Visitor [cats]
Apr. 29th, 2025 02:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rebeccmeisterLast night, I heard a real ruckus coming from the basement. George and Martha will periodically play-wrestle, but when they do, they're mostly silent unless one or the other crosses a boundary, and then there might be a low growl or hiss. This sounded more like a full-on cat fight.
When I went down to investigate, I quickly discovered why: there was some other cat right outside one of the cats' favorite basement windows! The other cat retreated a ways when it noticed me.
George and Martha both like to jump up into the space between the foundation and the floor, as evidenced here:
They were both clearly Not Happy about the visitor, who I think I'll nickname Tiger Boy. Martha seemed to be mostly keeping her distance and keeping to herself, so I think it was George who got really worked up.
After watching us through the basement window while I calmed down George and Martha, Tiger Boy headed off, but not before pausing on the rear walkway for a backward glance.
For a while it seemed like there weren't any outdoor cats in our neighborhood, at all. But in addition to Tiger Boy, not too long ago I spotted a small black fluffy cat fighting with a big orange cat, about halfway up the block. So I suppose traffic has picked up.
We've been considering building a Catio off of this basement window. But if there are cats right outside, I'm not sure of how to do this in a way that will be good for all of the cats involved. It might be better to figure out something higher off the ground.
I should probably also figure out a way to give Tiger Boy a treat or two. He seems very much domesticated.
When I went down to investigate, I quickly discovered why: there was some other cat right outside one of the cats' favorite basement windows! The other cat retreated a ways when it noticed me.
George and Martha both like to jump up into the space between the foundation and the floor, as evidenced here:
They were both clearly Not Happy about the visitor, who I think I'll nickname Tiger Boy. Martha seemed to be mostly keeping her distance and keeping to herself, so I think it was George who got really worked up.
After watching us through the basement window while I calmed down George and Martha, Tiger Boy headed off, but not before pausing on the rear walkway for a backward glance.
For a while it seemed like there weren't any outdoor cats in our neighborhood, at all. But in addition to Tiger Boy, not too long ago I spotted a small black fluffy cat fighting with a big orange cat, about halfway up the block. So I suppose traffic has picked up.
We've been considering building a Catio off of this basement window. But if there are cats right outside, I'm not sure of how to do this in a way that will be good for all of the cats involved. It might be better to figure out something higher off the ground.
I should probably also figure out a way to give Tiger Boy a treat or two. He seems very much domesticated.
Thoughts
Date: 2025-04-29 09:40 pm (UTC)A catio can be built double-walled to keep community cats away from indoor cats, but this increases expense. If you have an alternate location that is less accessible, look into that -- but remember how well cats can climb. You may be stuck with the extra fencing even if you put it in a roof garden. It depends on the layout of your yard and neighborhood.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2025-04-30 07:18 pm (UTC)Thankfully I have plenty of time to contemplate how to proceed with any and all catio construction...lots of other projects to work on in the meantime. :^)
no subject
Date: 2025-04-29 09:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-04-30 07:18 pm (UTC)