Anyone who has read my blogs knows I have a strong love for animals, finding it easy to communicate and form bonds with them. I have mentioned several times I started feeding a couple of what appear to be feral outside cats a few months ago. During the first few days, only two cats were noticed on the front porch, so naturally, I began talking to and feeding them. To my surprise, it seems like the cat is out of the bag, pun intended, and currently, there are between six and eight kitty visitors who come for a good meal at least twice a day. Word has spread quickly through the neighborhood kitty community about the house that always has food, fresh water, a box with a soft towel for them to get warm on the colder nights, and an outdoor kitty house so they can stay comfortable and dry on the many rainy days and nights. Between the adorable cat house and a place to sleep, it should not be surprising numerous cats have adopted our porch as their new home.
From what I have seen, the outside cats get along with each other, at least for the most part. Thankfully, there have only been a couple of altercations between the outside kitty gang. Mostly, the disagreements witnessed were a lot of unhappy and unimpressed kitty language. The cat I know is a boy who is a super sweet tomboy and is typically accommodating with the gang of frequent visitors, but I think it is because they are female, and he could be the father of some of them. One night, there was a visitor I had never seen before. As the new cat ate, the well-known tomboy sniffed around before both cats communicated their unsettling feelings, and the tomboy chased the new cat away. I think the new cat is a boy, and the known cat acts territorial because he is convinced, the porch belongs to him. He marked his territory and only shared with cats of his choosing.
Now that the neighborhood cats have spread the word about where to get a meal, the only thing I can do is to oblige with their demands. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on the perspective, I cannot say no, turn cats away, or let the precious cats go hungry because they deserve more and better than that kind of life. I know many people are fine having their cats indoors and outdoors, but too much can happen to them in the wild. Our cats have always been strictly indoors only because I would worry too much and cause myself to have a heart attack if they did not come home for days. I worry now when I do not see the outside cats for more than one day. I might be wrong keeping our cats prisoner in the house, but at least I know they are safe, and it is a cushy prison.
Not only do we have between six and eight cats we feed outside, but we have two inside cats as well. There is at least one possum and one groundhog who eat the cat food on the porch. It seems like we are running a smaller version of a zoo. If I had my way and my husband and two cats would allow it, I would have a house full of animals. I almost think it would be easier to convince my husband that the two cats because the cats can be a little moody and combative, but overall they are sweet little furry angels. Some people want a house full of children, but we have always treated our cats like they were our children, so the only differences are the number of legs and worrying about what those with two-leg children have to deal with.
There are billions of people living in the world, and for reasons I will never understand, struggle with getting along with each other. As I have watched the interactions between our cats and those outside, they have proven to get along with each other. If different animals can get along, why can’t humans get along with each other? Why can wild animals accept one another, but humans cannot do the same? Differences might be confusing to some, but should differences not be intriguing? Maybe if we learned the way others live in different cultures, it would broaden our horizons and teach us something new. Many are scared of what they do not know or understand, but if we approach this with an open and accepting mind, maybe we could all get along and live in peace and harmony.
Thank you for visiting my site today. I hope you enjoyed what I shared and you have a wonderful weekend. How do you prefer to spend your Saturday? It is the first day of the weekend, so I hope you spend it doing what brings you the most happiness. No matter how you decide to spend your weekend, remember you do not have to spend the weekend doing anything you do not want to do. People might try to pressure you to do something in your heart you have no interest in, so stand up for yourself and do not allow anyone to pressure you. Please never forget I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes!
Always, Alyssa
Fightmsdaily 
This is such a lovely, heartwarming post, Alyssa. You are so kind as to feed and accommodate such a large furry family in your garden. They obviously all love you and approve of everything you do for them. They are a fortunate furry family to have you to care for them as much as you do. They sound like they bring you much joy, which is lovely to know.
I don’t think you are cruel at all for having indoor cats. When I first got Peanut (she was a rescue), she was 11 weeks old. I kept her in and was too scared to let her out into my large garden. However, by the time she was eight months old, my friends, family and neighbours all said I was being cruel to keep her indoors, although she seemed very happy. They said cats are hunters and need to run about to get their exercise. Some even told me they had seen Peanut sitting in the window on the sill, looking sad and like she wanted to go out. I felt really under pressure.
Peanut is my very first pet, and I realise now that I shouldn’t have listened to those people. It was a tough decision, but I felt pushed into having a cat flap fitted in my back door in the kitchen, put a collar and bell on her and let her out. I was terrified she wouldn’t come back again. However, she did and still goes in and out as she pleases, except I lock the cat flap at 5pm, as I don’t want her to go out at night when I can’t keep a check on her. Unfortunately, now she’s got used to being outdoors, there’s no turning the clock back. She cries to go out in the morning and objects and scratches at the cat flap when I get her in at 5pm.
As you have said, I constantly worry about her having an accident on the road or not coming home one evening. She’s a hunter, unfortunately, and brings in live mice and birds, slow worms and butterflies. I do my best to rescue them from her and usually manage it. The birds don’t fare so well as they suffer from shock so quickly. It breaks my heart. I’m terrified if I can’t get her in when I call her, even with treats. I do shut her in when I go out, though, so that’s one time I know she is, at least, safe indoors.
I love your last paragraph about if only people could get on with each other, including our differences, like animals do. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful world if everyone got on with everyone else? Sadly, that isn’t the case. We all need to be more tolerant of those who are different to us in some way. There is so much to learn from people of other cultures, nationalities and religions. If we were more like animals, there would be fewer wars, and wouldn’t that be amazing?
Goodness, I have written far too much! I’m sorry. Please, don’t worry if it’s it’s too much to plough through. I’m known for writing long messages, which isn’t necessarily welcome by all recipients. I do try and keep things shorter, but if it’s a topic I’m passionate about, like animals, I do tend to get carried away. I hope the rest of your weekend is a good one for you. Sending my love and hugs to you and your beautiful furry family and friends. I think you’re wonderful. Love Ellie Xxx 🤗🐷🐸🐔😻🐭🐾🐈🦔💖
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