February 6th 2013 6:57 am
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Socks here as spokesman for the Ferals:

Fourteen for breakfast this morning on the porch. That's pretty much everyone present, including Mr Ugly Face who was snoring away in one of the cubicles. The Mama knows it's him because he was there last night giving Little 'Un possum heck - she shooed him away, but couldn't stop him before he dove into the shelter. Not sure if Little 'Un is still around or not - he's not making any noise.

So far the winter has been cold, but no minus-double-digit temps which is possible for our zone 5 area. Minus 21 is the coldest the Mama has experienced in the over 20 years she's been here. I know there are colder places, but that's plenty nippy let me tell you!

So far everyone seems to be doing well; the kittens have thick fur coats and all have a fine layer of fat for insulation, including me! The Mama feels a bit sad at times, though, because she knows if she opened the door wide and said: "OK - anyone who wants to come inside, come on!" - that immediately Marble, Ricki, Seven Point One and Sirius would all come trooping in. And if they came, Seven would probably follow, and then Osiris, and probably Zane Grey, and maybe one of the other kittens as well. And maybe even Becca who for the first time this morning, let the Mama pet her. But, you see, it can't happen. There's not enough room for all of us. And here's the other thing: if any of the outside crew were to have been next to come in, it would have been Sirius. Except, Owl arrived...
Here are the pics (I hope they show up):

Owl in the kitty condo

Owl

Owl closeup

Someone must have dropped him off in our driveway after they saw the signs we posted at the corners of our property:

Feral cat zone sign

This was to hopefully get those monster trucks to slow down as they zoom down the dirt road in front of our house. Anyways, we didn’t mean it as an invitation to bring more ferals! Not that Owl seems very feral – he ran up to the Mama as if he was accustomed to humans. But he was ravenous, skinny and had a distended belly probably full of worms.

Now he’s been wormed and, thanks to the loan of the kitty condo from our friends at S-NAP (Spay/Neuter Animal Project), he is gradually getting to know the rest of the inside crew, of which I am privileged to be part. He comes out of the condo for visits and play, but sleeps in there the rest of the time. He is still getting back up to strength, I think. Don’t know if he is here full time or not yet…

Purred by: Zoe Snow Flake DG#2 (Catster Member)

February 6th 2013 at 3:54 pm

Little Owl is so cute!! Can't believe anyone could just drop him off.

When it gets warm and the ferals are playing in your gardens, you and them will both be happy.

Purred by: Samhain (Catster Member)

February 6th 2013 at 6:07 pm

It's the only thing we could figure. He's so tiny and we're quite a ways from the neighbors. I can't imagine why he would come across the road to our place on his own. He is kinda cute, isn't he? I can't stop hissing at him though; it's the principle of the thing! Hehehe...