Bruce Makes Front Porch His Home
Bruce Makes Front Porch His Home
May 19, 2003
The stray cat Bruce that I took to be neutered has now definitely made my front porch his home. He is there a lot. I put Simon’s large bed on top of the little porch chest Bruce took to sleeping on, and Bruce loves it. He hopped up as soon as I set it down and seemed to say, “This is good.” Simon hasn’t used it in a while, and besides, Simon has lots of soft furniture to sleep on inside, while Bruce had none. Here is Bruce, resting in the comfort he deserves. He looks so much better now, of course, from when I first saw him and started putting out food. His fur is feeling cleaner and softer too now.
I bought Bruce one of those corrugated cardboard scratchers, laced with catnip, and he loves it. He scratched on it, and stretched out on it, then flipped the cardboard out of the frame so he could lick up some of the catnip. He also played with the fabric stuffed mouse I got him! It’s more rat sized, actually, and Bruce enjoyed grabbing it and wrestling with it. Then he reclined on top of it too. That must mean “This is mine”. I feed him his food on the porch also, so he doesn’t have to travel to the back to the common feeding area. It’s not as good as living inside, but it seems like an decent situation- for the warm weather, anyway. My front porch is about 15″ x 12″, a nice sized “room”, and has two walls from the house, so it is semi-protected from the wind. It has a roof too, so no rain will get on Bruce as he sleeps and eats.
I apparently am Bruce’s person. Penelope stray’s too. The other night, I was petting them in the back yard, (they like each other) and Penelope walked off. I followed, hoping she was going to her nest, so I could find where it was. Bruce followed me. Then Penelope stopped for both of to catch up to her. We walked around from the back alley of my house, around several houses, then back to the front porch past the front of all the houses. Since Penelope wasn’t going to be going to her nest where her kittens are, I just headed to my front porch. It was like I was walking dogs. They were going to go where ever I went. Penelope would trot ahead a bit, then stop and look back, waiting for Bruce and I to catch up. He is slow. He even trailed behind me. Animal/human relationships are very interesting. Cats do seem to like people in general, not just for food. They both just wanted to be with me and weren’t hungry, as I had already stuffed their faces. This makes it hard, since I can’t let them in my house. I love them and they love me. It should be happy, but is also sad.
Twice this week I was awakened early morning to Bruce wailing in his angry way, and saw Homeless Myron Tomcat on the porch right up near Bruce. I think Myron likes Bruce, as I have seen him sitting somewhat near Bruce before. (Or maybe he learned that Bruce is good at finding resources, so follows him around to try to take over what Bruce has found.) Myron was checking out the new pet bed Bruce was on one of the times, and then was using Bruce’s cardboard scratcher the other time. Bruce did not get up and act like he might fight, but he sure sounded scary (to me anyway). Myron did not go off right away either, so he is not afraid of Bruce. I hope those two will get along.
Bruce wants to come in the house. When I start to go outside, he starts to come in. I am sure he must have lived in a house at one time. Or maybe, he just figures where I go must be a good place. I am so sad that I can’t let him in. I am going to keep trying to find a home for him, but likely that won’t happen. He’s on the older side and not cute. He looks good in that picture, but cute just doesn’t describe him. People want young, cute and pretty. I think he is actually old, even though the vet estimated his age at 4. He doesn’t hear well it seems, or else he couldn’t care less to turn his ears when one snaps behind his head, and he has a stiff back leg. He ambles along, instead of sprightly walking. He doesn’t seem to groom as much as other cats. I think he may feel stiff. He just seems rather like an “old man”. I am so glad I was able to get him neutered, so he doesn’t have to get involved with roaming and fighting over females. And if he can’t hear too well and is not sprightly, crossing streets would not be the best thing for him at all. I’m trying to make my front porch a real cat happy place, so he will spend more of his time on it, and then just wander in my yard.
Anyway, the whole point is that it is worth catching, neutering and feeding a stray homeless cat. It does make their lives better, even if you can’t let them live inside your house.