When you have as many cats as we do, it helps to have a little bit of record keeping about when the last time somebody saw someone.
Topaz has been missing for a week. This is not unusual for her. Despite her cute little kitten face she is very spicy. But she loves my wife. Sometimes we find her outside and bring her in. Sometime she comes in on her own through the cat door.
Today she came in on her own. Topaz spent the whole day getting attention from my wife. She is currently sleeping on the air intake for the dead HVAC.
I always take a picture of her because I am crushed that this is might be the last time I will see her. I’d love to keep her inside. But feral cats have a certain set of skills to let you know you do not want them trapped inside.
Holy bird genocide.
There aren’t any birds. I totally understand where you’re coming from. It’s an issue I have thought about a lot. But where I live there aren’t any birds. I remember birds. I remember when they could literally block out the sky with their murmurations. But they’re not here. They all died. It wasn’t cats that killed them. It was us. It was our pesticides. It was our herbicides.
I don’t live in some Urban hell hole. I live in the country. Cows out-number people on my block. For every bird that shows up there are 500 rats, mice and voles.
I used to worry about this. But reality has taught me a very different lesson.
I don’t know where you live but it’s hard for me to imagine a place without birds. That’s rough.
The main reason behind declining bird numbers is habitat loss. But that doesn’t mean cats don’t play a huge role in this decline:
I live in a rural area between major cities. My wife and I have frequently talked about how few birds there are. The only time we get a decent sized flock that reminds me of my childhood is starlings. And even then it doesn’t count because the flock isn’t nearly big enough and starlings are invasive species that should be killed on site.
It’s not just habitat destruction. It’s the lack of bugs. Destroy the habitat and the bugs can’t breed. And the birds can eat. We are on year nine of no pesticides. This year was the biggest firefly bloom I have ever seen. I’m hoping that next year is even bigger. Fortunately, the guy who owns the 34 acres behind me is all about organic practices and doesn’t use anything more than turkey manure to fertilize his crops.
- Disappears for days on end?
- Is only affectionate to one human?
- Loves face scratches?
Of course it’s an orange kitty.
I feel what you’re saying. But I have an abnormally large population of orange cats. I have probably the largest collection of orange females on the East coast.
The only cat missing from today’s census is Finch. He’s a dusty orange boy. I have orange cats that you have to coax with bits of chicken to get any attention at all. I have the cuddliest sleep next to you orange cats. I got them all.
As much as people like to mythologize orange cats, I can tell you that they’re really just the same as every other cat on a population level.
Yeah I hear you - I am generalizing for a gag. I have seen these are typical traits in Bengal crosses of which many are orange and very affectionate, but on their own terms. I love the cat census BTW very sweet.
I totally understand the gag. But I also have an obligation to point out the actual facts. I’m hoping that one day the rescue or shelter that I foster for gives me the call that there is a bangle that needs my help.
And I’m going to be heartbroken when we decide that the cat cannot be adopted by anybody. So we have to keep it but then it gets outside and we find out that Bengals and chickens are not compatible.
I’m also open to the idea of a bobcat or a cougar. Do you know how cool it would be to have a cougar that refuses to get off your kitchen island?
We have two bengal mixes and they’re both snuggly but otherwise their personalities are totally different. One is a huge girl, badass boss, guard cat who likes to lay where she can keep an eye on us and on the front door and has silky soft fur. She’s 15 and has lost a lot of muscle but not attitude. The other is a small boy who is talkative (he meows when i sneeze), athletic, super skittish and has short, very soft, thick fur. He’s 10 and still plays fetch and flies over the dog gate, but hides when strangers come over.
I just read this entire conversation to my wife. She loved it
C’mon Topaz! Don’t scare us like that!
My little cat has been ‘lost’ so many times! Every time he goes missing I freak out, search the house and yard, and, on the verge of tears, put a lost post on Facebook. Then, as if he’s seen the post, he immediately wanders out of a new secret sleeping spot. I love that little fucker!
I had a neighbor who lost a cat to his own backyard for two months. He never saw it and assumed it was gone for good, but kept putting out food and assumed he was just feeding birds and coyotes.
Then he moved some firewood and she’d just been living her best life in there.
It’s too early for this many tears.
No lies detected. Except that Topaz will absolutely hate everyone even if they give her food. But only my wife can give her pets.
