I don't expect this entry to get much attention and probably even fewer comments - none deserves fewer. I am the first to admit this is not about any significant socio-political issue that dominates recent conversations here and elsewhere. But, as is true of about half the BLOGS I write, this one is for personal ventilation. The kind of of exhalation required for no nobler purpose than to rid one's self of stale, acrid air and to breathe in some that is fresh. In a sense, it falls in the "rant" category but in a kindler, gentler way. It is a topic that I think of often as it befits a simple mind. At the same time, if I would allow it, the thoughts would birth one of those irrational, passion-filled diatribes we occasionally witness on Blogcritics that does no one - including the author - any good, whatsoever. A little background may shed some light on the murky waters upon which this discourse, uninteresting as it is, floats.…
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26 - Nancy
You have COUGARS behind your house?! COOL! That ought'a take care of the rednecks hangin' around outside working on their trucks up on cinderblocks & blasting C&W at the top of the sound scale! Wish we had a few around my place....
27 - HW Saxton
Nancy,I live in the desert in S.Nevada
and as the building gets closer to the
mountains Cougars are being spotted way
more than they used to be,which is
fairly frequently. We have Bobcats as
well but they are actually more elusive.
The Cougars come down from the high
desert hills at night and make raids to
places on the far reaches of the 'burbs.
Sometimes this means Fluffy and Rover
get brought into the chain unfortunately
for them.I've seen them in the wild and
at a meat processing plant once way out
on the edge of town where they would
come and raid the scrap bins. I imagine
the smell of blood, fat, rotting meat
scraps must put out an aroma that they
find hard to resist.They all look very
healthy though as there is an abundance
of whitetail deer in the hills as well
as wild horses and mountain sheep.
28 - Nancy
We've got a few, mainly in the myriad state parks, etc. along w/the bobcats & smaller predators. Lately we've had bears, and now coyotes, who have even taken up residence down in Rock Creek Park, in the heart of DC, w/in a mile or so of the W.H. Deer are all over the place. They stand next to the roads, either contemplating suicide or thinking about getting in to passing cars & hitching rides.
29 - Nancy
Odd that the cougars would take to dining on pets, tho: they much prefer deer, even tho harder to catch. Maybe it's your friendly neighborhood coyotes. They'll make off w/anything doesn't run faster than they do.
30 - HW Saxton
Nancy, Yes the coyotes around this part
of the country (and everywhere else I'm
guessing) ARE notorious for eating up
small dogs and house cats. As well as
their pet food too,which seems to help
to attract them. In the case of these
cougars I think they have killed the pet
dogs maybe not so much to eat but rather
as a more territorial thing.But that is
just my theory.I know that at the meat
packing plant I mentioned previously in
this thread that they had put pit bulls
on guard in the area around their trash
dumpsters and one of the pits was mauled
beyond any recognition.That would take
many coyotes but a good sized Puma would
have no problem there at all.There are
many deer here in the desert but you
have to go up around where the tinmber-
line starts to find them in abundance.
Or at least well out on open high desert
range lands where they will share the
natural water holes that the cattle out
there utilize and where are not too many
people around.
31 - Bennett
Here in VT we have lots of coyotes, and I enjoy hearing them sing off in the woods that surround my home. It raises the hackles on my dog's neck... They don't come close to my house because my lab/sheppard is pretty good at marking the perimeter.
Pretty sure it was a cougar that got the pittbull, coyotes have no interest in that sort of thing.
They are the brightest of the canine family, highly social, and the only large wild carnivore that has continued to expand its range despite human population growth.
True survivors.
32 - Bennett
Ron, I really enjoyed reading this piece this morning. When I was a bachelor living in the bay area, I tamed a feral kitten that was living in a drain pipe near our home.
SEMI-tamed. He would hang with you, eat the cat food, and accept attention. But if you got even a tiny bit too familiar (scratching his stomach at the wrong time) he would rip you up so fast it was scary.
When he started attacking my legs as I walked past the rose bushes (bloody scratches), I encouraged him to move along.
Thanks for the memory stimulent!
