9/07/2008

Three, Two, One or A Tale of Two Traps

I recently was heard to say that I planned on making mittens out of the feral kittens who'd taken up residence in my back garden.  There were three kittens so I was sure there'd be no problem with supply and demand.  Shortly after my brilliant idea began germinating, one of the cats stopped showing up.  From his shady looks, it's a good bet he's dealing catnip a few yards over.

Wondering whether we could take on trapping and adopting two cats resulted in much hemming and hawing but ended in John calling a 'critter control' guy for traps.  The night the traps showed up, only one cat came around looking for a handout but we set both traps the next day just in case.

The traps have a small raised metal plate (covered in newspaper) that trips the door as the animal steps on to get at the food just beyond it.  I came home to find two empty cages and I was a bit disappointed.  On closer inspection, yes, there were two empty cages but only one full can of food;  the other had been licked clean.  In the plants at the back of the yard I spied one very satisfied looking kitten who'd beaten the system and was now lazing in the fading sunlight.

On day two, stealth was not on kitty's side and we arrived home to a cage full of cranky but well fed kitten.  We got her to the vet where she had a full examination, shots and a good flea bath.  A much shinier three month old kitten was the end result.

Over the last week, she's gotten used to us, the laundry room and now the whole downstairs.
She will hiss if I make too rapid an approach but one touch and she melts into a purr measuring just under the rumble of a tractor.  She's also gotten used to being called Rizzo after Rydell High's oldest teenage student.

Winter's on the way and my one good deed's out of the way.  Unfortunately, there's been no sign of the other two cats.  I'm choosing to think that they've been adopted rather than having become part of some other creature's happy meal.

It will take me a while to fatten her up and to figure out shipping options and costs.  To be on the safe side, order your mittens now for arrival by Christmas.

37 comments:

Chris the Hippie said...

Awwww....

Fran said...

What a sweet baby!

And I like the cat too, Dale.

Boldly Serving Up Wheat Grass said...

Is this your first cat-picture post? If so, it's a momentous occasion, for any blogger. Congrats!

Dr Zibbs said...

I would just dress up like a mouse.

Dale said...

I know Chris, it's all over but more and more awwwwing.

I'm a big baby Fran, she's a little one.

Probably my first and last BSUWG, haha.

But you'd do that anyway right Dr. Zibbs? Are you available for hire?

Coaster Punchman said...

She's melting? I'm melting! Oh and while we're at it she'll make short work of that chair. Damn vets discourage declawing these days...I think they're full of it.

Me. Here. Right now. said...

I would love a pair of black and white mittens from a feral kitten and from where I'm sittin', that'd be mighty fittin' for once I was bitten by a feral kitten and of this I'm not shittin', so take your feral kitten make me some fine black and white mittens, my birthday is in July.

Allison said...

Are there any bloggers with dogs? Geez. ;)

BeckEye said...

Can Rizzo shimmy down the drainpipe?

Dale said...

No lie CP, about 40 seconds after I read your comment, she went to town on the matching chair to the one in the photo. Good times.

No problem Lori, with mad rhyming skillz like that, you're getting mittens and possibly a lucky cat foot!

Ok, ok, I'll find a dog next Allison. Used to have one actually but he's a goner unfortunately.

Not yet Beckeye but she looks killer in the outfit!

Barbara Bruederlin said...

She's a Hitler cat!

Could you knit me a touque instead of mittens, please? A full face touque with a little Hitler moustache would be most suitable, I think.

X. Dell said...

Somehow, I knew this would happen.

Anonymous said...

That cage/food set-up is exactly how I caught my husband. Although I don't let him sit on the furniture.

Anonymous said...

We had a black and white cat for years. He was mean as hell. I hope Rizzo doesn't end up looking like our 26 pound cat did. Rest in peace Fatboy. She has his exact face (minus 20 pounds of flubbah)

lulu said...

God she's sweet. I want a kitty.

Doc said...

The white stripe on her lips makes her look like Kaiser Wilhelm. Too cute.

Doc

Cormac Brown said...

