Homeless Cat -- Now Spotacus' Legacy

[Wanderlost]

On 18 Dec, a very large cat showed up at our house. It was late and cold, and he looked in the door and made it clear he wanted inside. Well, since we have two cats already and he was a stranger, we could not let him in the house. WLToo walked out and the cat ran to him, so he walked the cat into the garage and into the climate controlled room out there.

He was extremely hungry and thirsty, but in otherwise good condition and very clean. We fixed up a bed for him, set up the feeding and elimination stations, and went to bed.

Next day, we worked in the garage all day, while the big guy slept or supervised. We found him to be an intact male, no sign he's ever worn a collar, and he has a strong need to be in the general vicinity of humans. For an intact male, he's remarkably mellow - I don't think he was the alpha cat in his previous home.

Have had zero responses to the "found cat" notices around the area and online, so we'll be working with the local rescues to get him neutered and all his shots, then find him a home. We can't keep him because he's just too big for our two cats to share our small house. Alex would have another emotional meltdown, and I don't want to go through that mess again (long, ugly story).

For now, we're calling him Spot, not that he answers to it (does answer to "Kitty, Kitty"). No idea how he travels; we'll find out when we take him to the vet on Tuesday.

If anyone knows of someone who would like a large (about 15-18 pounds) cat who needs to be with people, please let me know. No cat novices, please; this cat needs someone who knows exactly how to handle an adult cat of this size, especially when he's feeling frisky.





We're at Canyon Lake, TX, so if there are any Winter Texans nearby who would like to meet him and maybe give him a home, that would be great.

[Wanderlost]

Sigh. The joys of home ownership, especially when it's a "unique fixer upper." The sewer line cracked, so there's a 4' deep hole in the yard and two guys in it, wrestling with new PVC. Our plumber has been here so much that he has his own ring tone...

Meanwhile, I figured out why Spot moved to the top platform on the cat tree -- he doesn't feel good and wants to be where he won't get bothered. He has a growing bump/swelling/something on top of his head, next to the ear that was cut up in a fight (ear's healed nicely). I can't smell any infection, but it's making him feel bad and he doesn't want that area being touched, so he'll be visiting our vet in the morning.

Guess I'd better edit WLToo's fourth book so we can get a few more royalties to pay for all the repairs and the vet bills. Next up is R-30 insulation added to the attic before we go into heating season.

WLToo said about a dozen hummingbirds were waiting for him to fill the feeder this morning. Looks like another group is passing through. We have one each rufous, black chin, and ruby throat who are resident still, and they were all beside themselves as the visitors took all the feeding spots.

Looks like we won't have to haul rocks, after all. Just ordered a complete keyhole garden kit for much cheaper than building the rock one would cost. Now we just need a few 6' fence posts and we can put up the anti-deer fence around it, then get some actual dirt. We just might be able to have our first garden here by February planting time.

I see the hummingbird ballet beginning again. Time to try for more photos. Later, y'all.

[Wanderlost]

I really like elk meat...

Been right lively around here the last few days, with family coming to visit, electrical upgrades to the RV hookups, and the weather turning out so nice that we have the windows open and pleasant breezes keeping everything nice and cool.

Spot has moved from our bed to the topmost platform on the cat tree, or on the rocking chairs on the south porch. Alex is back on the upper kitchen cabinets, still recovering from the outrage of three (THREE!) dogs having visited.

At one point, Alex saw two of the dogs looking in the window. He started howling in outrage and batting at the window. Good thing Sam and Sid were outside -- Alex would have tried to hurt them. Meggie, having been Alex' first attack victim, didn't try to come inside. She remembers all too well that there's a cat here who does not like dogs, atall atall.

Meg thought she'd chase deer at one point, but Mama Doe/Lassie was not inclined to run. Instead, she stomped her foot, snorted, and lowered her head warningly, and Meg sheared off and returned to the porch. She doesn't actually want to hurt anything - just wants to run after something, and if it doesn't run, she gives up. Sid and Sam were only here for an afternoon, and they wanted to play in the pool.

Not near as many hummingbirds now: either we're between flights, or most have moved on through. I'll really miss 'em when our residents decide to leave. Had a number of cardinals the last few days, and since it's dove hunting season, we get a fair population that's taking cover.

Our late summer wildflowers are beginning to seed out, so looks like we'll actually mow the place in late October or early November. Until then, when it's not too hot, we've begun moving rocks to build our keyhole garden. Much cheaper to use what's on the property than to buy commercial stackers.

Speaking of stacking stones, break's over. Later, y'all.