33 - Eric Olsen
a very dulcet, sweet humane story Ron, thanks! I agree with Lisa that if you improve your immediate surroundings, you improve the world.
One of our two cats was a stray kitten my son found almost emaciated to death and brought home. "Just until he's healthy again," I said over two years ago. He's sweet and tame but keeps the mouse population down in the yard - good kitty.
34 - dietdoc
Bennett writes: "SEMI-tamed. He would hang with you, eat the cat food, and accept attention. But if you got even a tiny bit too familiar (scratching his stomach at the wrong time) he would rip you up so fast it was scary"
Reply: There us something about getting to the underside of a feral cat...they just DO NOT allow that. They know, I think, that is where they are most vulnerable and they don't - not matter how much food you give them - give that territory up. I have noticed the same thing with past cat encounters of the 3rd kind.
Cheers,
Ron
35 - Caitllin
This was already addressed above, but get 'em fixed. It may seem like an incredibly amount of work, but actually it has become quite common. Check out http://www.neighborhoodcats.org . There are quite a few volunteers around who, if you are willing to help out, can get those cats fixed for you. Also, hide the food, and don't make a mess. Nothing gets cats killed faster than when someone draws attention to them. Kittens can be tamed and adopted into homes.
And you are right to equate care for animals with care for other humans and the world. If I had to pick a neighbor, would I want one who feels bad for a stray and puts out food, or one who can turn away and let it starve without a twinge of conscience? The eight-year-old who worries about kittens, or the eight-year-old who kicks them out of the way? The person who stops for a cat is likely to stop for crying child. A person who involves himself is not going to turn away when a human is in need. Thanks so much for this post.
36 - dietdoc
Caitllin: Thanks for the wonderful link to the T/N/R site. It was most helpful and informative. Who knew a little dietary garlic can help prevent flea infestation in the lil' buggers? I had thought of the "moat" around their outside food for preventing ants - a really big problem down here in the southeast. What I have found even more effective, since we have the aggressive red ant variety everywhere, is to spray a small amount of pet-safe insecticide on the bottom of their dish (only the part touching the ground). It works great to keep the viscious little reds at bay. They can feed later on what the cats spill out of the bowl.
Again, thanks for the useful comments.
Cheers,
Ron
37 - Nancy
Y'wanna see a really BIG kitty? Check out Hercules the Liger on snopes.com. My fave photo is the one w/this gigantic 1/2-ton pussycat & a baby bottle, his eyes screwed up in bliss as he nurses. Pretty funny. Hate to clean that kitty box, tho. ;)
38 - Greenconsciousness
Do you know about Trap, Neuter, Return? Ally Cat Allies will help you!
http://www.alleycat.org/
Stormy the ex-feral wishes you good luck!
39 - dietdoc
Greencounsciousness, thanks for the heads-up. Seems there are a whole slew of cat lovers up here who do still give a hoot and a hollar about the "lesser" (used facetiously here) creatures that we have around us. Even in our darkness days as a civilization, I have hope when there are people, such as those responding with such love and compassion - and those not wearing de riguer "Save The Feral Cats" wristbands and seeking recognition - just doing something that just feels right. I still have, shrinking as it is, that we have some shreds of love left and we always will as long as we share that inner voice that says "help where, how and what you can."
Tangentially, terrorist only make it a stronger voice becauses the contrast of unconditional love stands in stark contrast to unconditional hate and savagery.
OK, I'll climb off the soapboz now.
Thansk to you all for making this a worthwhile exercise.
Love you guys and gals,
Ron
40 - Jasmin
Thank you for at least making their lives better. You may want to consider TNR (www.alleycat.org for more info).
I saw an earlier post regarding FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). Many cats can live a long and healthy life. It doesn't have to be an immediate death sentence. FIV is not easily transmittable. Usually through infected mothers, and or deep bite wounds is the way it can be spread. I've rescued many an FIV positive cat. They can have a pretty good life.
For more information, check out:
http://www.bestfriends.org/theanimals/petcare/cats_fiv.cfm
Jasmin
Jasmin