Bonne Chance: Unaware of the camera

Bonne Chance: Happy Cat Nap

Our sun-drunk feral friend pretending to be an ordinary domesticated pet.

Bonne Chance: Quo Vadis?

Our feral friend had what I call an "away day" yesterday. Where do you go Mate? And what happened that you return to me with a limp?

Of his dog attack wounds - still no luck tracking the blighter - all but one have healed. But that one has formed an abscess. He has let me work on it a bit, however, he clearly could use some professional help as he also has a bad case of truly foul diarrhea. Truly foul diarrhea that he has little control of.

Where are my gum boots? I need gum boots - STAT!

My last attempt to crate him for the vet left me with some angry red souvenirs, and a painful morning with the cotton balls and antiseptic...so no luck there yet. He clearly remembers the last time I boxed him.

I cant blame him for my wounds, I pushed it past where I should have backed off. This pesky 'doing the right thing' feeling is a tough one to shake off, even if you arent sure if you are - or not.

If he does not get rapidly better, I may have to rent a trap. Not that I think he'd fall for it - not for a minute! But Id rather not wait till he is too weak to fight me. And now with this new limp...well...

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This pic of him is from a happier day early this month.

Bonne Chance: Peaceful nap

Since I last blogged about my feral friend, he has been attacked by a dog. I did what I could for his wounds, which were not as bad as they could have been. Bonne Chance is still not having anything to do with being boxed for the vet - no small wonder there really. The dogs owner better hope I never find out who he is...although it is only a matter of time as it comes down my street every morning at 6:15am. I suspect they just let it out, rather than take it for a walk. Morons. What goes around comes around.

Happy New Year

Wishing you all a comfy spot for a good nap in 2010.
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Ive been on the road for a couple days, and leave again tommorrow for another round. Till then Bonne Chance knows where Ive stashed supplies of food and water for him. The Indoor cats envy his life, but they just dont have any idea, do they? He is still unwell, but attempts to re-box him for a first vet visit have yielded no success. Will keep gently trying.

Be safe out there till next time.

Bonne Chance: and the Day Late Christmas Miracle

Long time readers will remember that Bonne Chance first arrived on my patch last January. He was completely feral, and I could not bring myself to take him into the local animal pound as they would have immediately euthanized him. Who was I to decide who should live or die? It certainly wasn't his fault that he was living rough.

With time he began to trust me. Sadly, no matter how well we got on, my two housecats could find no room in their hearts to share me. Bonne Chance would have to remain an outdoor cat until he was socialized enough to have a chance at being re-homed.

But he kept getting sick. And on tuesday the 22nd, his condition suggested that even if he could pull through, that there was likely an infectious element. I had no choice but to try to bring him in to the professionals.

Once at the shelter, disaster. Inside, the office staff was being rude to me, while outside, a man assigned to do a preliminary check on Bonne Chance made what was later described as "...an honest mistake...".

He opened the cat carrier, while he was still outside.

Bonne Chance did what any self respecting cat would do. He took off like a shot, and disappeared into the distance. I had brought him to his doom.

Yes, I did give the staff a big serve. And then I walked the grounds searching for him, before returning to the office to have another go. I was devastated. The point of this whole - nearly a year long - exercise was to HELP him, not make things exponentially WORSE.

I tried to come to terms with it, tried to convince myself it wasn't really my fault. But it was. It just was. He would have been far better off dying a long slow death in his own territory, than essentially dumped in the unknown.

I went back each day and called and searched. I prayed to "If There Are Any Cat Gods Out There", I cried and then went back and looked again. When they were closed I stood at the gates and called. I could not assuage my guilt.

Its seven and a half kilometers from here to the pound, and nearly all of that is over major roads, a rail line and industrial estates. I hoped he would just show up back here at home, but I didn't fancy my chances much.

But today he did! He just walked up the path like any other day, until he saw me in the window...then he meowed and ran the rest of the way. We are very happy to be reunited, and he appears to be none the worse for wear!

He is my cat now. Wonder if I will be able to get him in a box again for his vet appointment, (snip and chip, LOL!)