[Just_Bob]

Dashonthedash wrote:
There's a huge bull elk hanging around, one of the biggest I've ever seen. His rack is so big that it gives me a neck ache just watching him carry it around. He's already got a fairly good-sized harem around him, and he's looking for more. He's been bugling for several days now, and I haven't seen or heard any other grown bulls for a while.

Pics-----we need pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dashonthedash]

There's a huge bull elk hanging around, one of the biggest I've ever seen. His rack is so big that it gives me a neck ache just watching him carry it around. He's already got a fairly good-sized harem around him, and he's looking for more. He's been bugling for several days now, and I haven't seen or heard any other grown bulls for a while.

Just got a couple pictures of him:

[Wanderlost]

The mockingbirds live here, WL2, in vast quantities. Haven't seen a whole lot of woodpeckers, though I hear them. We live under the central flyway, so this time of year through October, we'll see a wide variety of migrating birds.

Real windy today; the hummers are all trying to use the perching feeders, so they will have a grip and not get blown past the feeder.

Spot likes the breeze on his fur, so he's staying on the porches. Good, maybe the wind will blow some fur off and it won't land on the sofa or our bed...

Alex doesn't like wind in his ears, so he's spending the day on my lap. Had to trim his claws again after doing so just a few days ago; his grow very fast and he's diligent about keeping them needle sharp. My legs, left arm and shoulder are covered with evidence of his diligence. Sigh.

WLToo's calling, needs me to hold the ladder steady. Later, y'all.

[WandaLust2]

....

[WandaLust2]

We haven't seen any hummingbirds around our flower garden this year. Come to think of it, no woodpeckers or mockingbirds either. It's been several years since I've heard a mockingbird. I'm reminded of Rachael Carson's "Silent Spring" I had to read when in HS. And yes, the does become so tame when they know no one will harm them.

There was a mother doe with twins around earlier this summer. I haven't seen her now for awhile.

[Wanderlost]

We're up to two refills per day in the hummingbird feeders. The resident rufous has moved from the tree to the shallow perching feeder, where it can launch a quick attack on any other hummer trying to feed at the shallow feeder or the hover feeder, then take up station again. The larger perching feeder is far enough away that the rufous doesn't go on the attack much there. So it features a several times daily hummingbird ballet, as they all take turns. In fact, we saw two hummers sharing an individual perch this morning. Naturally, by the time WLToo got the camera, they'd moved on.

I'm watching the rufous grooming itself right now. Fascinating little critter.

Spot has a new hobby. We're having some electrical work done, and wherever the electrician is, Spot's there watching. He climbed the electrician's ladder to join him in the garage attic -- but WLToo grabbed him before he got all the way up there. He supervised the repairs to the RV hookups, and he thoroughly inspected the inside of the electrician's van. Now he's sleeping on the north porch, after wallowing all over me and taking a short nap on my left arm. Fifteen pounds of wallow makes for a sore arm...

Haven't seen Mama Doe today, nor any of the main herd. Guess it's too hot to move about much. A cool front is coming in tomorrow, so the highs will only be in the low 90s, with night lows in the 60s. If it keeps up, we'll be able to open the windows at night.

WLToo saw several black headed vultures swooping low a bit ago, and did notice the smell of death. Hope it's not one of the critters we know.

We now have two working 30 amp RV power boxes, and the fourth will work as soon as WLToo gets the outlet -- the electrician only had two with him. The all new one is a 50/30/20, so relatives and friends with 50 amp rigs can now visit. Being able to keep the air conditioners running is very important in RVing down here.

Time to rig up something for supper. Later, y'all.

[Wanderlost]

Living with wildlife can sometimes become surreal. The most recent example came just days ago.

Mama Doe came limping up to the south porch for some apple slices. I saw a 2” cut on her left foreleg, not bleeding, though, and it looked clean. She looked hungrier than normal, so I gave her a few hands full of deer corn as well. While she ate, I went out the north door to cool off in the pool.

I hadn’t completed the first lap, when the vegetation below the pool suddenly shook. Spot exploded out of the plants, fur puffed up to twice his size, ran up the slope between the house and garage, and disappeared. The neighbor’s black cat poked his head just above the pool deck edge and looked right into my eyes at his level. I quietly said, “Go home, black kitty,” and he whirled around and shot down the hill toward his home.

I started on the second half of my first lap, when I heard a deer snorting. Mama Doe was standing by the flagpole on the east side of the house, looking at me and snorting repeatedly, with her injured leg held up. I made another lap, she becoming more insistent, before I figured out that Spot had startled her and she wanted me to do something.

