Should I Call That Feral Cat Tiger Tom or Thomasina?
A gray tiger cat took up residence under my trailer, in my shed and especially on the ledge outside my front window over six months ago. At first he stayed on the roof of my neighbor, Eduardo’s trailer and we think it might be the grown-up version of the kitten his ex-wife had before they moved into a house. When she decided she liked her old boy friend better, she left, leaving the kitten behind. Their house was about two miles from here - two miles of nothing but chaparral inhabited with hungry coyotes. There were hawks in the daytime and owls at night that would have eaten that kitten, and if this cat is the one, he has a charmed life.
I have been feeding him well ever since I first saw him hanging around, and he is a big fat cat now, getting tamer all the time. At first I thought he was a female, but when I saw him in action beating up Mack, the fiercest fighter I’ve ever had before I had him neutered, I changed my mind. He has such a sweet, pitiful little meow; it’s hard to put that with a fighting tomcat. He doesn’t have fights with any other of my nine cats that go outside; only Mack. That’s what made me think he is a female. I guess I won’t know until I catch him and take him to the vet, or he shows up with kittens.
It’s been cold lately, down in the low teens with a wind chill factor just above zero. With my other cats snug and warm inside, it worries me to know he is out in the cold. I made a bed in the shed for him, but usually he ignores it and huddles on my windowsill, looking in at us. Yesterday my daughter had to go to town, 60 miles away, to buy a new heater, and I asked her to look for a kennel heater. Apparently they don’t make them any more because some caught fire, but she found a round device like two Frisbees sealed together with something heavy inside. It is to be microwaved and the heat is supposed to last 12 hours afterward. Maybe in the house, but not outside in 20 deg. F temperature! But it does last about four hours. Tonight, I wrapped it in a flimsy dishtowel, and put it in his spot on the ledge outside the window. Right now I’m looking at one pleased cat! His eyes are squinted up, his ears are back a little, and he is sitting squarely on that heat Frisbee. I think he is smiling! Maybe I should go out several times during the night and bring it in for re-nuking to keep him warm and happy – do you think I should?
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Comments: 17
I like Tom too... or Tommy.
Thanks for introducing us to your newest furchild!
Here in montreal it is -30 with the wind chill factor, I certainly hope if any animals are out they are alright.
My daughter bought the frisbee thing at Petsmart, I think, and it cost about $30. It stays warm longer than I thought, about 6 hours outside in the 30 deg temp. The hand warmer idea sounds good.
Karen is making me tell you about a pretty smokey coloured cat we tried to tame and catch in a caravan. A lady as you said used humain traps to catch the ferals in our area but she could never catch this little smokey grey.Over months I gained her confidence feeding her fresh tuna steaks every day, Eventually she came into the van we were staying in just as the wind blew the door closed . She went aboslutly berserk and ripped up all the curtains before I could open the door for her. Not by any means wes she tame but I think they never realy loose their wild streak.I hope you can also tame Tom, and that he is a tom I see him as a tough kind old tom cat, and I realy dont want him to change,so if he is a she Ruth don't tell me,ha ha.
Take care Darcey + Kaz
Take care and stay warm as well............Darcey
And even with coyotes, it is surviving well.
The heater sounds great.
I'll have to tell a friend about it - she has an outdoor cat. (Her husband is allergic.)