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| Hobo didn't see his. |
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| Nada for Sammy. |
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| The PO'M was shadowless too. |
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| Sweetie was shadowy! |
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| The PO'M's tailio has a shadow. |
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| Somecat even had a groundhog's physique: round! |
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| Under The Cat Hotel's awning. |
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| Napping on the straw bale. |
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| Sweetie and Hobo |
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| George, 2008 Discovered in my office parking lot; I spent time before work, at lunch, and after work with George. On the weekends, nearby friends fed him, and these are dear friends we still have today. We finally figured out how to trap him; he was neutered and placed with a loving family. George was named for the building security guard who'd brought his existence to our attention. |
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| Hobo, 2009-2015 Hobo appeared in our yard not long after George was adopted. Hobo never allowed us within a few feet, even when he once was covered in burrs. Hobo escorted Sweetie to our food bowls, when she was heavily pregnant, but neither of her kittens looked like him. Hobo would walk up and down the alley, and we later learned that he had other homes who fed him. Sammy's appearance didn't bother Hobo, but when Paddy O'Malley arrived, Hobo stayed away from our yard to live at one or two of his other homes, with whom I kept in touch. He just disappeared in the end; still makes me very sad. |
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| Sammy, 2010-2014 Sammy always looked a bit disheveled. He once wouldn't put weight on one of his front legs, and we trapped him to get him to the vet; an abscess, caused by a bite. Later, Sammy's mouth seemed bad, and he was losing teeth. Once again, to the vet for a dental, but the vet said he was too sick and infected for the procedure, so he was the first kitty I'd helped over The Rainbow Bridge. Sammy was named 'New Guy', but when The Hubby went to pick him up from the low-cost spay/neuter clinic, he forgot 'Guy', and dredged up the name of his grandfather instead. |
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| 💗Paddy O'Malley, 2011-2021💗 Once Paddy discovered food, water, and shelter in our yard, he never left. At first a bit shy, he became a love-bug, and was the only cat (so far) to NOT run away after being released from the carrier after being neutered. The PO'M often had injuries; huge tufts of fur missing, or he'd scratch himself raw. We trapped him several times, to get him to the vet, and the vet staff never quite believed that he was a community cat as he was the perfect gentleman while in their care. I tried to coax him inside year after year, but he'd only step in just so far, before bolting back out. In summer, 2021, I simply grabbed him from the porch during a rainstorm, et voila, he was inside. I was over the moon happy, until he crashed and was too sick to go on. The Hubby claims that he thought up Paddy's name, but he's mistaken. I had traveled to Ireland in college, and Paddy's fur was the color of a poured pint o' Guinness, with eyes like Connemara marble. Rest in Peace, my lovely, much-loved outside boys. 😽😿😽😿😽 Let's Hop!  Click on the badge above to visit Brian's Home! |
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| Black cat on the sidewalk ahead. This is a stray who gets food and water at a neighbor's house, and sleeps in the garage. |
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| The snow stuck to everything, making pretty patterns. |
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| Snapped while on my rounds. |
More wintry weather is ahead, yet I have stacks of books to read, plenty of blankets to curl up in while I invite a cat or two to snuggle.
With a few hours of snow shoveling for exercise.
Reminds me of the old days, when 'O' Cats roamed!
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| January, 2011 Celestial Hobo |
New Year's Day, 2010
Resident Cats: Chuck and Angel
The O Cats: Hobo and Sweetie
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| Chuck was in the bathtub; notice the drops of water on his nose! |
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| Angel, showing off her Winter fur coat. |
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| Hobo in front, Sweetie behind him. |
A few photos to highlight what we've posted about over the last eight years.
THANK YOU
for joining us, for commenting, and for being a part of our family.
A bit low-key this year...
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| Celestial Angel and Chuck |
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| Celestial Feral Hobo |
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| Sweetie, on the day she was TNR'd. |
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| Manny and Chili Bruce...or Chili Bruce and Manny? |
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| My man Guy! |
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| Smexy Sly |
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| Celestial Paddy O'Malley |
So much love!
Fascinating cats!
😻😻😻
The Hubby has removed The Cat Hotel, The Stairway to Heaven, and The Feeding Station.
I am thankful that he did this while I was unaware; I would have cried.
He's tucked it all away, ready to be used again should a new stray cat come to stay.
I sat on the deck, alone, and remembered.
Below are the first photos that I have of all of our backyard cats:
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| Hobo, in February 2009. |
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| Sweetie at the top of the stairs, with her guardian Hobo, in Summer, 2009. |
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| Sammy, April 2010. |
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| Click on the badge above to visit Brian's Home Blog! |
Sweetnesday!
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| "SMOOCH!" |
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| Click on the image above to play the jigsaw puzzle. |
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| Angel |
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| Chuck |
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| Hobo |
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| Sammy |
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| George |
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| Hobo was kitten-sitting Sneakers and Honey on our driveway. |
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| Sweetie, with her kittens |
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| Sneakers making like a meerkat |
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| Honey turned out to be a boy |
