more projects

I've been busy recently working on all sorts of house projects. One interesting trend I've noticed is that projects that somehow involve the cats seem to rise on the priority list and thus get done first. Weird, must just be odd coincidence.

Here are a few of my recent projects:

The new built in feeder in the garage needed shelves under it to store extra foods.

before

As you can see, the space where the feeder went was wasted space before. Lots of crap piled high on an old wood stove that the former occupants used but I never touched. So, stove and crap go bye bye, feeder and shelves get constructed and ta-dah, space is useful!

after

Oliver's guest house was occupying the back porch as a means to keep the red cat bed from sitting on the floor. When it got moved back outside, I needed something to hold his day bed off the floor. So, I scrounged up some old shipping pallets and used the materials to build a simple sturdy piece of feral furniture. The beauty of this project was that it cost me only a few hours time, all the materials were reused scrap, even the nails!

feral approved!

Most kitty guardians work hard to keep their cats from getting on the kitchen counters, so why would I build a special folding step to assist the cats to get onto the counter?!

The shelf is for Buddy. After watching him try to jump onto the counter numerous times and fail to make it, I thought I had better figure something out before he hurt himself. So, I built him this folding shelf. It folds down so the cabinet can be accessed. Now, Buddy can go up and down from the counter without fear of injury.

One of the bigger projects I have been working on now for awhile is to wire the house and property for a secure computer network. The purpose is two-fold, a wired network will provide faster access to external hard drives which store photos and backups of my personal files and I am planning to install network cameras around the property, so you all can watch Oliver and his feral family play, eat and do whatever else ferals do! I suppose, I might watch too! :)

Future project that is in planning stages:

Oliver's family sleeps during the day somewhere on the property of the house across the street from me. They only come here during the night, where they spend the entire night hanging out with Oliver. The house across the street is a rental has recently has been undergoing a significant remodel in anticipation of a new family moving in. I fear that if a family moves in with younger children then Oliver's family may not feel safe sleeping there anymore. So, I want to be prepared for that possibility by having a suitable comfortable housing option for them here.

Behind the garage is currently wasted space, with a pile of old lumber. My plan is to clean out that space and convert the pile of lumber into feral housing. The location is hidden and relatively undisturbed, so hopefully it would be quiet and safe.

Site of new feral housing project

I'm also planning to build some holding pens in the garage for TNR cats who are either waiting for transport to the spay/neuter clinic or are recovering after visiting the clinic. So much to do, so little time!

wordless wednesday

nip motherlode!

My catnip dealer (who shall remain nameless) recently delivered two large catnip plants to our front door!! WOW!!

Back in May I posted about the sad fate of some catnip plant starts another friend had given me. I vowed to learn from that experience and do better this time.

These plants are giant, so hopefully it will be more difficult for me to kill them!

Oliver checking out the quality of the bud

I decided to locate the catnip over by the fence, between the Dining Hall and Oliver's house. The weeds had grown tall here, so this was going to require a lot of work to prep for planting the nip.

Before

While I was busily breaking my back and pulling weeds in the blistering sun, Theo and Nahum supervised from the window.

Oliver thought it best to supervise Theo and Nahum's supervising. Projects always go better when there are several layers of management.

When Oliver wasn't supervising my labor, he continued his rigorous quality control tests. No need to go to all the hard work to relocate the nip if it's not of good quality.

Oliver has a very relaxed management style, meaning he relaxes while he supervises my hard labor!

After

Catnip plants, relocated and protected by a temporary chicken wire fence. The fence is to keep the ferals from butchering the plant before it has a chance to thrive. If the ferals enjoy the nip in moderation the fence may go away, if they abuse the nip, I'll install a more permanent fence. Remember, always use in moderation!

Then comes the product testing with a real live feral cat.

11:37 pm

This cat looks to be enjoying the fresh nip.

11:37 pm

The old "eat the nip over the back" maneuver. Must be some good nip!

taming feral kittens

The Community Cat Coalition, the group I am a part of here, puts on a number of classes for the community on how to take care of feral cats. This past winter I went to Introduction to TNR basic class, which was very helpful. Apparently there are lots of people in this area who want to learn how to TNR and so they put on the basic class every month or so. I'm thrilled to know there are that many people out there who want to become more active in taking care of the community cats.

This past weekend's class was on how to tame feral kittens so they can be adopted out. I figured this would be good information to learn in case someday I trap feral kittens, now I'll know how to tame them so they can find good forever homes rather than remain homeless. There was oodles of helpful information presented by several people with lots of experience. I love that kittens that would have grown up homeless are cared for so they can find good homes, where they'll be spoiled and loved on just as cats should be!

Joy of joys, there were even feral kittens present for us to socialize!

This was my kitten

Laura elected not to attend this class because she was afraid if she went she might come home with a kitten. I somehow made it through without taking any home with me! These littles one are so precious, I'm so thankful they are getting loves and plays rather than trying to survive on the streets. 

Their little blue eyes are stunning

One of the things I learned was the importance of giving them lots of contact from different people including children and other pets and gradually introducing them to all sorts of day to day sounds, like television, radio, kitchen appliances, vacuum, etc. so they learn not to be scared of them.

