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.

[Dashonthedash]

Wanderlost wrote:
but dang... Won't be attending the H.O.G. chapter Halloweed party tonight (grumble, complain)

I hope that was a typo :B:W

[Wanderlost]

Aarrgh! The humidity keeps changing day to day, so my sinuses are totally out of whack. Antihistimes, thyme tea, and naps in my recliner are keeping me reasonably functional, but dang... Won't be attending the H.O.G. chapter Halloweed party tonight (grumble, complain).

The bucks are on the prowl. WLToo is getting photos of as many as he can; I'll share some when he's done. There are some really magnificent racks, and some that are so messy they're funny.

The meadow is mostly yellow, covered in wildflowers. We managed to identify another one, while researching to see if it was one of the dreaded invasives. Nope, it's just Wild Angelica. Good. We have a food source already. Will transplant one into the keyhole garden.

We still have at least one hummingbird, although it does not come to the feeder much. The prolific wildflowers are providing most of its nectar.

Alex and Spot have decided inside is better for now. The temps dropped from the mid-80s yesterday to 50 today, with a stiff breeze. No need to turn on the heater, but we have donned long pants instead of our usual shorts. Naturally, the boys think that's the signal for long-term lap napping.

Meds time. Later, y'all.

[Wanderlost]

Mama Doe Lassie now comes up for her corn in the morning. She's leaving nose prints on the door glass...

Yesterday, as she ate, I noticed a fawn walking our fence line, and a larger fawn or doe down near the gate. I got the remote and opened the gate, and both of them strolled out and across the street. Mama Doe Lassie watched all this as she finished her corn. Then she looked at me, gave that little deer rumble sound several times, then trotted down the hill and out the gate. I guess she was telling me thanks for her not having to jump the fence. That's the second direct communication we've had. Apparently, she thinks I can be trained.....

WLToo is mowing the coastal bermuda around the house and garage. We're still leaving the rest of the meadow as a wildscape, since it's been filling in the bare spots so nicely. We might mow the meadow in December, just so we can scatter more wildflower and wild grass seeds, and cut back on the taller grasses so we can see the wildflowers bloom in March. Otherwise, we really like the natural look out there.

Not doing much wildlife observation right now, since my sinuses are so out of whack. Mostly just finding positions where I can breathe, then dealing with two cats who think those positions are ideal for cat naps. Wheeze.

Time for more antihistimines. Later, y'all.

[Wanderlost]

We're all fine. Been boondocking without internet access (and with a busted water heater). Love those RV adventures...

The boys have been taking turns getting into trouble, so it's been quite lively of late. Now that the weather's cooler, Spot is more than happy to play outside until we carry him inside. We returned yesterday from Costco with a box of stuff, to find Spot up on the kitchen counter, trying to open a collapsed cardboard box we were about to recycle, so he got yelled at. While we emptied the Costco box, Spot went out on the south porch. I called him, showed him the Costco box, and he couldn't get back into the house fast enough to get into that box. He had to have been born in a box...

Alex went hunting last night, not returning until 1:15 am, so he didn't go outside at all today. Doesn't seem to be bothering him much, though, so I guess the early stages of deer rut are freaking him out.

Speaking of deer, Mama Doe Lassie comes up, but barely eats much deer corn or veggies at all before she gets spooked and runs away. Solo joined her for a munch a couple days ago. Although he was born last year, he has very respectable spikes and still isn't particularly afraid of us, walking right up to the porch with Mama Doe Lassie and eating out of her dish. I did not stay outside to chat with Mama Doe Lassie that time -- don't really want to be that close to a buck with any size of antler.

We have a fair number of does hiding out in the meadow, and more than a few stags walking the fence line. Only the young and foolish ones have tried jumping into our meadow so far, and the does still run away. The two biggest bucks stay outside our meadow, but they seem to be getting most of the does' attention, from what we've seen.

We still have one or two hummingbirds, so the feeder is staying up, but we don't see too many visits. Got lots of wildflowers for them to feed from, and still plenty of bugs to eat, so these two tiny rufous are still here.

Monarch butterflies are passing through, so I've had quite a few land on me while moving about outside. It's not quite like when I was stationed at the Presidio of Monterey, CA, and the butterflies would literally cover my uniform trouser legs as I went from my apartment to car and back. Still, three or four Monarchs on bare legs can really tickle.

