Daryl the Feral(ret)

Daryl is the Lucky-Thirteenth cat caught by the Ontario Feral Cat Project.  He came from a small colony in an industrial area.  His colony has an excellent caregiver, so the cats had been eating well and they all came through their surgeries well.  However one of Daryl's cousins had a bad eye, and Daryl had weepy eyes, so we kept those two a little longer.  One of our volunteers decided to foster Daryl.  The cousin was treated and returned to his colony. 

Daryl Udpate 3/4/2010:  I hardly ever have what my new family calls "feral moments" anymore.  I like my new home very much, 'specially since they have a big outside where we all like to play.  My friend, Pepper, is really good at climbing trees.  And one of the other cats is going to teach me how to hunt  we got a mousy and a shrew today.  The mousy was really tasty, but the shrew was YUCKY!.  The best part is when the tall ones call us back inside to get warm and have a snack.  Recently, the tall ones brought some other feral cats home to "socialize".  What does that mean?  We cats are very social and have very strict rules about who gets to eat first and all...  Anyway, these new cats are very frightened, but the tall ones are very patient with them and give them lots of pets and play as well as treats and food.  I hope they get good new homes.  I still really like the food here.  I bit my fishy off the string again...

This is Daryl the Feral's (ret.) story. From the beginning...

Day one.  OK, the cage is too big, the "little" cat cave is too big, the people are WAY too big.  The got me one of the Ontario Feral Cat Project toys.  Oh boy!  I love my fishy! 

Day Two.  You know, these big creatures are pretty warm.  And they know how to rub a guy's ears... Just right

The chow here is pretty good, too.  They keep putting drops in my eyes and stuff in my ears.  I hate that!  I don't want them to pet me, but they keep playing with my fishy!  And I mustn't let them have my fishy.  Maybe if I let them catch me, he'll rub my ears again...

Day Four - This place is great!  There are a million hidey-holes, and that guy really isn't trying to get my fishy; he's just playing with the other end.  I really like to have "pets and cuddles".  Sometimes they sneak up on me when I'm on the floor and I have to hide.  But as long as I'm on the guy's desk, they don't look so big.  Sometimes I look out the window and see other cats.  I'd sure like to play with those other cats.  Maybe soon...

Day 14 - Oh dang-it!  My new people say I have ringworm and still can't play with the other cats.  The people play with me a lot, but it's not the same.  They gave me a bath; that was really scary and horrible, but I got lots of nice cuddles and a really warm cat cave.  Now my coat is nice and shiny.  The people said that I was part of their colony now.  I've been adopted!

Week 7 (AKA Christmas 2009)- There sure is a lot of activity here in my new colony.  The tall people have been coming and going for days.  Lots of good treats.  The tall ones apparently like to catch birds, too.  They cooked a huge one.  They share more than my old colony did, too.  All of us cats got nice bits.  They gave me a new fishy, but I've already chewed it off the string, maybe she will fix it for me (again).  There is another kitten here that I really like to play with.  She is very pretty, but is fast and quite fierce. Her name is Pepper.  Me & my Fishy.

 - Check back here for more updates on Daryl the Feral (ret.)