I climbed out of the pool, walked between the buildings, and there was Mama Doe on the driveway, looking toward the far edge of the garage. Spot was nowhere in sight. I moved in the direction Mama Doe was looking, and she paced along with me. Then I saw Spot underneath the RV, resting all but one foot in the undercarriage. I spoke to him for a few minutes, but he didn’t seem interested in coming out.

I turned to Mama Doe, who was intently watching, and said, “Thank you,” and she immediately limped back to her interrupted dinner. Just as she got to the feed pan, Spot came running onto the porch, and I let him inside. Mama Doe calmly watched him go back in the house and finished her food.

We’ve known for a while that she considered us and the cats part of her herd, but this kind of direct communication is a first. I wonder if we should rename her Lassie?

The barn swallows have migrated already, and I miss their noisy exuberance. But we now have so many hummingbirds here that they make up for the swallows. We have three feeders out, and must refill every day, sometimes more than once. They are mostly rufus and black chinned, but the occasional ruby throat joins the scrum. We have lots of yellow wildflowers in the meadow and plenty of bugs still, so they should have all the food necessary to bulk up for their long trip south.

Alex is doing Monorail Kitteh on my chair arm, impatiently waiting for his 1700 feeding. He doesn't want to hear that it's an hour away. Never in my life have I had a cat so food oriented that he could give Scarlett O'Hara a run ("I'll neveh be hungry again!").

WLToo's calling for my assistance in installing the new ceiling fan. Later, y'all.

[Wanderlost]

We got rain!!! A little over an inch, which helped refill the pool, but it doesn't put a dent in the drought.

We changed out a hummingbird feeder and now have a few more tiny ones feeding on the south porch, while the larger ones fight it out on the north porch. They are so entertaining.

Spot and Alex got their Advantage Multi application yesterday, so they were inclined to just sleep in the music room all day. Alex slept on the futon, and Spot stretched out on the piano. Today was also a lazy kitty day.

Han and Spooky are walking the fence line again. Guess they didn't join the buck herd after all.

I see a scorpion. Must get out the flip flop o' doom. Later, y'all.

[Wanderlost]

Thanks, Barb. He's got the staples out of his knee and is now supposed to be stretching knee and hand, but he's still on bed rest another week or so. Then it's off to physical therapy. His three cats are thrilled to have him home all day, so there's that up side to the ordeal.

Spot has been so full of beans the last few days, that he even got Alex to play with him. Outside, he's turned into the intrepid hunter, although he hasn't actually caught anything -- but he's so cute to watch. When we're in the pool, he lays nearby and watches us.

Solo is back in our meadow, escorting Mama Doe here and there. I guess Han and Spooky have joined the buck herd, as we've not seen them the last few days. Mama Doe is babysitting two fawns that we don't recognize, so I guess the fawn day care center is back in operation.

A tiny green and yellow bird has been sitting on the hot tub, then landing in the waterfall to get a drink. Pretty little bird, not terribly afraid of us when it wants a drink. Yesterday, I was in the pool when the bird came to drink. Spot saw it and snuck around the pool. The bird was too busy watching me and the waterfall to see him, so I swam over and startled it into flying. Well, a few minutes ago, Alex came up with a kill. It was a tiny green and yellow bird. Rats. While I'm impressed with his hunting skills at his advanced age, I wish he wasn't so efficient. I really liked that little bird.

All the barn swallows are eating like mad, getting ready to migrate next month. I will miss them so much, especially morning and evening, when they all show up at once for the gab fest. WLToo is planning to build wooden nests for them, so they'll have more space and not have to jam 5-6 babies in a nest only large enough for three. He found the plans online, just needs to get on it.

About time to get the cheeses out. We're having a wine and cheese tasting for our Harley Owners Group chapter. If the weather cooperates, folks can hang out at the pool and watch Spot watch them. But if the weather decides to actually share some rain with us, that would be good, too.

Later, y'all.

[kokosfriend]

Good story except for the crash. Hope he recovers OK

Barb

[Wanderlost]

Well, that was certainly another adventure.:R Headed out on a Saturday about midday (sister is not an early riser), and made it to Tyler, TX before my friend, who was following on his Goldwing, announced he was done being parbroiled for the day. It was seriously hot and he didn't have a way to rehydrate while riding.

