Our days always start at 5 AM, when the dogs wake us up to go out, and then come right back in for breakfast. That does not change, just because Harry is trying to rest and heal. But after the dogs’ morning routine, we have “second sleep”, often the most restful sleep of all, between dog breakfast and horse turnout (the horses don’t get breakfast, because they are all on diets). Harry had the longest, best second sleep since the accident, and didn’t wake up until 10 o’clock!
It was very cold when the horses went out, but by mid morning, after Harry’s breakfast, it was time to take Bart’s hood off. It is so nice to be able to leave the house and get a horse fix. I took pictures for Harry, so he could feel a part of the routine…
Bart does not love the hood 
Oisin wonders if there are treats 
Ah! Bart Likes his neck exposed 
Stone is glad he doesn’t wear a blanket
A new Physical Therapist, Elaine, came late morning and was impressed, as all the PT people seem to be, with Harry’s ability to move. If they think this is good, I hate to imagine what they see routinely. One thing, Elaine said, is that many patients are very heavy. Harry is lucky that he is lean and fit, and we are so glad to have been doing Pilates with Monika. Core strength is called for these days!
I was devastated when Stockings died last week, but once I was over the sadness, I was glad to be down one in the cat count. Alas, there is already a new cat hanging around – a third black cat (things do come in threes, and remember, in England black cats are considered GOOD luck). But I wish the flow of cats into our life would stop. Soon I will have to trap this one and get him (I think) fixed. No picture yet, but he looks very like the first two here. Tom Morris will soon move a rung up the ladder, no longer the new cat in town, but still the only orange cat…
I was devastated when Stockings died last week, but once I was past the sadness, I was glad to be down one on the cat count. Alas, this morning, there was ANOTHER stray hanging around. Another black cat! I hope they are not truly bad luck (in England, I believe they are a sign of good luck). It’s hard to tell them apart, but this is definitely a new one. No picture yet, but here are the other two black cats. Soon, I will set the trap – maybe after Harry is up and about. Life is complicated enough right now. I just cannot seem to control the flow of cats into this place!
Rosie, who looks like a bowling ball 
Licorice, the skinny woods cat 
Tom Morris rolls in the dirt
I had a text from Fred, our horseshoer, a man our horses desperately need to see. He’s far from here for another two weeks. I just hope he doesn’t decide to stay in the high desert!
Jane ran more errands for us, and when she made her daily delivery here, she got to see the horses staying fit… Every day as they romp, I get more gray hair.
Bart got so hot romping, I had to change his clothes
Cedar and Roscoe keeping Harry company…
Cedar 
Harry and Roscoe 
Roscoe loves the hospital bed
This evening, a whirlwind arrived in the form of Jennifer Schipper, director of the Warren County Arts Commission. She came for a short visit, with a completely prepared meal of Mediterranean chicken and brussels sprouts (which we love), and all the trimmings. Harry knows her, of course, but I had never met her. Jennifer seems to know no strangers. She was immediately a friend, and though Harry was tired, he enjoyed the gourmet meal. She appeared, fed us, and was gone before we could even process things! Alas, I didn’t get a picture…
And now, in closing a much better day than yesterday, here are a few more pictures…
Yay for better days. Looks like you should be singing often.
So glad things are better. Always great to impress therapists. Some time I want to talk about cats, outside cats, feral or semi-feral. If I could tame them, which they don’t seem to want as much as cat chow, I couldn’t take them inside because Topaz would wreak fury as she did with Cora, which I am still very, very sorry about.
But I swear to the heavens, while everyone is talking about homes for these ferals as if they were domesticated from birth, I do not believe they are miserable outside. (Hence, the population explosion; their litters live fine out there. )
My job , as I see it, is catch, neuter and release. My neighbors do that, too. Meanwhile, a whole community of in-town cat lovers disagree with my contention that the ferals florish with a hardy outside life. The birds don’t do fine, but the cats do. Your opinion?
Oh, Florence! It’s a difficult problem indeed. I have been thinking about doing a blog post on this very topic, but I’m no expert. I have, alas, had more experience with cat trapping than I ever thought could happen. I am a good trapper!
