I always thought they’d follow the food ... but there were doubters. They’ll never use them, they said. They’re creatures of habit, they said.
I said, they like food!
The three feeding stations more or less installed, cats waiting by the door for their dinners as usual, I emerge with tinned cat food mixed with macaroni - yum. But what’s this, they ask - why is she striding in the wrong direction, delicious wafts trailing behind her?
The quick ones - ChubbyChops stands out, Jessie as well - follow, tails in the air. Others remain under the horreo, mystified. Huskie, a case in point.
I cross the large grassy courtyard, climb the wall to the upper terrace, to arrive at the feeding stations. The delicious aroma of tinned cat food and macaroni drawing 4 or 5 cats behind me. I place it in the bowls and the brave ones - those who are demonstrating their ability to cope with change - begin eating.
I said, they like food!
The three feeding stations more or less installed, cats waiting by the door for their dinners as usual, I emerge with tinned cat food mixed with macaroni - yum. But what’s this, they ask - why is she striding in the wrong direction, delicious wafts trailing behind her?
The quick ones - ChubbyChops stands out, Jessie as well - follow, tails in the air. Others remain under the horreo, mystified. Huskie, a case in point.
I cross the large grassy courtyard, climb the wall to the upper terrace, to arrive at the feeding stations. The delicious aroma of tinned cat food and macaroni drawing 4 or 5 cats behind me. I place it in the bowls and the brave ones - those who are demonstrating their ability to cope with change - begin eating.
The feeding stations themselves are nicely made by Tomás, a local carpenter, based on a design from the US for exactly that purpose. They are intended to keep the weather out while the cats eat, and the cats may well hang out there as well. Here’s Adam as Beast of Burden (that’s ‘burden’, Australians!)
We’ve put them in a place where they can also just about see the place where Josefa puts down her cat food. And the idea as avid readers will know is to free up some territory close to our buildings for Señor Scruffy from the ‘hood in London, who will be arriving - although at this point he is oblivious to this fact - with his two long haired mini-me homeys Zita and Zaldi, and his bad tempered tabby sidekick Mizuki, in January.
But what happened to the cats who clung to the original plan of being fed under the horreo? I hear you ask. I admit we have not been hardline. A few stragglers have been fed in situ, but over the next few months they will be encouraged to get with the new programme.
Meanwhile here are are a few recent pics including Jessica crashed out in the sun, while a white butterfly enjoys the painted sage, Chubby Chops below. Bette Davis is lurking in the foliage. And some humans - Josefa and Adam next to Josefa's amazing veggie garden, plus someone in the tree!
But what happened to the cats who clung to the original plan of being fed under the horreo? I hear you ask. I admit we have not been hardline. A few stragglers have been fed in situ, but over the next few months they will be encouraged to get with the new programme.
Meanwhile here are are a few recent pics including Jessica crashed out in the sun, while a white butterfly enjoys the painted sage, Chubby Chops below. Bette Davis is lurking in the foliage. And some humans - Josefa and Adam next to Josefa's amazing veggie garden, plus someone in the tree!
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