My kind of holidays

It seems hard to believe that it is already New Year's Eve. My Christmas holidays have been quiet but furry, just the way I like it. I've been feeding the ferals, yes of course on Christmas Day too, taking care of my six at home and looking in on my neighbour's two.

I'm sure there's some turkey in their canned food and on Boxing Day I found a turkey carcass that someone had left for the cats.

On Christmas Day we also fed Connie's cats. She has a colony of nine near us. They are obviously well cared for - look how nice and fat this one is.

And where was I on Boxing Day, well Canadian Tire of course. Friskies was on sale for 69 cents for a big tin and since I go through five a feed I stocked up.

Happy New Year to all cat lovers out there, let's hope 2011 brings more spaying and neutering and less homeless cats.

A 24 cat day!

Sunday was crazy down at the yard. I thought with the light snowfall we wouldn't see many cats but in fact we saw 24, all hungry. I kept opening can after can.

The most popular thing of all, though, was the fresh water. There were cats lined up at every bowl.
This is a very skittish new orange cat. It still amazes me that after all this time we would see new cats.

And here is the aftermath, a huge mound of dishes, all washed and ready for the next feed.

The holidays are almost upon us. I like feeding then, it's quiet and it feels Christmasy to be feeding the hungry. There will be things for Harry too. My only Christmas wishes are cat food and for all cats to be warm, safe, loved and well fed.

I hate winter!

I've never been a big fan of winter, but now that I have the ferals to care for, I truly hate it. I hate it not just because it's not nearly as much fun feeding, but mainly because I feel so bad all the poor feral cats that have to live in the cold and snowy conditions. I worry about them all the whole winter. This winter seems to already be nasty, this last week has had snow and bitter cold. The canned food freezes in minutes so if they don't get there right away it's dry food only.

We've set up shelters for them and there are lots of spots to get out of the cold and wind but still...

Our new feeding station has been getting some action.

This is Clyde, one of Clayton's two cats that we are feeding for the winter. Clayton works in the boatyard and smarter than the rest of us, has gone to Jamaica until March.

Here I am, a very unhandy person, building a shelter out of styrofoam sheets. Once the roof is glued on and it's filled with straw, it's a toasty spot for the cats to get out of the weather.

Can't wait until the winter is over (and it hasn't even started officially). Sigh.

Settling in

It seems the cats are adjusting to their new setup by the former pontoon.

I have one more thing to add, this lovely new feeding station, kindly constructed by Mark, who works with me. It is raised and will provide another dry spot for them to eat. It seems the more feeding stations the better, less competition, and all the cats get something.

Hank is making good use of this little feeding station made out of a plastic bin.

MC never eats much, she justs try a bit from each bowl. She still seems to be missing Queenie. They were always together.

This black cat is no dummy, he knows the food comes out of this car. Hurry up humans, you're taking too long, hungry.

Ah, a bit of sun to bask in on a chilly day.