Fun With Ferals

Forget about being productive today unless it is coming from watching feral cats. When I arrived home Cali was in the midst of doing a transfer of her kittens from up on the gravel road down to the tent of napping. She was on her third kitten bringing him down the side of the yard but when my presence so rudely interrupted the process, she dropped him right outside the tent and she jumped into the tent. The little squeaky meowing of kittens filled the air especially the little orange one who remained outside of the tent but Riley was on the deck keeping watch over him by day. Knowing my presence endangered that kitten, it was a quick trip inside the house to watch all of this from a distance. Cali came out of the tent and finally maneuvered the orange kitten safely inside. After a bit Cali and Riley looking for a bit of relief, laid out on the deck catching some rest yet not too far gone into sleep because at the least little noise, their heads were up looking at the tent and beyond. Camo just disturbed this kitten Zanadu with her menacing presence. Riley kept Camo at bay, there was a whole lot of hissing going on and finally Camo left. Cali went to work quickly moving the kittens from the tent to a hard to get to corner of the deck. The black and white kitten awaiting transport had Riley as a companion. Riley was doing a good job keeping the kitten away from the edge and Cali came over to inspect the situation and must have felt that Riley had it under control. Riley was playing with the kitten when the unthinkable happened, the little black and white kitten rolled off the deck onto the rock bed that is used for water drainage. Riley was over to the kitten in a hot second and once it got its bearings, it was alright, okay, no damage. Riley keeping a watchful eye not letting it crawl too far from the deck began the kind of play older cats do with kittens to teach them how to be cats. The two of them must have played this way for about fifteen minutes and then Cali came over and kitty ran to her and she nosed the kitten up under the deck, in that corner directly beneath the olive bucket where they spent the first week of their life. Riley looked to be a bit relieved. Big Sissy Daddy and Camo have been around looking for food. BSD seems to be okay with the kittens but Cali has much to be on guard for cause Camo isn't exactly the friendly aunt to the litter.

While Cali and Riley were resting on the deck after moving the kittens to the tent of meeting, they laid down beside each other, both still on duty. Then Cali laid out on her side and that big ol' Riley went over and nursed for a minute. I was shocked because many time Cali is taking a swipe at Riley or playing chase. You have to wonder what is going through their minds. Is Riley happy to have siblings? Is Cali happy to have help? Or is this business as usual to a feral cat family?

It would have been fun to have them living in the tent of napping for several days but along with that comes the several nights and with our bedroom right above them, you hear sounds you never want to hear because there is most probably one less kitten.

Cali and Riley have been given extra treats today. I have been entertained yet so touched by these cats. Needless to say, I didn't get too much done this afternoon.