"She will hiss if I make too rapid an approach but one touch and she melts into a purr measuring just under the rumble of a tractor."

I'd make a joke, but I'll be served with divorce papers if I do.

Dale said...

She only wanted to send me to my death for the first day or two Barbara, she seems kinder now. The toque is a good idea, I'll put the kids in the back to work.

I knew too X. Dell, feed them once and it's all over.

That must be one hell of a litter box Suze! Good going.

She's less mean than wary Bluez. I hope she doesn't break the scales or it'll be off to Jenny Craig's house for her.

You can borrow her next time you're in the Americas Lulu as long as she hasn't killed me by that time. I had a feeling that you too were a cat whisperer.

Should I make up a calendar of her in costumes Doc? Please don't make me.

Stay together for the sake of the kitten Cormac.

Marni said...

She is adorable...

Jenny Jenny Flannery said...

That picture looks like it was taken at stately Kitty Manor.

And I'd say with a handle bar moustache like that, she looks more like Salvadore Dali.

Falwless said...

Having gotten my stray kitten adoptin' on just a couple of months ago, I'm warmed by this post. What a pretty, pretty kitteh. You are now required to take photos of kitten in various amusing poses and then have a lolcat caption contest. I'm pretty sure it's the law. Get snappin'.

Creepy said...

Oh jeez, there you go with the cat posts.

chelene said...

That cat is more photogenic than me. Humph.

(I also like that chair, Dale. By the way, check your email. I'm sending you a missive.)

paperback reader said...

That cat is staring directly into my soul and judging me.

Leonesse said...

Are you sure it shouldn't be named Hitler?

Anonymous said...

Awww...

Moderator said...

This post is absolutely pawfect!!!!

katrocket said...

Nice pussy, Dale. Those mittens will totally match my coat. I'll take a pair.

Cap'n Ergo "XL+II" Jinglebollocks said...

I like the Dali-esque lil' white moustache.

Chancelucky said...

Do you have mittens in black, white, and black and white?
I take it this poor kitten is now going to be part of this blog, maybe even purring for some of the audio podcasts, etc.
next it'll be Chrismtas cards featuring the ever growing Rizzo...then every third post will be about cute things that Rizzo did or didn't do.

Gifted Typist said...

Dale, you never told us you were such a talented portaiturist.

Dale said...

Just like your pug Marni, yep!

Thank you for the Dali props Flannery, I'll pass that on if she'll let a peasant like me back into stately Kitty Manor, haha.

But what would become of my blog dedicated purely to academic pursuits Falwless? I'm reading up on the law right now. And congrats on your own warm feeling. It's nice when it's not just pee running down your leg like that one time right?

Once I get her into playing Guitar Hero with me Creepy, things should improve around here.

You should see the chairs upstairs Chelene, they're more photogenic than all of us! Good to hear from you!

We all are Pistols at Dawn, we all are. All the time.

She's too soft to be Hitler, Leonesse.

I know Winter, it's all too much.

You must have a claws in your contract that made you say that Grant Miller.

If necessary I could always drape her around your neck to really set off the look Kat.

Another vote for Dali! Thanks Cap'n, you're on the Christmas card list for that.

I plan to blog now on things only that she can't or won't do and my resulting disappointment Chancelucky, it's going to be despair all the time.

The secret to great portraiture Gifted Typist - never use people, turn off the flash to avoid the creepy eye and take between 120 to 14,000 photos and at least one will look decent. You're welcome.

Anonymous said...

Is this a "picture of the day"?

gennifer6 said...

Can I get the palms white and top of the mittens black?

Dale said...

Careful Sandra! If it ended up there, the fallout would be extreme! Haha, a couple of people asked me that and then we all laughed about the people who send the cat and dog photos. I was ready to call Animal Protection Services the other day on the owners of that retarded white dog one and then the out of focus husky yesterday.

Your order has been received Genn6. If you have already sent your payment, please disregard this comment.

Cup said...

She's a cutie! One of my cats was feral. Well, living with me, he's still in a bit of a feral environment.

Dale said...

Haha Beth, he'll tame you before you tame him then.