The Bandit Cat

There is a large, long-hair gray cat that roams in my yard at night.  He, or so I think he is, comes up to the patio door and eats Tom's food that i put out at night.   It is food left over from his earlier second meal of the day.  I put it on the table on the patio or on the doorstep hoping he will eat it before the bandit sneaks up to eat it.  Now to get the picture, there is a wide ditch at the foot of my property which the city widened from a small natural stream to control flooding. If I see the bandit I open the door.  He runs off, but will go to the fence at the back of the yard  and crouch by the gas meter, just waiting his next chance.  If I chase him, he will duck under the cyclone fince and flee down the ditch.  Tom, during this?  Well, I find him sitting by on the patio in his "watch" mode.  He does seem to appreciate my intervention in ridding the marauder from his territory.

Lately, however, I have put the leftover food dish out on the step.  Tom staying near the house has been able to finish his meal.  I take the dish in afterward.  During the colder nights Tom is eating more, and growing in his winter coat.

Thanksgiving Cat

This is the day we gather at my daughter's house for the day and the meal.  That means I leave food for Tom, and contrary to his normal routine, leave him outside with his food out with him.  Now this will be a challenge, because he prefers to be indoors during the daytime.  If I don't take him by sur-prise, he will run for sanctuary under the bed, which it too wide to get hold and pull him out.  So wish me luck to get him outside; otherwise, he is in until I return.  I am two hours away from home and sometimes stay overnight and come hom the next morning.

Does your cat have a Thanksgiving dinner from your own menu on this day?  Turkey may be a fav-orite item for your pet, but do cut the meat off the bone.  You don't want a splinter swallowed to pierce the intestines.  You know, fish is a favorite for many felines, although I've had one who dis-dained fish and loved beef.  Some love liver and grow huge on a steady diet of it.  Tom's favorite is Tuna, so that's what he'll get.  A great day of thanks to you all and to your kitties.

Bandit Cat Steals Food

Bandit was...

TomaCommonTabby but a NobleCat

Tom has become more affectionate than usual these days. When I sit down to read, and more so when I sit at the computer to download e-mail or compose something, he appears from somewhere I did not see him. All I know is a bit fur-covered body with a head is on my lap. The paws are heavy clinging, claws pricking into my legs, and the head is burrowing under my arms pushing them off the keyboard. I usually don't get relieved, until he has had his measure of attention. He especially like to have his jaws rubbed, which i understand most cats do. However, most of the ones I have known put most of their ardor into responding to their backs being smoothing petted. Tom likes his jaws, chin, and chest getting the rubdown that he drools out the mouth -- on me, which I don't enjoy. Another aspect of this, wherein he does not get petted much, is the occasional nap I try to take. I could about count to ten counts, and feel the heavy paws come down beside me and climb up on my side to hang over on me, heavy enough to depress my breathing. I have said he is heavy, not com-pared to some cats. He just has a high density. I have read that cats are psychic. This one has his senses tuned to my movements, and is as depend-able as an alarm system. So pet your own cats and feed them on time.