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Mystery and Theo
Jul. 31st, 2013 08:53 am
Theo looking out the Studio window into the backyard. If he's not barking at birds he's checking out what's happening - lazy dog! ;)
Mystery Cat has become a lot friendlier - to Theo. It's still a bit scared of me, but has got to the point where it doesn't run off if Theo's around. Even a bit of barking doesn't scare Mystery off.
Still don't know if Mystery's a male or female, but this cat gets fed to the left of the steps in the above photo. On Sunday I cleared out the weeds there and replaced a dying sofa with a better on. Much more convenient for both of us.
This cat's become a lot friendlier, which happens when you start feeding cats.
Mystery Puss eating some dry food I've just put down - underneath the
house next to the front door and steps.
Mystery Puss eating some dry food I've just put down - underneath the
house next to the front door and steps.
Purry Puss
Jul. 10th, 2013 07:55 amOK, I'd just got out the front door with the dogs an we were all standing on the front step. Mystery cat comes out from under the house and starts purring up to Theo. It then sees me and retreats - partially - back under the house, looking at me. Couldn't feed it then but I did when I got back.
Theo's gone out the front several times and just looked at pussy under the house, so I guess the little puss has got used to him. I think Mystery really likes Theo!
Theo's gone out the front several times and just looked at pussy under the house, so I guess the little puss has got used to him. I think Mystery really likes Theo!
Stayed in bed (with most of the pets until 7am. When I went for a dog walk there was still frost on the ground. It was so cold outside. And inside on the Studio, it's still only 9℃ at 11am. Mystery cat has become a little friendlier. It's been hanging around under the house near the front step. This morning it meowed for food so I gave it some, and even played with its paw. It wasn't about to come out though as Gabby was waiting for it, and Theo was very interested in it as well.
The rest of this day should be "catch up" as I ran out of steam yesterday after the housework.
The rest of this day should be "catch up" as I ran out of steam yesterday after the housework.
Mystery Meow
Jun. 23rd, 2013 09:47 amI think Mystery cat is getting friendlier. I got up to go to the toilet last night and heard a "meow" coming rom outside. I looked out and it was the Mystery Cat, meowing at me. It didn't run off in a panic, but slipped under the house next to the front steps. I got a bowl of dry cat food and put it there for it. Was all empty this morning.
Mad scamble
Jun. 13th, 2013 11:12 amMystery puss is a bit nuts I think. I got up out of bed to get something last night in the lounge. I heard a noise in the kitchen and there was Mystery Puss desperatelt scrambling over the partition and around the curtain that divides the kitchen from the sun room! I hadn't even gone in there, and wouldn't have if I hadn't heard it scrambling.
Anyway I put some more kitten food in a bowl by the back door. It's grown since the last time I saw it.
Anyway I put some more kitten food in a bowl by the back door. It's grown since the last time I saw it.
Theo and the Puss
Jun. 7th, 2013 06:22 pmMystery Puss just turned up again.
Theo was looking at something behind the sofa next to the front gate, right next to the front door. I got a torch, and sure enough - orange eyes and orange fur, looking back at me. I've put a small container of kitten food out for her.
Theo was looking at something behind the sofa next to the front gate, right next to the front door. I got a torch, and sure enough - orange eyes and orange fur, looking back at me. I've put a small container of kitten food out for her.
Ginger Streak!
May. 31st, 2013 07:44 amWell that was good. Last night I went out to put some dry cat food in a bowl to "bait the trap" on the motion detection. Walked into the spare room...
Pretty good this motion detector - works even before I enable it! I still turned it on and put food in the bowl. Got to feed kitty somehow.
...and out scrambles the Mystery Kitten from the spare bedroom and slipping on the floor shoots out the pet door!
Pretty good this motion detector - works even before I enable it! I still turned it on and put food in the bowl. Got to feed kitty somehow.
Some thoughts about cat surveillance
May. 28th, 2013 08:09 amIt occurred to me this morning that some of what I assumed to be evidence of Mystery Kitten, might be evidence of next door's cat!
