Prince gets some Privacy

May all who otherwise go forgotten into the night, find peace and rest and kindness.
sleeping in the sun

Waiting to come home:

Wandering in the night

Sitting outside bitten by a dozen different species when out of the dark, Prince came to me, purred, rubbed against me, then disappeared into the night.

Good night...

Sometimes we have time for a hug

Unbelievable to have known this cat so feral, so long, and then; he'll run from my footstep, slink from my hand, be gone for hours. Somewhere. Puma tries to be kind but Prince is so eager to see him and be with him, he rushes him and overwhelms him.

Luna, still is doubtful. Prince, still stunned to be elevated into someone's arms, doesnt visibly embrace these moments~
but is glad to be loved & purrs

Even as babies, Luna & Puma got along well, and now as adults.

Not quite the same emotion with Prince;

Comes in dirty as if to say, its rough out there.

And it is, and cold.

The cold and an electric blanket

Prince has managed to come in and stay for hours a freezing night or 2 having discovered the electric blanket. He absolutely basks in the warmth, much to the chagrin of Luna and Puma who cant stop cleaning themselves when he is too close.

Time passes; Prince stays true to his feral roots

Luna & Puma grow and get bigger tipping their perch further toward imminent disaster:

Tho' Prince appears to get closer by sitting outside the window, he often runs at the sight of me outdoors and prefers to stay in the cold as the weather changes than risk the warmth of the house on the chance he might encounter a new human.

Occasionally there have been human guests in the house. His heart beating, he fled to the garage or under a chair or where ever possible.

The magical 3.

After 3 visits where another human was present, Prince is more reluctant to enter and checks around the open door 3 times before entering. Sometimes too, he cringes in that cat way, of flattening his back low to the floor while moving his legs, to avoid my touch.

I combed him, and he survived and liked it. But each time, terror anew.

All have healed, physically

Though, there have been stellar moments of all eating together:

as well as momentarily getting close to Luna on the sofa, Luna still hates Puma- as you can see by the look in her eyes.
And Puma still makes a rapid exit.

Puma has taken Prince' Cross to bear

PUMA presented with fur off the tip of his ear and scabbing. Rushed off to Dr Hong, it was initially and immediately thought to be scabies. Our (Luna & I)skin remains unscathed but we let the Dr do his scraping. It was negative. We were given a wonder salve which should cure it of fungus, infection, or parasite by 3x daily use. Luna (& I, possibly) assumed this problem is due to Prince's problem and there it should stay. Luna expressed a continued aversion to Prince but did feel Puma's pain. She stayed near him but not too near.

Puma had his ears cleaned and his feet nails clipped so he wont knock himself out scratching, should it itch. He also got a shot. The plan was to buy treats but the visit's needs, i.e. expenses, superseded any treats for the next few days. Puma has no cat insurance- currently being discussed by all political candidates. Otherwise, our pharmaceuticals would surely come tightly wrapped and tamper-proof and not just handed to us with verbal instructions. But we are greatful, none the less.

PUMA'S EAR

Prince's problem

What is this?

Prince was called to the house for his monthly Revolution treatment. He assumed it was dinner time and time to visit Luna & Puma so came trotting. It was then discovered he had a hole in his fur.

And possibly a 2nd one on his neck.

This caused much consternation for the human household member who could find no cause for this, since he ate well, got shots, and treatments for fleas, heartworm, and a myriad of things which might harm his wellbeing.

After much examination, nothing was seen on him which might continue to harm him. He finished his visit. Luna & Puma seemed to see he was even less perfect than usual, if that were possible in their eyes, and wanted nothing to do with him.

Luna and Puma remained unimpressed by his difficulties and displayed their perfect coats:

Its time for Prince's annual exam. The vet comes to visit.

Not only is Prince a registered Feral in a colony of 1 but he is now microchipped and updated with his vaccinations. I could not imagine how to get him in a carrier so the veterinarian came to visit.

Prince thought he died and went to hell. His worst nightmare- more humans- and touching him!

Needless to say, Luna was a hit and much admired; Puma let her have her moment. Prince was off hyperventilating somewhere.

Luna doesnt have to be polite for long; she doesnt have time or need for that.

Its so hard being friends

Prince tries but knows- he better be the bottom guy if he is going to stay around.

Ofcourse with Luna, he really doesnt have a chance. She cant even bear to watch him sleep.

And the rest of the neighborhood wildlife have little fear of him:

filled with wonder, filled with.....

Uncertainty. Feral cats never quite let go of that~ their legacy, their birthright~

Some days are diamonds.....

Almost. Prince gets to sit on sofa with Luna & Puma. Luna makes a big show of cleaning Puma, then Puma rubs against her while she ignores Prince as only a cat can ignore.

Some days are stones~

Rapid retreat after chasing strange cat off property that Prince isnt yet sure is his own anyway. Returning soaked for a quick bite to eat.

Sometimes I forget I left Prince in the house

Then he gets to chill with Puma- tho there is still a hierarchy.

Tho on good days, everyone chills:

Note Luna in back, relaxed but keeping an eye on things....

checking between the floor boards for

something hopefully only he knows about. The cropped left ear, described in an earlier post, is pretty clear in this picture- tells some of his story; I tell the rest.

The beginning of the blog is March 2007. The beginning of Prince is much earlier. The beginning of the feral cat problem began when the humans labeled it a Problem. Many are still debating the Solution; for Prince, it is "solved."

In a good mood

and why not? He finally got the joke Puma told him last week. His stomach is full. He is safe. He had time to groom himself for this photo.

But why would a feral cat have to use antique wicker as a scratching post? Who taught him that?

I am about to go out for the evening but

I allowed Prince in when I heard the distant rumble of thunder. He has eaten from both cats' plates leaving them disgusted again with him. There is some unspoken cat etiquette he just cant get- plus he has a twig stuck in his side fur. Luna has left the room and sits by me as I type. Puma goes thru his cat door into the garage. This always leaves Prince agog with wonder: how did Puma disappear through the wall? Where did Luna creep off to without a backward glance at me?

Sometimes Luna gives him "the look." Dont even try to walk past me.

Now he howls and calls. I answer where I am. I think he wants Luna or Puma to answer but they get amazingly quiet. Then he cries. On and off this goes for as long as I can bear. I say OK (he understands this) and open the glass door onto the porch to let him out. He pauses at the screen door: should I go or should I stay? (If you have heard that song on the radio, it was written by a feral cat who made a fortune on it but in typical feral behavior, squandered the money immediately and recklessly- they really dont change.)

He goes outside. Click, I lock the door. This routine is repeated night after night- with variations. Much patience is needed adopting such a cat. On his side as well, ofcourse.

Prince, waiting to be let out, again.