Continuing the cavalcade of Caturday!

Last weekend the cinderblock that the outdoor cat cam is housed within was knocked over:

Upon reviewing the footage, apparently that happened as a result of an encounter between the alien orange cat, Pumpkin, and two of our ferals, one in the feeder, and one on top of the camera housing:

When the latter took off at great speed, it was enough force to dislodge the block, resulting in this exciting view of the ground:

One day I plan to build a nice wooden housing for the camera, but it isn’t a high priority, so the stack of cinderblocks will suffice for now.

One peek at a couple of cats inside:

Another alien cat encounter, between the gray cat (Paladout) and Porcini:

After coming up behind unnoticed, she went around the back and hissed at him from the other side:

Here Porcini is having a good stretch while licking her lips after eating:

Four cats (one eating, three outside):

A raccoon looking at the camera:

Chasing a bug:

Another orange cat encounter; the feral is eating breakfast, oblivious to Pumpkin:

Then notices, and runs away:

Three cats, one looking at a bird:

A couple of cats on the deck, a couple relaxing by the tree:

Bella bapping a bug:

Porcini staring at a spider:

Saturday means Caturday, checking in with the feral cats we care for.

Two cats sleeping inside the cat house shelter:

Reaching for a bug on the wall below the feeder camera:

Up close:

The alien gray cat and Poppy; she just wandered off, and let the gray cat finish eating:

Three cats looking at something (probably Rory on the deck):

Sleepy cats:

Chasing a moth:

Three cats inside the shelter, when the gray cat visits after midnight:

Three snuggly cats:

Still three upstairs, when one more arrives:

Spud staring at a bug:

Four cats inside; I also saw Spud in the feeder again at this time. It’s rare to see all five cats, but I’m glad when I do; it’s nice to confirm that they’re all still alive:

Those aren’t cats: two raccoons inside:

The alien gray cat arrives, followed by the alien orange cat:

Both are probably pet cats of neighbors. We’ve named the orange cat Pumpkin, but haven’t named the gray cat (which has a collar, so is definitely a pet). Since he looks like an outdoor edition of our cat Paladin, maybe we should call him Paladout? 😉

Orange and gray cats:

Two cats, doing the feral startled stare:

The gray cat arrives when one of our ferals is sitting next to the deck; they seem to be somewhat getting used to each other:

Two cats sniffing noses in greeting:

Poppy has been spending several hours each night sleeping in the shelter, which makes me happy; she was a very good mother to her kittens, and deserves a comfortable retirement:

Welcome to Caturday!

Three cats, with the one coming out of the shelter having a good stretch:

Peeking around the corner, while waiting for breakfast:

Snuggles:

A raccoon walking down a tree; they are really good at climbing:

Four cats:

Dinner queue:

More snuggles; they haven’t been using the shelter very much of late, so I enjoy seeing when they do:

Three cats:

A fourth arrives:

Porcini looking at a bug on the wall below the camera:

Four cats:

Raccoon:

Possum:

Pumpkin, the alien orange cat:

Daytime raccoon:

Pepper in the shop:

Two cats, with chairs in the field for our party today:

I expect the cats will avoid visiting tonight, with more humans and dogs roaming around. Hopefully they’ll fill up before that.

Pansy reaching for kibble in the back of the shop:

Raccoons are usually only active at night, but one has been visiting after dawn, raiding the breakfast dispensed for the cats:

Two cats:

Two cats drinking from fountain; there are more convenient (and cleaner) water sources, but maybe they like the tadpole flavor:

A cat laying on the ground, and another arriving for dinner:

Porcini chasing a bug while waiting for breakfast:

Three cats at breakfast time:

Porcini cautiously watching me as I come out the front door:

A twin relaxing on the front steps:

Two cats at dinnertime:

Two cats the next day:

A late raccoon again (probably the same one); licking its lips at the raided food:

Two cats inside; they haven’t been in there much recently:

One reason why, perhaps: a raccoon inside:

Three cats for breakfast:

The raccoon again, at 07:23 this morning; I don’t think I’ve ever seen one about that late:

I had adjusted the feeder schedule to dispense after dawn, to avoid the raccoons, but this one seems to have learned that. And learned the sound of food being dispensed; I’ve seen it come back after food appears. I’m not sure what else I can do; I can’t manually dispense food when I see a cat (which is what I often do in the evenings, as I try to avoid leaving anything by dusk). It’s frustrating.

This morning I did keep a close eye on the feeder, though, and rushed out there with Rory to chase it off several times. Hopefully I can discourage it, but I doubt I’ll have much success. I’ve thought about a remote-controlled door to close off the feeder at night, or a door to trap the raccoon, but I don’t want to trap the cats.

I also have a design for a barrier to place in front of the cat house, with a platform to jump into it, that cats should be able to manage, but raccoons and possums shouldn’t be able to do. I might try that one day, though I have too many other projects.