Oscar is a ginger male with dark ginger stripes. Mystery Kitten is also a ginger cat with dark ginger stripes. Only I know that Oscar's been de-sexed so he's not the father. And I also know that Mystery Kitten's real because I've held and photographed it. But maybe Oscar's coming in through the pet door late at knight and eating pet food. It could have been him I saw last night - looked bigger than kitty but it was hard to tell., since I don't know how quickly it's growing. But if it is Oscar for some of this, it would explain where the food's going. It would explain the container of food being moved. Evidence of Oscar doesn't rule out evidence of Mystery Kitten however. One reason I let Mystery Kitten go before is that it could well belong elsewhere, and only visiting my place for what it can get. Or it could be living/hiding somewhere near my house. Or it could have long gone and what I've been seeing is evidence of Oscar raiding my house.
So what to do? Yesterday I had time to play around with Yawcam, and open-source webcam utility and got both the time-lapse and motion-detection functions to work. So I think I might try some surveillance again. But this time I'll keep the area next to the sofa clear of food (as well as the back rooms in general), and put some in the bowl I found being eaten at last night. It should be easier to set up a webcam to watch that spot. I can have the laptop and webcam in the studio in the dark, and pointed at the bowl, under the light. Maybe I'll only catch my own cats (though Gabby never seems to remember where that bowl is and Xena ignores it), but maybe it's not.
That will be step one. If I can eliminate Oscar, I'll go to step two.
Oscar is a ginger male with dark ginger stripes. Mystery Kitten is also a ginger cat with dark ginger stripes. Only I know that Oscar's been de-sexed so he's not the father. And I also know that Mystery Kitten's real because I've held and photographed it. But maybe Oscar's coming in through the pet door late at knight and eating pet food. It could have been him I saw last night - looked bigger than kitty but it was hard to tell., since I don't know how quickly it's growing. But if it is Oscar for some of this, it would explain where the food's going. It would explain the container of food being moved. Evidence of Oscar doesn't rule out evidence of Mystery Kitten however. One reason I let Mystery Kitten go before is that it could well belong elsewhere, and only visiting my place for what it can get. Or it could be living/hiding somewhere near my house. Or it could have long gone and what I've been seeing is evidence of Oscar raiding my house.
So what to do? Yesterday I had time to play around with Yawcam, and open-source webcam utility and got both the time-lapse and motion-detection functions to work. So I think I might try some surveillance again. But this time I'll keep the area next to the sofa clear of food (as well as the back rooms in general), and put some in the bowl I found being eaten at last night. It should be easier to set up a webcam to watch that spot. I can have the laptop and webcam in the studio in the dark, and pointed at the bowl, under the light. Maybe I'll only catch my own cats (though Gabby never seems to remember where that bowl is and Xena ignores it), but maybe it's not.
That will be step one. If I can eliminate Oscar, I'll go to step two.
PROOF OF PUSS!
May. 28th, 2013 04:08 amWoke up just now and couldn't sleep. Came into the Studio where I'd left the light on and was testing stop motion/time lapse stuff. Was looking at the video, and heard a sound in the background. Sure enough, when I went into the next room to investigate I saw an orange streak rush out via the pet door from where I had some cat food on top of a table for Gabby!
Could have been Oscar from next door, but looked smaller, like the Mystery Kitten (who has identical markings). Hmmm, clearly if I'm to catch it again (if only on film) I need to control where the food is better.
As it's just turned 4am, back to bed.
Could have been Oscar from next door, but looked smaller, like the Mystery Kitten (who has identical markings). Hmmm, clearly if I'm to catch it again (if only on film) I need to control where the food is better.
As it's just turned 4am, back to bed.
Signs of Life
May. 19th, 2013 10:57 amI found Mystery Kitten's "Secret Poo Cache" this morning while doing housework. There were little kitten sized poos all in the corner behind a rubbish bin in the spare room. At least one looked fresh. Will attempt to set up a spycam again tonight for it. Signing off again until Eurovision is finished.
