Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2014 - Letter D

The typical line up for food a few years ago.

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of  blogging in the Challenge. 

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary, and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and stories about cats that I will share for the next 23 days with you. I am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests you.

Heated houses and water dishes to keep them cozy in the winter. Some preferred sleeping in the big, old barn next door.

D is for Details...

So, you may ask, how did you end up with all these cats?

When we bought our house about twenty years ago, my husband and I did not realize that this area was a magnet for stray cats. We are located in farm country and shortly after we moved in, cats of all sizes and styles started to wander onto and off of the property. Soon females would stay and have babies and once you see those babies, you have to put out some food for the moms so the kids will be healthy and then put food out for the kids so they can stay healthy. And then provide heated houses so the colony (for by then we did have a colony of feral cats) didn't freeze in the really cold winters we get. Cats would leave and other ones would show up.

More recently.

We have much less than this now.

This is Lovey, one of the few who loved to be handled and give kisses.

We took as many of them that we could catch to the vet so there wouldn't be more kittens and gave any of them that were friendly to friends and relatives and some to the shelter. Lots of them spent their whole lives living on our property or in the big old barn next door. A few lucky ones we just had to bring inside with us.


























Now, we are down to a handful outside where they will stay until they leave for Kitty Cat Heaven. They are content and well cared for and we hope that no new ones show up to take their place. But, like Motel 6, we'll leave the lights on.

What about the cats you have inside?

As the days go on, you will meet many of our indoor cats. Some of these photos are old (we've been married for 50 years this December and have never been without a cat or cats), so not all the kitties you will see are still with us. They are still very dear to us, though.
At present, we have 3 siblings, 2 siblings, boys and girls, all neutered and spayed. Our oldest is 14 and youngest is 8 months. Not giving out any numbers, and that is all I'm saying about that.

See you tomorrow for the Letter E.

Thank you for stopping in and I hope you enjoy my pampered cats.


Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - 2014