Here's what I know about Oliver.
He lives outside.
No one knows where he came from.
He's being fed by one of my clients on her back deck.
He's been hanging around for two months.
He won't let anyone near him.
(photo taken from inside the patio door on Oct. 12)
He needs to get inside before winter.
A lot of people are worried about him.
The lady who feeds him already loves him.
She won't give up trying to befriend him
with her soft voice and his favorite stinky goodness.
He's a lucky boy.
Our area has many feral, stray and abandoned cats roaming. Some seek help by coming into yards and looking for food. Oliver is one of those. It's not that we don't have an animal shelter; we do. But, it is often full and people will dump cats if they cannot find a better alternative. There is also a give-up fee to drop a cat off at our local shelter. There are people who are not willing to pay it. So, we end up with cats roaming the streets looking for a hand-out. Many, many, many people feed cats on their back steps. I see it often. We have very cold winters here and it is no place for a cat to live outside during those months. So that is why I consider Oliver to be a lucky cat. Someone cares about him and will do her very best to win his friendship. She wants him inside before the weather gets cold and I'm more than sure she'll have her way. She will humanely trap him if she must but will work on his trust first.
Here's hoping. I'll keep you posted.
\Hugs, Deb
It's hard to watch these sweet little strays sit outside as the cold winter weather closes in. I hope this one stays safe - he's a cutie!
ReplyDeletexo Catherine
Lovely cat photo!
ReplyDeleteGreetings, RW & SK
Oliver you are a lucky boy! I have a stray that I feed here and he is very friendly. I 'think' he has a home but not sure. I hope Oliver will trust his new friend and come in for the winter.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't sound like Oliver is going to be coaxed inside before winter. What about setting up a warm refuge for him? Perhaps a rubber container can have an entrance put in it and lined with blankets, and kept on the deck; something of that sort.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Bellen. There is a winter house being constructed for him that will be placed at the back of the house on the deck out of the wind. It will get him through the winter as it is thoroughly heated. He is being very well fed, also.
DeleteMight YOU be able to work your cat magic on him? You have a very special way with cats and the cats can sense this. And once he's inside
ReplyDeletehe may act totally differently.
My Holly was a distant acting outside kitty. Once inside, and that's a story
for the books, she wouldn't move or
open her eyes for days. Now, she's
a cuddly bed kitty that won't even
look at the door.
Beautiful Oliver is a very blessed cat! I am glad to hear that if bring him in fails that he will have a heated house. I sure wish they all could...
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting us know how it goes for him.
Lily, WA, USA
Gorgeous boy! Here's hoping...it can be done...I know!
ReplyDeleteJane x
I hope Oliver manages thru the winter. So tough for those outdoor kitties to get through our Canadian winters. Maybe Oliver will soften up? My wild orange boy, who I couldn't go near, now lies in my lap. Took a while...but it can be done, maybe?
ReplyDeleteOliver looks awfully healthy to be a feral kitty...hopefully he'll "warm" up to your friend soon! I'll bet he was domesticated at some time...he looks much healthier than just two months of good food on the back porch...
ReplyDeleteAt the moment, the ideal of a winter refuge sounds like it could work for him. He's a very handsome fellow.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, Oliver is lucky. There is another feline in Colorado that my mother just took in and she's also lucky. The nights are already bitter and the coyotes are plentiful. I also feed a feral boy. He has lived on my patio for almost 4 years. He has a heated bed and a doggy door on the side garage door so he can sleep in the garage too. Fortunately, we don't get too cold in California valley. Mary A
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous boy he is. Has he been visiting the lady long? He looks so well fed and clean to be a long time stray. I am sure he will come around. Best wishes for his future,
ReplyDeleteJoolz xx
Oh he's so handsome!- Hoping he adopts his new home- Many of our cats started out as back deck cats- our house backs to woods and I have a feeling people "dump" them- It's just unthinkable! we still have 2 outside boys who are skittish about coming in the house but we supply a little outdoor house with bedding and food and water- it takes a lot of patience to win their trust - Hope Feral cat day will have more people taking action :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful cat...!!
ReplyDeleteOh he is adorable. I hope he does get inside before winter. I'm glad he landed on a kind hearted human's back deck. :)
ReplyDeleteOur yard is a habitat for wildlife and we always have ferals that spend time there... even in winter. To help them along with the cold, we lay out baskets of hay on the back patio, put up blankets to block the wind, and turn on heat lamps. We sometimes find the ferals sleeping side by side with an occasional raccoon that has decided to share the warmth.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, Rian. It must make you feel good knowing you are helping them stay warm and heartbreaking at the same time.
DeleteOliver is a lucky cat and the lady who feeds him is his angel. I am sure he will realize this soon. After all, he picked her. He's hanging out at her house.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly what happened with my Oscar. Took me 4 months to get him inside.
I persisted and won his trust and now he is safely home.