I thought it was really cold out today, but the James’ Gang Colony stayed true to feral form and were not cooped up in their three heated cat houses. Instead they lounged in the sun all day and showed off their thick winter coats. They only moved when I came out with more wet food for them multiple times. The food froze if they didn’t eat it immediately, so I brought a little bit out all day. They have me trained well.
Dash and Funny Face lounge on the catio even in the winter.
Dice even decided to nap on the roof of the Feral Villa, instead of staying in it.
I’m free, I’m feral, I’m not going to stay cooped up all day.
Ear tips and puffy winter coats are always in style for colony cats.
Robert F. Cattedy first showed up in my yard this past June. He was a bold and beautiful tabby, and looked a lot like my cat Mowpa. Mowpa died this past winter and I miss him terribly. I thought for sure I was going to adopted Robbie into my home because he seemed friendly.
Robert F. Cattedy takes over my yard and pays no attention to Dice.
I trapped Robbie right away in a humane Tru-catch trap. He acted fierce and feral and wouldn’t look at me, so I took him for his TNR spa treatment at the clinic.
He never seemed to calm down during his recovery, so I decided to return him outside. He was not destined to be adopted into my home after all.
Robbie came back to visit a few times, but he never let me near him. The James’ Gang Colony cats in my yard did not seem willing to accept him. They had a few stand-offs.
Funny Face faces off with Robbie.
Eventually Robbie stopped visiting.
About a month ago I got an email from another neighbor who told me about a cat visiting her yard. It turns out it was Robert F. Cattedy! I was familiar with her block because I had seen orange cats over there and named her alley the Ginger Colony. She is feeding him, providing him with outdoor shelter, and named him Newt. He is also going in and out of her home. She said he is welcome to stay indoors permanently if he chooses to do so. I knew he was somewhat friendly, and am happy to see he found a home more fitting for him.
This also shows how important it is to network with other neighbors. The cats are fed in other people’s yards, and it’s great to know they are cared for by the whole community. That is part of a successful TNR program.
We added another feral cat shelter to our yard yesterday. Now we have three wood shelters for the cat colony to choose from, and all three will have heating pads. The original cat house is to the right with the cat feeding station, and the new one is on the left, made from following Alley Cat Allies’s instructions. There is also a Feral Villa hidden behind plants in the middle. Can you see Dash and Dice checking everything out?If you want to see examples of outdoor cat houses, or learn how to make one, there are two events today, 10/27, to choose from.
In Uptown, if you want to learn how to make outdoor cat shelters, or purchase one, Tree House Humane Society is hosting their annual Winter Preparedness Fest from 1-4pm, at 1212 W. Carmen.
They will have community cat shelters for sale for $15 and $20. Here’s an example of their larger $20 Rubbermaid bin feral cat shelter. There is enough room for 2-3 cats in there.
You might even get lucky and see Al, their resident outdoor colony cat.
I’m not sure if the James’ Gang Colony is actually protesting anything. But they are definitely, and deliberately, ignoring me here. Dice and Funny Face, the boys on the roof, like to keep an eye on their escape route, while Bouncy Bear snuggles inside and keeps a close watch on their feral cat feeding station.
My James’ Gang Colony cats weren’t around much yesterday after it snowed. Today I shoveled out the cat paths in my yard and swept off the snow from their favorite sunning spots. They came right away. Cats need to stay dry in order to stay warm in the winter.
Honey, Dice and Springy stay warm and dry in the winter sun.
Good morning from the James’ Gang Colony cats in my yard! I found Dice and Honey Bouncy Bear doing just fine in the colder weather. They were snuggling in the cat house, but they came right out for breakfast.
Dawn 