I have heard that cats are either feral or stray. Stray cats have some (often very distant) association with humans. True feral cats are wild animals. I think most of the cats we SEE are stray. They come closer than feral cats. Anyway, I trap cats in Havaheart traps when I begin to see them around, have them tested for disease, spay or neuter them, and release them after a couple of days recuperating in a large crate. I think ear tipping (to show they have been fixed) is a good idea. They forgot to do that to Stockings, but he became tame, and they didn’t do it to Tom Morris, because they could tell that he was going to be tame easily, he was so good to handle. I did trap one last year that was feral and frighteningly wild after trapping. She, alas, tested positive for FIV, and since my cats have all been negative, I euthanized her. It was sad, but the only thing to do. I have a friend who has FIV cats, so she doesn’t worry about it. The vet told me it was OK to keep FIV cats, so long as you keep them in the house. Not an option here.
The bird problem is a disturbing one, and the reason I really do not want any more cats. As it is, birds are precipitously declining, and cats are a contributor. Have you read about the feral cat problem in Australia? Not sure what is going on after the fires, but there is a bounty on cats, because they are wiping out native species. It’s a daunting problem there.
So, I guess my opinion is, people who do not spay and neuter cats should be punished. There is a neighbor nearby who lets their cats reproduce, puts up a “free kittens” sign annually, and the ones that don’t get “adopted”, go afield looking for opportunities.
Humans are the big problem. As ever…
You both, Anne and Florence , are not doing a service to the rest of the world by releasing the feral cats … even though you get them spayed and neutered… dewormed etc… they will get parasites again … goid fir the parasites… they will probably live happily their pretty long lives…good for them … but all bad fir the other little native creatures who populate the woods around our own invasive dwellings. The cats EAT EVERYTHING!!! We gave fewer rabbits, small birds…those that fly as well as the ground nesting variety, lizards, snakes , baby turtles, … certain bugs.. it’s so discouraging.
You could trap them and take them to the APA or some other cat rescue place… I know I have said this to you in person … no read it!!
Yes, Laura, you make a valid point about cats – BUT, I think taking them to the APA is kicking the can down the road. If we really want to slow the destruction caused by too many cats, we should kill the cats, as they are doing in Australia. Easier said than done. With regard to my personal overpopulation issue, I do feed all of my cats, and, yes, they do kill some things, but not as many as wild cats do. Several of them spend most of the winter sleeping in the heated tackroom. The problem with loving animals and facing reality is that very often the solution is humane death. Not easy.
Also, I would argue that pesticides are a MUCH bigger issue than cat overpopulation. We have many amphibians (lizards and frogs) here despite way too many cats (eight, if you count the latest stray). We do not use pesticides.
Hi Anne,
I love the blog! I’m so glad to have met you and made a new friend. Thank you for the compliment. I wish I could say I am “director” and love the sound of “commission!!” I am currently in my second year volunteering as President of the Warren County Fine Arts Council. I love it. It will be over before I know it. The artists I’ve met and friends I’ve made have made such an impact that I feel I am on course which ever direction I go! I look forward to keeping in touch and seeing you again soon.
Your friend,
Jennifer Schipper
I am so glad Harry doing great. The animals are secret to healing. Also good food. 🐶🐎 🙏
Interesting discussion on stray and feral cats as I am suffering with at least 2 of them lately. I’ve had strays before eventually made friends and got them neutered. Most recently one is my barn cat the other ended up sleeping on the bed. I lost him last June.
The current cats I believe to be feral. One sight of me sends them flying. I thought of setting a trap. But the last trap I set caught a skunk. I still have ptsd from that. So may things around here that I could catch. I have a raccoon hanging around. A big one I need to figure out a methodology for capture
But one I catch and get them neutered what do I do with them. Before the vet kept them a couple of days. But now I don’t use that vet as he’s in the city. Should I put a crate in the back room? How large? Will the use the litter box? It pains me to see them out in the cold with no food or warm spot.
Any advice is appreciated.
Betsy, this is a big topic. I will send you an e mail.