I would love to foster and tame feral kittens someday, however I think I need to work through my cat-attachment issues more before I am ready. I don't think I could give them up when the time came to adopt them out. I learned from the more experienced people at the class, that it is common to experience significant heart ache, especially when giving up the first litter of foster kittens.

After the class was done, one of the experienced teachers gave a brief demonstration on how to microchip and vaccinate kittens. I don't think I'll be doing that myself, no thanks! However, it was good to see that the kittens didn't seem bothered by any of it.

I think I'll attend some of the other upcoming classes too, particularly one on how to relocate ferals into a barn cat lifestyle and maybe the bottle baby class. I love that these resources are available here! I may not be using some of these skills right now, but one never knows when it might come in handy!

weekend wrap up

It's rare to get five cats in one picture, especially when one of those cats is Oliver.

Rose was also on the front porch but outside of the camera shot. 

This weekend we finally got some hots! This was the warmest weekend we have had all year, the temps actually got to about 85°F (29°C)! The house stays fairly cool due to big trees that block most of the sun from beating on the house and we are close enough to Puget Sound that we usually get a cool breeze off the ocean that flows right through the house. Believe it or not our house actually stays cool, to cold for most of the summer. In fact just a few days ago, I had to put an extra blanket on the bed!

The warm temperature meant opening the windows for the first time this summer! The cats loved having the windows open! They have to be supervised when the windows are open because Oliver has a way of jumping up onto the outside windowsill which drives Buddy bonkers. I wouldn't want them tangling through the screen as I'm sure it would not hold back a crazed Buddy.

The hots are over now, we're back into the 70's for the rest of the week, which are our normal summer temps. That was our summer!

The Kickeroo isn't cushy enough for Buddy, he needs the Kickeroo and the fish toy!

Marble

Maine Kitties asked me about the status of Marble, the sweet kitty I met in Colorado who was needing a home. I hadn't heard anything in awhile, so I followed up with my friend who was housing him. Apparently Marble will be going with the woman who has bonded with him when she moves out of my friend's house. So, it looks like Marble has a home! Yea!!

A few other exciting things happened this weekend too, like a special nip delivery from our nip dealer and I attended a class on taming feral kittens, but you'll have to stay tuned to hear more about those exciting things.

this moment

Yesterday I read something that wrenched my heart, causing me to pause in my day and to breathe in that moment in time. Robin from Covered in Cat Hair wrote about facing the possibility of her beloved cat, Spencer, having cancer which might require him to lose one or both of his precious soft ears. To compound the pain further, Robin had lost her cat Bob, from cancer less than a year ago.

As I wiped the tears from my face and prayed for Robin and Spencer, my thoughts drifted over to my life. Every moment in time is unique, and one never knows when the fragile balance of joy will be shattered into a million pieces. In that moment, I realized too often do I focus on the unsettled places of my heart.

However, in this moment, I note that everyone in my life is generally well. Nahum, Willow, Theo, Rose, and Buddy are alive, healthy and well. Each night I worry about the outside cats, wondering if they will make it through another day in the wild, yet in this moment, to the best of my knowledge, Oliver, MK, Brown Kitty, Gilbert and the other two members of Oliver's family are alive and well. Laura is healthy, my parents, brothers and friends are alive and living their lives. The house is standing, the electricity is flowing and the lights illuminated. The car runs and we both have employment. Gratitude feels palpable.

I also know any or all of these things could change without warning in any moment.

In time the cats will age, have health problems and eventually die. In this moment, all is well. The pain of that future moment will be known in time, but now, in this moment there is health and aliveness. Oh to somehow capture this moment in an inviolable bottle, with hopes of one day remembering, reawakening and re-experiencing the fullness of when everyone was alive, well and whole. But powerless am I to confine time, I can only hold this moment in the softness of my heart, watching and grieving as I see it pass, hoping time will be kind to me in the moment that follows.

---

I was recently inspired to try my hand at some kitty haiku.

Tummy furs upright Leg on hand, hand in motion Purr never ending

Velvety warm ears Endless playful energy Silken fluff abounds

Thursday Night Championship Tussling

Match 1

Bob:	Well, Jim, I think we are in for an exciting night of tussle action.

Jim:	You got that right Bob! By the end of the two upcoming matches we'll know if the reining tussle champion is able to hold onto his position. First off we'll see Theo challenge Nahum for the championship title! That'll be a dandy for sure! And it'll be followed up with a seniors match.

Bob:	I see Buddy's the field-ref for this first match, Jim, isn't it a bit unusual to have a field ref for a carpeted tussle?

Jim:

Well, you know Bob, because this is part of the 2012 Pacific Northwest Championship Tussle Series, the rules require a ref be right by the action. Having the ref on the field is gonna require the tusslers to hold to a more traditional style of tussle, I doubt we'll see much freeform tussling today, which may really work against Theo in this one.

Buddy:

Ok boys, lets have a clean tussle. You know the rules, so I ain't goin over it all again, I say this once, tails are off limits, I see you goin for the tail, your done, dat clear?! As always, the one who backs off first loses the match. May the best cat win! Alright, Ready... Set... GO!!!

