The parking lot where I leave my car in the morning at the train station has a good sized colony of feral cats. I used to live around the block a few years ago, so I'm rather familiar with them, their routines, etc.
I never was able to get anywhere near them, they certainly seemed quite feral to me. I've tried to find out if anyone is doing a TNR program on them, but no luck to date. I do have to say I've never seen a single kitten (although many of them look quite similar to each other), they all look rather healthy and well fed (there are several restaurants nearby so I kind of assume that the dumpster may be a good source of nutrition for them). The colony also seems to be rather cooperative with each other, from what I can tell - I have never seen any signs of aggressiveness between the cats to date.
Anyway since I moved and bought a home about a mile away, I've been driving to the train and when I arrive there in the morning it seems it's a time of day they are rather active, especially when the weather is good. Lately, there is one particular group of them - 4 or 5, that has been a bit more "friendly" when they see me - not running away, and showing some interest in me.
One in particular, a lovely gray one with a white patch on her face, has been brave enough to walk up to me and allow me to pet her. I nearly fainted the first time. She will wind herself around my legs, and even sit next to me. She now will come over to me, if I call to her gently. This leads me to think she may not be feral in fact, but, perhaps a stray that has taken up with the colony over time.
Since she got so close, I noticed she has been TNR. I was relieved to see that and it gave me some hope that others have been as well.
Anyway - I've told my BF about her, and showed him photos of her. I'm fairly smitten and would love to figure out how to give her a forever home. However, our middle aged cat, that we adopted from a good friend about 2 years ago (11 years old), has shown signs of being less than pleased around other cats that show up in our backyard - getting incredibly defensive to the point of throwing himself up against the glass patio door, scratching wildly at it. I know he had lived with dogs before, but, not cats. I'm concerned about bringing another kitty home and upsetting what is truly a really well behaved and well adjusted cat (honestly, he's like the model cat - we're very lucky in that regard - he has none of the bad habits a lot of people have with theirs, he's incredibly polite to live with lol). Well, other than his obvious need to guard the house from other cats that is!
So - should I just give the idea up? It isn't like this other cat is in any dire trouble or anything - I just see her (?) as being potentially a good pet, one that gets along with other cats (I've seen her interact with the other colony members and it's obvious she "plays well with others") and one that seems like she didn't need to be out on the street unnecessarily and could use a good home.
Any and all suggestions/comments are welcomed. I'm not going to jump into anything here, it's just something I'm semi-considering, and I also have to take my BF's desires into account - he's already said he isn't sure it's a good idea for reasons stated above and also, we have a rather small sized home and finding room for one more litter box is not going to be so easy. I want to weight everything from every angle before I approach him for "real" about trying to take her, if that turns out to be what I decide to do.
Anyway, here's some pix of her - cause you know, you have to see her
She's the gray one on the right.
And one more from today - I love the one she's with too, but he's not as friendly lol.
I never was able to get anywhere near them, they certainly seemed quite feral to me. I've tried to find out if anyone is doing a TNR program on them, but no luck to date. I do have to say I've never seen a single kitten (although many of them look quite similar to each other), they all look rather healthy and well fed (there are several restaurants nearby so I kind of assume that the dumpster may be a good source of nutrition for them). The colony also seems to be rather cooperative with each other, from what I can tell - I have never seen any signs of aggressiveness between the cats to date.
Anyway since I moved and bought a home about a mile away, I've been driving to the train and when I arrive there in the morning it seems it's a time of day they are rather active, especially when the weather is good. Lately, there is one particular group of them - 4 or 5, that has been a bit more "friendly" when they see me - not running away, and showing some interest in me.
One in particular, a lovely gray one with a white patch on her face, has been brave enough to walk up to me and allow me to pet her. I nearly fainted the first time. She will wind herself around my legs, and even sit next to me. She now will come over to me, if I call to her gently. This leads me to think she may not be feral in fact, but, perhaps a stray that has taken up with the colony over time.
Since she got so close, I noticed she has been TNR. I was relieved to see that and it gave me some hope that others have been as well.
Anyway - I've told my BF about her, and showed him photos of her. I'm fairly smitten and would love to figure out how to give her a forever home. However, our middle aged cat, that we adopted from a good friend about 2 years ago (11 years old), has shown signs of being less than pleased around other cats that show up in our backyard - getting incredibly defensive to the point of throwing himself up against the glass patio door, scratching wildly at it. I know he had lived with dogs before, but, not cats. I'm concerned about bringing another kitty home and upsetting what is truly a really well behaved and well adjusted cat (honestly, he's like the model cat - we're very lucky in that regard - he has none of the bad habits a lot of people have with theirs, he's incredibly polite to live with lol). Well, other than his obvious need to guard the house from other cats that is!
So - should I just give the idea up? It isn't like this other cat is in any dire trouble or anything - I just see her (?) as being potentially a good pet, one that gets along with other cats (I've seen her interact with the other colony members and it's obvious she "plays well with others") and one that seems like she didn't need to be out on the street unnecessarily and could use a good home.
Any and all suggestions/comments are welcomed. I'm not going to jump into anything here, it's just something I'm semi-considering, and I also have to take my BF's desires into account - he's already said he isn't sure it's a good idea for reasons stated above and also, we have a rather small sized home and finding room for one more litter box is not going to be so easy. I want to weight everything from every angle before I approach him for "real" about trying to take her, if that turns out to be what I decide to do.
Anyway, here's some pix of her - cause you know, you have to see her
She's the gray one on the right.
And one more from today - I love the one she's with too, but he's not as friendly lol.
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