Bed and Breakfast, Bonne Chance

Returning to me after a 2 day absence-without-leave. Where have you been Mate? Dont you know I get worried when you dont show up for several meals in a row? Take pity on your poor furless friend, and let me know if you wont be in for tea.
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So the surgeon I like wasnt able to do my carpal tunnel release last week, and her stand in did it. Which was OK with me on the day, because, as you all know, it needed doing. But today was the post op check, and no, the thumb is not supposed to still be numb, nor the hand in general weaker than before I went in. So we are going to give it another week, and hope it resolves itself by then.

Its always something, eh? On the bright side, I am weaning off the 'hed-meds' and so any day now I might stop looking for a fight everywhere I go.

She's lost control again

But she expressed herself in many different ways,
Until she lost control again.
And walked upon the edge of no escape,
And laughed "I've lost control".
She's lost control again.
~Joy Division

Will try again tommorrow for a more comprehensive post. Seeing the doctor Thursday, for what its worth.

Outside looking in

Aurora and Priapus supervise one of my visits with Bonne Chance.

Speaking of The Outside Cat: he dissappeared for a couple days of the week before last. When he did return, we were back at square one - zero trust. I think someone had a go at trying to get him. Hoping their intentions are as honourable as mine. But I doubt it, dont you? Anyhow, Ive been trying to win him back again, although it looks like time is just about up. Spring is not far enough away. I saw Persephone last night, I hope that bloated belly is a bad case of worms, otherwise....

All my cats have developed a taste for Fussy Cat. You've got to read labels very carefully these days - its only in the small print that they tell you what kind of premium steak they have minced for you. KANGAROO!

What a long, strange trip its been

Bonne Chance is doing well, although progress is still slow. Here he is enjoying a nap and looking very handsome. If I warm a piece of raw chicken, he will let me pet him for about a half hour, purring the whole time.

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It seems many of those side effects I was having, were related to a slight overdose. Just because the old med wasnt working anymore, doesnt mean it wasnt still active in my system. So it would have been better to wean off of it, instead of cold turkey. Which I knew, but willingly ignored.

But then they started me on the new med at twice the recomended starting dose. It could have been a lot worse, so Ive been lucky. Things seem to be stabilizing in that department now.

As for the desired effect? I still cant say, but so far Im flat. That kinda makes everything harder, not really caring one way or another about anything. In its way its good to no longer wish to be hit by a bus in between bouts of homicidal rage. But I still wonder why there isnt some better treatment for depression, in this age of scientific marvels every minute.

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"Sometimes the light's all shining on me
Other times I can barely see
Lately it occurs to me
what a long strange trip it's been."

~ Truckin', Grateful Dead

Bonne Chance: About last night

"About last night, Im sorry. I shouldnt have let it get so out of hand, I dont want to give you the wrong idea, but Im just not the kind of guy who settles down - I hope you understand, and that we can still be friends."

Uh huh. Well just so we understand each other, if you were human Id have given up a long time ago. Hey, you'll be back, you know you want it!

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The saga continues - its a flippin' soap opera!

Bonne Chance: Breaking News!

From my kitchen window, you can see the neighbor's 'dead car' that our lad has been living in. Leaping through the missing window was a breeze for him. But he seems to be making a smooth transition to the big ugly box on my front porch. It is surely less drafty in the box, and the squishy soft bed inside just seals the deal.



No rain today, so at last he can catch up on his garden naps. See how close I can get? It gets better!



Whenever I am in the kitchen, Aurora will be under foot, feigning starvation. Last week as I was trimming the fat from a steak I had a brainstorm. Aurora got a bit of course, but there was way more than one sedentary house cat should have. So I split the remaining fat (with a bit of meat attached for good measure) into daily portions and began a new experiment.

Taking a flashlight/torch with me into the garden after dark, I found Bonne Chance in one of his usual spots. As this was a new time and place to be approaching him, I was very careful to move slowly and speak softly. I held a warmed morsel out toward him, and let him catch the scent. He meowed. A Meow! At last something besides a hiss.

I placed the morsel on the ground and retreated. He was on it immediately. I am sure that in this cold early winter, the extra fat will do him only good. He is still getting a breakfast and a dinner with more balanced nutrition.

The next night, we repeated this new routine, and he took the goodie right from my hand!

