During my time as co-ordinator of our local Cats Protection, I had a few cats that came to stay and never left!
I have always felt great sympathy for the feral cats that live in and around the urban areas of this country. Their lot is often a difficult and cruel one and it is only through the tireless work of charities such as Cats Protection, that their lot is made any easier. Our policy was usually to trap and neuter, blood test and treat any injuries or illnesses and replace on site where possible. Sadly adult feral cats are not usually easy to turn around into “acceptable” pet cats – although there are always exceptions. I particularly used to love the smelly old evil tempered, torn eared toms that after neutering would quite often decide it was time to become a fireside cat!
Kittens under 8 weeks old and sometimes older could often be turned around with patience and sensitive handling, but often our only option with the older kittens was to neuter and return to their colony.
This is the story of 6 feral cats who would love you to believe that they are still nervous of humans and love the wild life……. But I know better!!!!!
Stumpy is a short haired black and white who came to me with his 5 brothers and sisters from the local rubbish tip, aged approx 10-12 weeks old. As his name suggests he has only a tiny stump of a tail, whether by birth or by accident is unknown. Although his siblings very gradually came round and left for new homes Stumpy remained obstinately “wild” and very handy with claws and teeth. By this time I had become quite fond of this feisty little cat and decided to give him free run of the garden and the private little wood behind. I would put down food and water for him and provide shelter and it would be up to him whether he stayed or not. Duly neutered and vaccinated, Stumpy decided he was going nowhere. He declined to come near us or to come indoors but nevertheless liked to be where he could see us. 2 years on and on Christmas Day he made my Christmas by suddenly jumping on to my lap and snuggling down for a cuddle! Since then he and I have never looked back. He will jump on my lap and shower me with little kisses and allows gentle strokes. He still runs from anyone else, but he is a very contented cat.
Blue is a shorthaired blue cat with white bib and very distinguished looking. He arrived shortly after Stumpy at 11.15pm one night, when a man from a local chemical plant arrived with a hissing, spitting bundle, who was the sole survivor of a litter born in the plant – the kittens and mum had been seen walking along gantries above the vats below. Blue was older and very wild. He was completely petrified and just didn’t want to know. There was obviously no chance he could go back on site and so I decided to let him have the freedom of the garden and hoped that he would stick around and latch onto Stumpy. The two quickly became the best of friends and as Stumpy came round, Blue very quietly followed suit. He has turned out to be the most gentle of cats, although timid and he and Stumpy will now come for a “double cuddle” where they both lean against my legs so I can stroke them together.
Alfie and Mikey are 2 little tabby cats, one brown and one silver, both born to feral mums and both with a condition called cerebellar hypoplasia. This means that they have an element of brain damage and a very wobbly gait. They frequently fall over and find it difficult to balance. When they walk they look as though their limbs are “wind-milling” and they cannot walk in straight lines, although strangely this improves if they run. Obviously, if left to live the feral life, they would not survive for long. Both were the only affected kittens in their litters. Many vets advocate the humane destruction of kittens born with this condition on the grounds that they will never live a normal life. In my opinion this is completely wrong and such a waste of life. Some people who see Alfie and Mikey re-act with horror and cannot understand why they have been allowed to live. Anyone who knows these two would completely disagree. They have free run of the garden, which is escape proof – particularly to cats that cannot climb well. They love to be outside and Alfie, in particular, loves people. They have huge appetites and if they fall over whilst eating as they do frequently, the other wildies just step over them and carry on. They love to chase butterflies and Alfie occasionally and triumphantly catches worms! They are probably the healthiest cats I’ve ever had. The other wildies go out and come back with mice and birds which they will drop at Alfie and Mikey’s feet and then sit back and watch them eat. One day they brought Alfie a whole wood pigeon which he was so proud of and guarded as though he had caught it himself. The little female, Ruby, gives both cats an all over wash at least once a day. If I hadn’t seen this for myself I wouldn’t have believed it. I wouldn’t have believed that other cats would look after 2 disabled cats like that or feel such responsibility for feeding them. For those of you who are not too squeamish, Max even brings back semi-stunned prey, as a mother would to kittens, as if trying to teach them to fend for themselves. The only downfall of these two lovely cats is that they can’t balance well enough to reliably use a litter tray. Sadly we lost Alfie last year following a stroke, we miss him very much.
Max and Ruby came to me as older kittens when their mother was killed on the road. Fortunately they had been born in someone’s garden who had been keeping an eye on them and we were quickly called when they realised that mum had disappeared. Ruby is blue and white and very, very timid. She won’t yet let herself be touched, but she likes to lie near you in the garden and doesn’t run until you are within 6 feet of her.
Max is also quite timid but getting braver by the month. He will now allow the odd stroke, particularly if Blue or Stumpy is around. He is very dapper with the shiniest black coat, a pristine white vest and the longest tail I’ve seen. He is (sadly) a hunter par excellence and even catches squirrels.
Because Alfie and Mikey cannot use litter trays and because all 6 of my cats like to retain the illusion that they are still wildies and totally independent, they have free access to their own heated shed complete with heated beds and plenty of food. Their dried food comes largely from the sample bags given out at shows and my Siamese’s Hill’s vouchers for Best of Breed, Best in Show etc. I quite like the idea that my pampered pedigrees are supporting their feral friends!
Because I breed Siamese I obviously cannot risk outdoor cats mixing with the pedigrees, and it therefore seems to suit us all that the wildies live their own very comfortable lives with total freedom to come and go. The Siamese find their antics quite riveting and they can often be seen sitting on the window sills watching – particularly watching Alfie and Mikey who they become quite transfixed by!
