You all knew it would happen. As soon as I decide to try and do something about the strays in the neighborhood and start putting food out, they start coming out of the woodwork! I'm up to five now: Mama, the cream colored calico that has a litter somewhere across the street; black boy, my friendly fighter; ginger tom w/white belly and feet; gray girl, (least I think she's a she) light gray or beige w/medium hair; and ANOTHER Mama, beige calico whose ready to give birth any day now.
This mama showed up on my step the first evening I put food out. I have a bay window from which I can see my front stoop, so I watched to see who would come for dinner. Black Boy came first - sometimes he beds down under my bay window, so he's already comfortable around here. Then ginger tom came to check things out. Then fat Mama came, and basically said "Get outta my way, I'm eating for six!!!!" She took possession of the dish and growled at Black Boy and ginger as they stood by salivating and trying to get in just one more bite. She cleaned the dish, so I know she's hungry
And last night when I set out the dish on the back patio after dark, it was cleaned out in twenty minutes and I didn't even get to see who ate (I had just gotten home and was emptying litter boxes and eating a hurried dinner myself).
Now my question: I have a motion sensitive porch light out back. Should I turn it on if I feed them after dark, to keep an eye on them? Or will this just scare them away? I do try to feed in the early evening, so I can watch for newcomers/progress, but some nights I get in late.
Another question: I'm giving them my Nutro Natural Care, since Bella has turned her nose up at it. Is it harmful for them to gorge themselves on such premium food when they're used to scavenging for meals? I put enough in the dish for two days' recommended feeding, and it was gone in a flash so I suspect it was one cat. Will this hurt their tummies??
This mama showed up on my step the first evening I put food out. I have a bay window from which I can see my front stoop, so I watched to see who would come for dinner. Black Boy came first - sometimes he beds down under my bay window, so he's already comfortable around here. Then ginger tom came to check things out. Then fat Mama came, and basically said "Get outta my way, I'm eating for six!!!!" She took possession of the dish and growled at Black Boy and ginger as they stood by salivating and trying to get in just one more bite. She cleaned the dish, so I know she's hungry
Now my question: I have a motion sensitive porch light out back. Should I turn it on if I feed them after dark, to keep an eye on them? Or will this just scare them away? I do try to feed in the early evening, so I can watch for newcomers/progress, but some nights I get in late.
Another question: I'm giving them my Nutro Natural Care, since Bella has turned her nose up at it. Is it harmful for them to gorge themselves on such premium food when they're used to scavenging for meals? I put enough in the dish for two days' recommended feeding, and it was gone in a flash so I suspect it was one cat. Will this hurt their tummies??