Tonight, I was out of the beef bits. I had saved some chicken bits, but they were still frozen. So I brought out a few of the Inside Cat's Multi-national Brand treats.

Seeing me come out, he walked to me - meowing! A lovely, but manly, meow. As he reached for the tidbit in my hand, the scent obviously was not what he expected.

He took a step back, and gave me a confused look. I apologized, explained, and offered the treat again. I had to really work hard to defend this obviously paltry subsitution, and then it happened.

He leaned into my hand, running the side of his face and neck along my fingers, not just once, but several times. Dropping the treats, I tentatively scratched the back of his neck, ears, and back. He purred and purred and purred. One of the world's best sounds, a cat's purr.

After a few minutes of lovin', he broke off and began to eat the little pile of treats. I retreated inside to leave it at that for the night. Short, sweet and positive. You can bet I will have some dandy treat for him tommorrow night!

Bonne Chance: Flophouse Digs

Its been raining heavily for days and days. Although we are lucky we are not in one of the flooded towns, I still worried about our "Outside" cat, Bonne Chance. He didnt seem to be using any of the little houses I set up for him, and since this rain, he had been showing up soaked to his skin.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Years ago we had made this large carpet covered plywood box as part of a cat gym/scratching post for our indoor cats. But it had fallen out of favour with them, and was replaced. Stubbing my toes on it in the night for about the thousandth time, I had a lightbulb moment.

There is practically nothing that cant be fixed with a tarp and a roll of duct tape, (okay, sometimes you have to add a wire coat hanger). A plan was hatched to put into action the following morning. Damn. I really am a crazy cat lady.

He does sleep in it at night, and leaves reluctantly in the morning when he hears us up and about in the house in the morning.
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Meant to blog long before this, but suddenly find myself doing stuff. Some of said stuff is totally crazy (cleaning frenzies, nearly ready for a House Beautfiul spread), and some is kinda fun (making myself some PJ's).

And since last Friday there have been some hours where I felt happy, albeit between hours of feeling decidedly NOT happy, but like I say, 'a win is a win'.

I found myself a bit wary of these happy feelings, I suppose because they are so alien to me, but although I joke* about it, Im not unhappy to feel happy.

Yes, I agree. "...not unhappy to feel happy..." does sound a tad suss.

Oh well, never mind!
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* Think Monty Python and the Holy Grail: 'Bring out your dead' scene:

"I feel happy!!! I feel happy!!!!"
"I dont want to go on the cart!!!"

Persephone of the Storm Water Drains

(((Nom, nom, nom.)))




Hey, wait a sec...it feels like someone is watching me!




(((GASP!!!)))




Um, lady, Bonne Chance said I could have his leftovers.


She doesnt come everyday, and when she does, it is always at odd times. When she finished her snack, I watched her as she slunk a few houses away, and then down the storm water drain.

Leaving the ache in my heart aside for as long as I can; I found myself wondering about the personality (cat-ality?) that chooses life in the storm water drains vs the one who chooses life on the 'surface'.

Or perhaps it has less to do with the lifestyle either place offers, and more to do with taste, ie: a preference for rat, over bird. (I could go on, but its sad enough that I spend time thinking about these things, without spending an equal amount of time writing it all down.)

Anyhoo...

Indeed Bonne Chance is not at all bothered by Persephone. Which leads me to further conjecture, (of which you shall also be spared).

However, Aurora is heartbroken. Untill Persephone started showing up, Aurora was always happy to sit at the window and admire Bonne Chance. But no more. Now she is pissed. Theres only a few reasons why a 'woman' gets that mad at a 'man'.

__________________

Yesterday, I had the screen door open for some fresh air. As I passed the door around early evening, I saw Bonne Chance on the garden path, and when he saw me he walked quickly up the steps and right up to the screen door, I was so happy! I felt this was a great sign of progress, at last!

But then!! Aurora came charging down the hall hissing and spitting and hit the metal screen door at speed. BAM!!

Luckily for me, Bonne Chance only took a few steps backward and hissed a reply to her. I hope it wont cool his enthusiasm for interacting with me. I couldnt tell this morning as the poor guy was dripping with rain and therefore too grumpy to tell. Fingers crossed for dinner!