On bare legs: I do love living where I wear shorts 9 months of the year or more. I don't miss the winter clothes at all.

Well, my nose is running like a hose (one little change in the humidity and off it goes), so I'll stop now before I dribble on the keyboard.

Later, y'all.

[dogcomestoo]

How are you doing? If everyone OK?

[Wanderlost]

:S :B

Shoe/Shoo...love them homonyms...

[Dashonthedash]

"so we both went out to shoe Black Kitty back home". Is that what's called a Freudian Slipper? :B:B:R

[Wanderlost]

Yep, Susan, that Convenia shot is so worth the expense.

We got nearly 4" of much needed rain last night, with more in the forecast for today.

The native vegetation is amazing to watch. Within 24 hours of a good rain, everything brown has turned green. You can sit and literally watch the change.

Spot was being swooped upon by a large crow this morning. But the crow came very close to losing that little contest. For all that he weighs 16 pounds, Spot can be very fast when a potential birdie meal is coming his way. The crow retreated to the top of a power pole and complained for a while. Spot ignored him, in favor of staring down Black Kitty. But we didn't need him becoming involved in another fight, so we both went out to shoe Black Kitty back home. Spot is sleeping on the porch rocking chair now.

Time to do a couple things outside before the rain returns. Later, y'all.

[KLO]

So glad to here Spot is doing better. Those abscesses can be so hard on cats, skin heals over so quickly you don't know they are there. Sure enjoy reading about your life in South Texas!

[Code2High]

That Convenia shot is just the bomb, isn't it?

[Wanderlost]

Appreciate your interest in Spot, daverich.

WLToo mowed yesterday evening, in anticipation of rain. The fog's lifted, but it's nicely humid, so I have hopes of moisture.

[daverich]

We are just south of Kerrville. It is 10:17 and looks like it could rain any minute. I just mowed the grass yesterday so that will be a good thing. I have been enjoying your tails about Spot.

[Wanderlost]

Spot had a humdinger of an abcess. He heals so quickly that the cat fight dings healed up great, but left an abcess that required a new incision to drain. It was so sealed that I couldn't smell the abcess. The vet tech said when the doc made the slice, Spot didn't so much howl as make a relieved sound, as the gag-worthy gunk just poured out and the pressure went away. He then got a special long-lasting antibiotic shot (rather pay for that than try to stuff pills down him).

Interesting that he didn't howl during treatment, considering how much he hates being there. Normally, he growls and fusses and sometimes tries to bite. While he was getting his temperature taken and was being examined, he called them every name in his inventory, while trying to bury his head in my stomach. When they brought him back to me, still in the sack, and had me keep pressure on the new incision, he invented a few more obscenities. But the incision stopped bleeding much faster than most head cuts, so we were home not thirty minutes later, and he stayed inside all the rest of the day.

He's been dashing about outside this morning, chirping, playing and going on patrol. Obviously feels infinitely better.

We heard a thump yesterday afternoon, and knew that a hummingbird had hit something hard. A bit later, I went outside and saw a hummingbird sitting on the porch under a chair. Yep, little thing was a bit stunned. Not wanting Alex to get another bird, I urged the hummer onto my finger, intending to put it on a tree branch to finish recovering. Instead, the movement onto my finger brought the bird back to awareness, and it promptly flew away. That was a lot less work than rescuing the baby barn swallow was. Just call me the bird whisperer...

We had a number of does in the meadow yesterday. Looks like they are becoming wary of the bucks already.

WLToo's been working on a new service platform at the top of the windmill. Without that platform, makes it real hard to service the wheel and vane gear. Yesterday, he used primer to seal the angle iron that will hold the wood platform. He hung each angle iron from the porch hooks, and the hummingbirds just had to come check them out. We had a hummingbird ballet swooping up and down, looking over every inch of the angle iron.

No working on the windmill today or tomorrow, though, as rain and thunderstorms are forecast. We desperately need rain, so I hope it's more slow rain than thunderstorm.

Time to get moving. Later, y'all.

[Sue_Bee]

Hope Spot's spot is nothing much.

[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.