He wasn't really other mother's cat either, but "belonged"to neighbors who apparently mistreated him. Other mother reports that he plastered himself against a wall behind a bush, ears back and eyes narrowed, whenever he saw the mean-neighbor's truck heading down the driveway. (To their credit, the mean neighbors had him neutered and presumably immunized.)
Other mother adopted him, but he fended for himself when she had to leave. Then he found us. We've had a back-and-forth relationship with him and other mother ever since.
Koko loves the hunt, and he is most often successful. |
Koko's food dish is always supplied, but he prefers his natural rodent diet, plentiful most months of the year. Of course, he also prefers to devour his prey in the safety of our porch, sullying the mat on a regular basis. He usually leaves the gall bladder for our viewing pleasure. |
When we're away, and he's here alone, the cat door is always open to give him access to food, water, and warmth. Trouble is, other critters also enjoy the chow. We know that a feral cat comes in to dine and probably to spray. Either way, the stress of nobody home and the other cat are likely what's been causing the trouble.
Koko is proud when he kills a rat, but he never eats them. A few times, he killed rats that had slipped into the house, chalking up big brownie points. |
As I write, Koko is curled up on my office armchair, sound asleep. He looked so pitiful peering through the glass door in the chilly porch. I caved. I've closed the cat door to keep feral cat out and will try making Koko feel safe and loved and see what happens. Hopefully, no spraying.
If you've had a cat-spraying problem and resolved it, please advise.