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Persephone, Queen of the Underworld at Wikipedia

Bonne Chance: The Hangman Waits

By the end of April, when he sees me at mealtimes, he will often get up and start walking toward me! Hissing the whole way, but walking toward me! Although he continues to stop just out of arms reach. Still, a 'win' is a 'win', no matter how small.

I dish up the goodies, take one step back from the bowl and then invite him to help himself. Always he sniffs the air and shifts his weight from side to side for anywhere up to two minutes. But eventually he decides that he is hungry enough to come closer.

While he is eating I can get close enough to touch him, although I havent yet done so. I tap the edge of the bowl to get him to notice how close my hand is, hoping he will eventually realize that I will not harm him. I am going to wait for a sign from him that he is willing to be touched. Im certain that if I try it before that, it will be more of a setback than a step ahead.

However once he has finished his meal, he retreats to the 'three foot mark', and all bets are off again.



Ive been rolling all this over in my mind for months now, trying to find more possible solutions. He is feral. If I bring him in, he will be put down, and Im not comfortable with that. Who am I do decide who lives or dies? Hell, at this point in time I cant even figure out what to cook for dinner tonight...and he is not without some happiness. Certinally the bit of looking after he gets from me is of some comfort to him.

But Im not sure that I will actually be able to 'socialize' him enough to have him spared, and I know that bringing him inside with my two would be a mammoth disaster. In so many ways.

Mind you, if he turns up here sick beyond what I can help with (not much when you cant touch) - or gravely injured - then I will not hesitate to capture him by whatever means. I will not watch him suffer beyond what he is used to. If such should come to pass, I reserve the right to cry my eyes out afterward for as long as I want.

Ive set up a few boxes out of the weather for him to shelter in, although so far he seems to overnight in a 'dead car' in a neighbors yard. Fair enough Mate, but youve got options. Winter is not officially here yet, so he may find accommodation on my side of the street just a few stars higher come the wind and rain.

But whatever is to be done, it begs for doing before the breeding season in spring. I might be a crazy cat lady, but I refuse to be a totally irresponsible one.

Wish us luck.

________________

We will catch up again with Bonne Chance as events develop, Cheers!

Bonne Chance: Feral Redemption

Just after one evening meal with Bonne Chance, I returned inside and began doing the dishes. The only good thing about doing the dishes is I can look out the kitchen window while Im at it. From there I can see a small part of the garden, where a prickly Grevillia 'Scarlet Sprite' is planted.

This shrub is very popular with the birds, and lucky me, there was a White Plumed Honeyeater hovering about it, taking nectar from the flowers, as they do.

I was enjoying the show - wondering if it would last long enough for me to get the camera, when into this visions periphery, a low slung, fast moving, blur slunk in, and came to rest beneath the shrub.

I was out there in a heartbeat, and well timed it was. The honeyeater hovered, oblivious, just a foot and a half above the head of Bonne Chance, who was in prime position to pounce upward and claim his prize.

Just as his legs began to propel him, I clapped my hands sharply three times, adding a harsh verbal "NUH-UH!" for emphasis. Instantly the honeyeater took off to parts unknown.

Bonne Chance first landed awkwardly on the spiky shrub, wriggled his way off a stout branch, and then fell to the ground. There he proceeded to walk casually back to the sunny side of the garden and made every effort to pretend he had meant the whole thing to happen just exactly the way it did.

I, however, stood still, suddenly feeling sickly concerned about the lack of Little Wattle Bird sightings of late.


Getting ahold of my thoughts, I wandered over to my furry friend and at that invisible 'three foot mark', I crouched down, intent on having a deep and meaningful conversation.

I said "Hey Mate, I know its in your nature, but could you NOT do that HERE? I mean, you cant even be hungry after that dinner...(he yawned!!!)...I know! I know! Opportunity only knocks once, but Mate, the birds are friends of mine too."

Just then, a mob of Common 'Indian' Mynas came through, prompting me to add "Except that lot - you can have all of those you want!"