Spent a quiet night cooling off and rehydrating, then the next morning stopped for fuel and prepared to head to Vicksburg. My friend did not look all the way through the turn from the station to the road, went over a curb, down an embankment, and into a concrete drainage ditch. The bike landed upright, but slammed him against the concrete, breaking his kneecap and two fingers. We spent the next couple of days helping him through surgery, insurance and motorcycle repair setup, and getting him back home to Virginia. Our 14-year-old nephew was remarkably calm through the process.

On to Vicksburg, finally. Oy! I've spent some time in really hot and humid parts of the world, but never have I encountered a wet bulb index like Vicksburg. We very much enjoyed the tours around town and the battlefield/siege lines, but the most precious thing of all was the car's air conditioning.

Next stop was Shiloh, partly via the Natchez Trace Parkway. Unlike Vicksburg, where the forest has grown up so much that it's almost impossible to see the siege lines as they looked in 1863, Shiloh still looks like it did during the battle. It was just as hot, but nowhere near as humid as Vicksburg, so I honestly enjoyed Shiloh a lot more.

Then we went to Corinth, MS, where we could see very little of the battlefield, thanks to development over the years. The Visitor Center gave us a great feel for the battles there, and we could see an occasional artillery emplacement, but far more interesting was the driving tour of the historic homes in town. Sister liked that best.

Trip home was not as enjoyable as the trip up (not counting my friend's accident), since nephew now wanted to be home and whined a lot. But we made it back in one piece, and he can say he's seen something few of his classmates have seen. She's talking about Gettysburg next, and looking at me to be the tour guide.:E

Spot and Alex were so happy to be home that they've hardly gone outside. Spot has taken up a new napping position, on the footrest of my recliner, where he can use my leg for a pillow. Seems each time we leave him at the vet, then bring him home, he gets more affectionate, as if he's really believing we're not going to abandon him.

Last night was interesting. Alex was being a bad boy and not coming in. I walked about with a flashlight, and as I passed the water trough, I saw a baby barn swallow floating in it. Oops, looked like a little one didn't make it. Then I saw it breathing, so I scooped it out and set it on the ground. It was definitely alive.

OooKay, how does one dry off a totally saturated and exhausted baby barn swallow? For a while, I held it in both hands, so it could warm up. It was 11:00 pm, 90 degrees, and just enough breeze that it was dangerous for the little critter. Couldn't take it inside -- two cats and too cold. So WLToo brought my Kindle and turned on the porch light, and I sat there holding the bird, who by now had a very firm grip on my hand, and read for a while. Every so often, I'd check to see if it was drying, and finally had WLToo bring a wash cloth to wrap around it and absorb some moisture. About midnight, it seemed to be dry enough to let it rest undisturbed, so we put it in a box and set it inside the garage, where it would be warm, quiet, and safe from predators.

At 0700, I woke to the feel of a 14.8 pound cat standing on my leg and kneading biscuits on my hip. Ouch. Oh, the bird! I bounced out of bed, disgruntling both cats, and went to check on the bird. It was dry, had moved out of the wash cloth and onto the shoebox paper, and looked up at me rather calmly. WLToo woke up and put the little thing back in the nest, where it is presently preening itself and getting fed. I do hope its next flight doesn't land it in the swimming pool...

Meanwhile, our deer herd has taken to strolling across the south porch several times a day in a line, looking in the windows. I guess that's a sign that we need to start watering the lawn again.

I see Spot is stalking a gecko again. Time to rescue it. Later, y'all.

[Wanderlost]

The boys went to the kitty hoosegau yesterday. We're taking a nephew to several Civil War battlefields. I expect sunburn and overheating to ensue. Sigh.

Time to fill my Camelback with ice. I'll start posting again in about a week.

[Wanderlost]

Finally identified the lizard as a female Texas spiny lizard. Unfortunately, it landed in the swimming pool and drowned.

We're in day four of turning the water on twice a day, then off the rest of the time. The plumber is ready to shoot his supplier, as he's ordered the wrong parts twice. This evening, the plumber will install a cut off valve on that hydrant, so we can have water to the house with our company here, while waiting for the replacement hydrant that he ordered.

Still waiting on my friend to arrive; hope he didn't dehydrate himself riding his Goldwing all the way from Virginia in this heat.

Spot and Alex decided it was much too hot to be outside, even with all the birds and lizards to chase. So they're zonked in the air conditioning.

WLToo saw our neighbor hand feeding only one deer this morning. Normally, the herd is all around her, but not today. Jane is babysitting two fawns in addition to her twins, and Solo has been in and out of the meadow a lot the last few days. He's only a year old and wants to be with Mama Doe still, but the other does do not want him in the meadow, Mama Doe or not.

I'm hot, time for a swim. Later, y'all.