Do you worry about fleas or ticks? NurseJackie Jul 2020 #11
We don't seem to have a tick problem. fleur-de-lisa Jul 2020 #12
The show is called "My Cat From Hell" PoindexterOglethorpe Jul 2020 #6
That is a great show! Siwsan Jul 2020 #13
There are good ways to integrate a new cat into the household. PoindexterOglethorpe Jul 2020 #14
Before my brother adopted Dude, he did a lot of sitting with cats at the humane society Siwsan Jul 2020 #15
Thanks! wryter2000 Jul 2020 #7

Polly Hennessey

(6,747 posts)
1. I have one that I am feeding.
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 10:22 AM
Jul 2020

Fairly sure it is a male. He is orange and white. He talks to me every evening at dinner time. He also looks fairly healthy and has a tipped ear, which means he was neutered. He seems socialized and I am able to touch him. I named him Charlie Macaroni and Cheese or Charlie Mac for short. As soon as I am able to pick him up, I will take to Vet for a health check and shots.

Fla Dem

(23,354 posts)
2. She definitely looks well fed or pregnant.
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 10:43 AM
Jul 2020

Maybe the well fed look is a result of feeding on the groundhog pups.

wryter2000

(46,016 posts)
3. Slow blink?
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 12:13 PM
Jul 2020

I haven't heard of that. I have one superfriendly feral and another one who has become cordial enough to meow for his food. Both neutered. Is slow blinking a way to communicate? I'd like to get the second one more friendly if I could. That way he might stick around so he could get more food. Right now, I only see him once in the morning to feed him.

fleur-de-lisa

(14,616 posts)
4. Yes, I first heard abt slow blinking from Jackson Galaxy.
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 12:29 PM
Jul 2020

Can’t remember the name of his show, but the technique works for me.

Apparently cats use it on each other to signal that they’re not a threat.

When I’m outside with my feral colony and one of them seems anxious, I give her the slow blink and she returns it, then she relaxes a bit. I just slowly close both eyes and leave them closed for a second or two, while looking directly at her. I sometimes have to do it three or four times before she responds.

fleur-de-lisa

(14,616 posts)
8. As many as you can feed before going broke?
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 01:00 PM
Jul 2020


I have no idea. I don’t think there’s a formal definition.

fleur-de-lisa

(14,616 posts)
10. Six live on my property.
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 01:24 PM
Jul 2020

All spoiled rotten. I have given them the screened back porch as their dining room. They each get two individual bowls at each feeding, one with kibble, one with canned food. They even have individual place mats so everybody stays in his favorite spot. I feed them each morning and each night. So, 24 little meals every day!

During the winter, they have access to my garage, in which I place six heated cat ‘tents.’ They have heating pads in the bottom that are activated by the cats weight when she steps on it.

In the summer I put a series of canvas sails overhead in the narrow side yard to keep the sun off them. This area catches the best breezes, but is too hot at midday when it’s sunny.

Did I mention that they’re spoiled?

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
11. Do you worry about fleas or ticks?
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 01:33 PM
Jul 2020

Our double-wide is on the edge of a wooded area with lots of deer and a few raccoons. Even though I treat our lawn and the edge of the woods with Ortho flea and tick lawn spray... we still get them. My little dog will pick up a flea or two during the season (even though we use the vet recommended flea control pill and other tick control methods.

And I'm not even TRYING to get the wildlife to get close... they just wander through (mostly at night, I see their footprints in the mornings) and their cargo or fleas and ticks are deposited in our yard. It's maddening.

fleur-de-lisa

(14,616 posts)
12. We don't seem to have a tick problem.
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 02:14 PM
Jul 2020

But we do have fleas. I live in very urban New Orleans and my lot is pretty small.

Three of the six cats let me pet them, so I brush them regularly and apply Revolution (expensive!) during the summer. I can’t get close enough to the other three to treat them.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,751 posts)
6. The show is called "My Cat From Hell"
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 12:39 PM
Jul 2020

and I love it. I learned about the slow blink from him also. And a whole bunch of other stuff I didn't know about cats.

Siwsan

(26,178 posts)
13. That is a great show!
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 02:33 PM
Jul 2020

I've learned so much from it. Now that I'm resigned to probably never being able to travel, again, for long stretches of time, I'm thinking about getting another cat. However, I'm a little worried about integrating it with Sophie Stinky Toes. She's not overly territorial but when I 'cat sat' my brother's monster cat, Dude (monster only because he's HUGE) Sophie could be pretty snippy. So, I'm drawing on things I've learned from that show before I commit.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,751 posts)
14. There are good ways to integrate a new cat into the household.
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 03:17 PM
Jul 2020

Start by keeping them separate at first. Let them gradually become aware of each other. There would be good, detailed and specific information on the internet for this.

I recently decided that because I'm not going to be travelling anywhere for a while, to adopt a cat. Got a wonderful, sweet, affectionate 17 year old from the shelter, whose owner could no longer take care of her. The vet who spoke with me about her was brutally honest about the kidney and thyroid issues, including the need for a special diet. No problem, as I'd been through this with aging cats in the past. She also said that this cat might live two months, might live two years, and wanted to make sure I understood. I did.

Took the sweetie home, named her The Countess Fiona. She settled in as if she'd always been there. From the first night she not only slept with me, but snuggled under the covers.

Alas, after three weeks she stopped eating, and I knew her time was done.

I have no regrets about taking her in and will perhaps take in another older cat in the near future. I do keep on checking the shelter's website regularly, and what they mostly have are kittens, or cats just barely past kittenhood. Another older one will show up eventually.

Siwsan

(26,178 posts)
15. Before my brother adopted Dude, he did a lot of sitting with cats at the humane society
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 03:39 PM
Jul 2020

Kind of waiting to see which one seemed to click, with him. Dude did, but someone else had already made some sort of movement towards adopting him. BUT, when they say Dude's interaction with my brother, they decided to choose another cat.

Bro also found a little stray outside of the building where he had his banked roller derby track. Her ear was clipped so he knew she was fixed. He took her to the vet, but no chip, so he took her in and named her Banksy. Once she was cleared for disease, etc., by the vet, he brought her by so I could meet her. To this day I regret not begging him to leave her with me. I had just lost Boudicca and the timing was still a little raw, but I still regret not asking.

I'm going to start browsing local rescue places. Sophie is a really small cat so I want to find a cat of a similar size. She's about 12, now. She was a rescue from a drug addicts house so I've never been sure exactly how old she is but I've had her since 2008 and the vet said she wasn't quite a year old, then.

Of course, if I do find any kittens, courtesy of the local strays, problem pretty much solved.

Latest Discussions»The DU Lounge»I had a long, non-verbal ...