And thats when it suddenly dawned on me! Well, yes, but besides my being a complete hypocrite...

~~~ THE MOST AMAZING IDEA EVER! ~~~

I will make up a set of flash cards - Birdy Flash Cards! And I will instruct Bonne Chance....work with me here for a minute...For example: show him the Rainbow Lorikeet flash card and say "NO! Not yummy!" Then show him the Common 'Indian' Mynas flashcard and say "Go for it!" while simultaneously giving him a tasty little treat!

After I have him trained, he can help me recruit other feral cats. Together we will form a mighty Army of Ferals!

We will sweep across Australia wiping out non-indigineous birds thus reducing pressures on our native bird populations!

And One Great Day, Australia will no longer deride the Feral cat! But herald them as some of our Nation's great Heroes!

Bonne Chance: Homeless Freedom

I think what brings cats into my garden is, firstly, an absence of dogs. Followed closely by an abundance of birds. Add a drought sparse shrubbery and any cat can find a perfect spot to either bake in or escape the sun...and if one is really lucky, lunch will just land beside you! Gotta love the service in a place like that.



By the end of March, as you can see, he is comfortable with me being around him. Although that only lasts untill about the three foot mark - then he will retreat. To the three foot mark. Must just be his personal space requirement.



He will allow me to sit with him while he eats. I talk softly to him in an attempt to gain more trust. One day I asked him "When are you going to let me pet you? Ive got to get you socialized so you can have chance at a real home." While licking his whiskers, he looked up momentarily, I had the impression he was doing the cat equivalent of rolling his eyes.

Pressing the issue I continued, saying "Look, I know what its like out on the streets. It was a long time ago, but I remember like yesterday! The never being at ease, danger everywhere, long, long, neverending nights, sleeping in the day when its safer - and winter! How cold is winter? Dont you want to come in from the cold?"

He may have stuck his nose deeper into his dish, but he continued eating, and then I remembered something about my street days.

Under my breath I said "Of course, there is a sort of...freedom."

And I kid you not. He raised his head. He looked me right in the eye.

I felt his answer.

"Exactly!"



And as he walked away up the path, I realized why I care so much for this feral cat. We are kindred spirits in our way. Both a bit too damaged to ever really come in from the cold. Both doing our best living on the fringe of 'society', consumed entirely with the business of just getting through each day.

Bonne Chance: Two to Tango

I have never had an animal so wholeheartedly refuse me. He would arrive in the early evening, and give me a look of utter disdain. I would present my offerings - dry and tinned foods with fresh water - and retreat inside the house. Only then would he gorge himself. After, he would have a bath, a bit of a nap in the sun, then again disappear untill the following evening.

We are still engaged in the long slow dance toward what will be

It took six long weeks of these slow, careful steps till I had earned enough trust to sit within three feet of him while he eats. It was on one such occasion that I snapped this picture of him. He was so curious about the sounds coming from the camera, that he let his guard down. It was the first time I got to see his face without a malevolent expression.



Since then we began to find him in the garden on random mornings, and I have taken to giving him a nice breakfast if I find him there. We have a strange schedule in our house, so if Iam unable to check for him before 10am, he is never here. We hope he has another appointment with another crazy cat person somewhere nearby. Yet other days, he spends the whole day in my garden.

Some mornings after his breakfast we see him up the top of the street heading around the corner. On those days he is never back for dinner. Trying to follow him has been fruitless.

Bonne Chance: Dead Cat Walking

Last October I talked about the five stray cats I was looking after . One was found to be a malingering housecat. A deep and meaningful conversation with his owner solved that one. Another just disappeared, which is a heartbreaker, everytime. The remaining three, two of them pregnant, were brought to our local animal shelter. None of them had micro-chip ID's.

At the shelter, I learned that their first test would be an observation of temperment. The rep explained that the 'socialized' cats would all hang out together in one group, and the 'ferals' in another. I thought that was an interesting, but un-scientific test. But given what I know about the behaviour of cats, I would agree its as good a start as any.

If they found that the surrendered cats were 'socialized', they would be health checked, and if passing there, they would have a chance at being re-homed. As I had been 'socializing' with each of these three, I had no worries that I was doing the right thing.

Surrendered cats found to be 'feral' are euthanized within days.

In early January, Bonne Chance arrived.

He is definately feral.

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As usual Folks...to be continued.
Photo taken, surreptitiously, through the lounge room window last January.