24 January, 2018

Raccoon Patrol Begins

Raccoon paw prints in The 'O' Cats bowls

Raccoon's are no stranger to our yard, but I do NOT like them eating from my bowls.  If I have to stand guard while The 'O' Cats finish their meals, then I'll do it.  As cute as raccoons are, they can be viscious, and they have been known to kill cats.  In fact, a neighbor was sure that a litter of Sweetie's kittens was killed by raccoons, but why he didn't trap her to get her fixed, and allowed her to have another litter that I ended up caring for...?!?...well, now I've gotten off subject. 

Raccoons shouldn't be near the food.  We cannot prevent them from existing in the yard, which is a little nature preserve, but I'll keep them away from my babies.  In fact, I thought Patty was eating up EVERYTHING, leaving no leftovers, since he's got the girth! 

Dude, your making a oinker of yourself!


20 comments:

  1. Oh, but what a SWEET looking little oinker!

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  2. Yes, raccoons need to eat, too, but they have other sources and, being clever and resourceful, they usually do all right. They don't need to eat cats' food.

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  3. Never leave food out at night. It's a nuisance, but it's the only way to keep opossums and raccoons from hitting the buffet. Raccoons can indeed be mean...bobcats won't even mess with them!

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    1. I do not leave food out at night, however the raccoons will raid the bowls while the cats are eating from them! Which is why I'll stand guard now in the evenings, to whisk away any cat-spitted bowl so there isn't even a molecule of food left out.

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  4. Dave is very happy now that we took Relic in and there's no food outside to attract the raccoons. The ones around us seemed to be fairly well-mannered (as far a raccoon manners go), but they can be troublesome. Every once in a while we have one coming to see if the birds left him any seed, but I keep that clean so he usually moves along quickly enough!

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  5. A momma raccoon and her two young cubs visited the squirrel feeders for a couple of summers until Mom stopped filling the feeders. I could hear them at night through the window as the floppy door of the feeder would open and close. They drove the doggie CRAZY! Tee hee hee.

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  6. They certainly are cute, but I'd never want to encounter one up close!

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  7. We understand raccoon patrol here at Colehaus. In fact, we shut down feeding at night just to keep the raccoons away from the food, there were so many of them coming to raid the bowls. Our ferals seem to know daylight hours are feeding hours now. We know the raccoons will figure this out sooner or later but Mom isn't afraid of them and will sit out there as long as she needs to. Thankfully, our raccoons are polite for the most part and our Mom isn't above taking a broom or a stick to any who act otherwise. Really!

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  8. We agree... They are the mortal enemies of cats.

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  9. Our raccoons only show up late when the food has already been picked up.

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  10. The raccoons try to eat the bird food at our house! We also get possums. They're almost as bad...but not very bright.

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  11. Good idea to not feed those bandits.

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  12. I like watching them from a distance. I'm glad you're keeping your precious cargo safe.

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  13. Oh No. We sure hope the coons stay away and ya' don't have to stand guard our in the cold. Or, better yet, that the o cats will come inside to eat. Big hugs

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Raena

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  14. I'm afraid they killed my friends feral's kittens. It was heartbreaking. You're stuck between a rock and a hard place. I completely understand. I used to have to patrol to before my cats were indoor only. O'Malley's, you have Mom right there to watch for you. She loves you. Don't worry.

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  15. *shudder* we do not like the sound of those raccoons. It is so good you stay out on Coonwatch while Oinker and Sweetie eat.

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  16. Might be time to start playing with one of those nerf rifles that shoot foam darts. Raccoons in our area are too accustomed to humans and they can be aggressive & dangerous.

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  17. I've heard raccoons can be so skilled at getting food. My sister went to a running camp once and had all her food closed in plastic bags and containers, and the raccoons still managed to get into it!

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  18. Raccoons can be quite the thieves. I used to help care for a colony of feral kitties and we were forever trying to keep the raccoons out of their food. They also have a love of tomatoes and often raid our tomato plants.

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  19. I used to leave bowls of cat food out for the feral cats, but after we had possums in our garage a few times during the summer, I had to stop. If I see a kitty I will get some food and put it out, but no more free feeding.

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