Jim:	Nahum starts as he often does with a textbook stink-eye.

Bob:	I don't think the stink-eye's really gonna have much effect on Theo. I was talking with his coach before the match and learned that Theo's been training with Willow lately, and she's a master of the stink-eye, apparently he's learned a very effective counter move.

Jim:	Oh my, Bob, did you see that? Theo takes the floor position first, that does not bode well for him. Nahum clearly is starting with the upper paw in this match.

Bob:	Yes, Jim, Theo does look a little dazed at the moment, however something about that right front paw tells me he's up to something. He might not be as dazed as he's making it out to be.

Jim:	You called it Bob! Theo pulled one over on the champion and now he's making him pay with the classic back-paw-rake across the eye routine. That's gotta hurt!

Bob:	Nahum's clearly a seasoned champion, did you see how he so quickly shifted out from Theo's paw-rake and is now about to give Theo his first leg chomp?

Jim:	You know Bob, that's what makes this Championship Series so exciting to watch, these tusslers really know their tussle. The action is non-stop, each move is so perfectly matched, it's move, counter-move and move.

Bob:	So, Jim, back before time, when you were Tussle Champion, did you ever face such a fierce competitor as Nahum?

Jim:

You know Bob, I had my tough tussles in my day, but things were different back then. Since the mandatory nip testing came into effect the caliber of tussle just hasn't been the same. Now watch close Bob, Theo sure looks like he's settling into his form, his paws are really starting to move, this might be starting to get Nahum off balance.

Bob:	If Theo's going to win this, he'll have to really connect with those paws. He's often called the "fastest paw in the west" and tonight, I think we're seeing why. If Nahum doesn't start countering some of those swats, we may be having a new champion tonight!

Jim:	All this paw action has got to be wiping Theo out. He's got to be one tired cat, how much longer can he keep the swats coming? This might just be a waiting game for Nahum as Theo tires himself out.

Bob:	Well, I think we know the answer now Jim, Theo just backed off - the match is over!

Jim:	Nahum has done it again! Congratulations Nahum, he's once again successfully defended his Champion Tussle Title!

Bob:	Impressive indeed. That was one of the better matches we've seen in a while. Remarkable the ref never called a foul, a clean match all round.

Jim:	We need to take a break and we'll be right back with the second match of the night.

---

Gratuitous halftime show:

---

Match 2:

Bob:	Ok, we're back now for the second part of tonight's double match set. In this match we'll have Nahum taking on Buddy in a friendly tussle - that means Nahum's champion status is not on the line for this match.

Jim:	Well, that'll certainly ease the pressure on Nahum, which's good as he's got to be pretty tired from that first match with Theo. It looks like we are about to get underway now.

Bob:

Nahum's starting things off with his teaser pose. This move involves luring his opponent to his soft tummy furs, only to be done in with his patented "paws-of-death" move. It's an open posture that quickly leads to the surprise lightening-fast offense, which usually brings a quick victory. When the teaser pose works, it's a one and done deal.

Jim:

Be sure to watch Nahum's eyes. You see, a critical part of this move involves the eyes, he gazes at his opponent, inviting him to the tummy furs with his soft, beckoning eyes. If he messes up the subtle eye-work then this move will really work against him because Buddy could easily take advantage of Nahum's vulnerable position on the floor.

Bob:	Now this is really unusual Jim, Buddy's not taking the bait. Nahum's really taken a big risk by staying with this move for so long when it doesn't appear to be working. He's giving Buddy plenty of time to fine tune his strategy. And what's this now?

Jim:	Oh my! Nahum really seems desperate now! Just look at that! He's giving Buddy the over the back gaze. If he's not careful, Buddy will end this really quick, giving Nahum a major upset.

Bob:	Yea, Jim, I'm not getting why Nahum's so invested in his teaser pose. He's really playing right into Buddy's paws.

Jim:	This is really unheard of. Maybe the impact of all those Theo swats to the head from the first match is catching up to him. His insistence of holding the teaser pose is really going to be his undoing.

Bob:	I think you're right Jim!

 ding! ding! ding!

Bob:	And Jim, that's the match! The bell has rung and Buddy successfully outlasted Nahum to take the friendly tussle. What that match lacked in action it made up for in strategy, wow!

Jim:

Indeed Bob, this will be one of those matches that will be talked about for a long time to come. It's certainly one of the things I have come to love about tussles, each is unique and impossible to predict the outcome. Who would've predicted that Buddy would take the match without even raising a paw?! Buddy's really good at out thinking his opponent. You know the media will be pushing Nahum to explain his thinking with that prolonged teaser pose move.

Bob:	And I'm eager to hear what he says on that one, I'm still quite puzzled myself.

Jim:	Well everyone, the tussles have once again come and gone. What a night! Thanks to the participants in tonights tussles and a special thank you to Willow, for providing the enticing halftime show! Thanks everyone for tuning in and until next time, remember to keep those paws sharp!

* A special thanks also goes to the fine folks and cats over at Cat Confidential for inspiring this post by reminding me about my favorite commentators, Bob and Jim!