Goin' gopher huntin' today... several new mounds have popped up around our place since it rained. They have to remodel their runs after the rains. And since it practically hasn't rained most of the summer, they've got some major overhaulin' and cleanin' out to do.
Above - here's the one from last spring that I sported as a hood ornament on my car...
Anyway, that's what I'm doin' later on today. Dear Daughter, if you're readin' this, just look away and shake your head in disgust and you can be embarrassed all you want. I'm sorry, but your mama is a true country gal at heart - I know you'd like me to be a little more refined, but sorry, it ain't gonna happen in this lifetime... Ok, it's evening now, and I set out two traps - will check them in the morning. Alice was following me around while I was digging in the mounds and setting the traps. She like to have got her little paw squished in the trap. I jerked it out of her reach just in time!
AND since Alice the cat hasn't been much of a mouser or gopher-er yet, I guess I gotta do it.
Speaking of Alice, I was really put out with her yesterday. In addition to gophers, we've also got moles. Since the rain on Monday, there are little runs all over sections of the back yard. Well, I was poking around in one of them and she came over trying to see. Then she proceeded to dig a little herself and started sticking her clean white front legs down into the runs up to nearly her shoulder and reaching as far as she could into their tunnels.
"Oh Great!" I thought, "maybe she's decided she's going to hunt and kill gophers now! That would be wonderful!" Well, she dug around and felt all down in the runs and smelled and sniffed and acted all excited!
Then she turned around, squatted and did her job in the mole run!!! That little toot! Didn't even bother to cover it up either - just took off runnin' like a baboon! And here I thought she was gonna make a good outdoor gopher/mole cat!
Which brings me to my next question... I've had cats all my life, mostly indoor cats. I had one big ole Siamese Tomcat named "Bandit" that was in and out. I'm sure Alice can find a place to stay warm, but I'm a little worried about her I guess. I don't want to have a house or box for her because I'm afraid she'll get trapped in it if a coyote or something came sniffing around. I'm not sure what to do about it. I think she still gets up under the house, but I want to have a safe and warm place for her during the winter. Got any ideas?
What do you other outdoor cat owners do during the cold weather? I see other cats outside in bad weather and I'm sure I'm just worrying too much. But see, I get attached and always start babying my pets. I wanted a "farm cat" and now I've got one. I just want to feel good about her having a safe place outside...
So ya'll tell me what you do with your outside kitties!
Remember to pop over to Margo's Industrial Chic linky party to view all the cool decor AND to see what prizes she's offering!
12 comments:
Hi Vickie!
Thank you so much for the nice comment you left on my blog - it's always so wonderful to see your face in my comments!
I'm so glad we don't have gofers - ugly little buggers, aren't they? I'm a country girl too - I love being outdoors, love getting my hands dirty . . . hard work has never scared me! My girls sometimes think the same thing, "mother, that's not very ladylike!" Oh well, take me or leave me, they just gigggle!
Poor little Alice - she is just so darn cute! Our cats used to live in the hay stack, so, we used to build out cats nice warm houses with three or four straw bales. Just make a little house with them, leaving a small opening out of the wind. They can curl up in there and be toasty warm all winter. I don't know how cold it gets in your neck of the woods, but we can get down to about -30 even colder with the wind chill.
Good luck!
Hugs,
Barb
Your gorgeous Alice looks very much like my Jessica! I've never seen a gopher and especially not as a car accessory! Very cute!
CJ xx
Good morning Vickie! Cute cat, love the hood ornament as well!
Jane
All that build-up, and then she just does her job in the mole run! But I can picture it. Cats [passing by] do get very excited, finding [or should I say RIPPING UP] the purrrrrrrrfect place to do-pooooo. Like in our newly planted what-ever. lol.
Didn't have outdoor cats so can't help you with your winter question. It pains me to see animals out in the depths of winter too. -sigh-
Cat doors are wonderful inventions! Put one in the barn or garage or other outbuilding. Teach Alice how to use it and she will be safe and warm for the winter. My cats are indoor/outdoor cats. I have a cat door so they can come and go as they please during the day but I bring them in and lock the cat door so I don't loose anymore to coyotes at evening! Works great! Just takes a little teaching at first. Unless a cat is taught, they don't know how to come in! Brilliant!
I have heard that one way to get rid of moles is to put cat pooh down the tunnel. Perhaps Alice was giving it a try! :>}
Hey there, our "outdoor cat" takes shelter in our garage which has a doggie door on it. He comes and goes as he pleases. It took about 15 min. to train him to use the door by putting his food thru the door. It's great, he brings his mice and birds in there to eat!!! Yikes, I know.
Happy Hunting. Alice will eventually earn her keep.
That's a funny story about Alice pooping in the hole.
The gophers are sure ugly. I can't imagine trying to kill them. It would gross me out. lol.
I've never had cats so I don't know what people do with them during the winter in the snow. I see a lot of wild ones around us, always after our chickens. Not good.
Our outdoor cats had a "cathouse" with a heat lamp that they could use, in the garage.
Well now, that is a certifiable way to run off gophers and groundhogs...no joke! It's mentioned as one of the best ways actually. As for outdoor kitties, I've never had one so am not much help.
A pet door that locks at night to keep nocturnal critters out might work! I have to say that all our outdoor kitties have ended up being our bed buddies! If that's not an option, do you have a barn or outbuilding? My daughter's outdoor kitty ended up in the doghouse with the chocolate lab and red doberman when it was frigid last winter!!!--I kid you not!!! He looked quite warm and comfie! All three of them stuffed into a dog house with a blanket!
My cat would so enjoy this...he would feel we had taken him to heaven...oh those gophers are ugly!!!
Hey, Vickie. Love your industrial chic entry! A great re-purposing use and looks great!
Our outdoor kitty goes under the house in the cold (we have a basement). However, we have recently run into problems with "visitors" living under the house, too. Racoons and an opossum. Opie, the 'possum, has become quite territorial about his newfound home and may have to go! LOL! Love your header photo!!!
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