They are a worry.

With the deck screened in it's much cooler out here.

It's hot and hazy. "I'm a Cool Cat"

More places to hang flowers :)

I,  and all the furry beasts are loving it as it keeps the deck much cooler.  Yes, we did get the new barbeque because ours was too old and decrepit to have on this nice new screened-in deck says the newly-retired Gary and that's that. Now he has to build it.

I'm just back from feeding and putting down cold water for the ferals  For many weeks I didn't see any and it left me worried. I have a few spots where I leave food but I'll just mention one . This spot was a feeding area for ferals for years. The lady who discovered them was hurt from a fall and I took over the feeding for her. She has many other spots so I told her that I would continue this one and she would have one less to worry about. I can't put a dish, paper or anything that will be there in the morning because truckers load their trucks there and do not want cats around. It's a pretty rough table-setting, let me tell ya. The dry goes on the ground and the soft goes on top. I leave a pile under each truck that is parked for the night. I have a spot where there is a bowl for water hidden in the grass which I keep filled and every day it's been emptied. I hope they are getting it and it's not being dumped.The truckers in this lot don't help the cats but they pretend they don't see anything that I'm doing so maybe they actually do care a little.. I wouldn't put any money on it though. The trucks keep the rain off the food and gives them a bit of shelter. It's better than going hungry but if I had my way they would be fed differently.

See the look in this cat's eyes. THAT IS THE LOOK of a feral cat.

 There is one that is starting to show some trust. He lets me get quite close and doesn't move when I approach him. I call him Jack. He's probably 5 years old and he already looks old.

Was he someone's cat once? Probably,  but he has that wild look in his eyes now so I think it's been a long time. Around here many are just abandoned, left behind. This particular one has me thinking I may be able to befriend him. If that's the case I will trap him eventually. He's a mess and he's really thin but he is getting a good meal and water every day now. He's the one that brings me to tears. He appeared about 3 weeks ago after others disappeared. That's what it's like in feral colonies. It's very fluid, it changes and you don't know why. Do they move on because of predators? Does one male chase off all the other males? Do they feel safer moving around and not staying too long in one place? Who knows! There are hundreds out there in our bushes and fields. The local shelters know they are there but this is only one spot out of many that ferals have been spotted. Our shelter is full and these cats would need many months of time and effort spent on them. I am waiting to see if a rescue could trap, neuter and release in this area but have heard nothing so far.
The food is always there under that truck if they need it. No bowls, no place-mats but always a good hardy meal. That is guaranteed.

hugs, Deb