Trust Issues

This is one of my new furfriends. She is the first one to warmed over and trusted me.

I have been feeding some strays in the backlane behind my house. There are some regulars and some from the other neighbourhood. Our lane, which my neighbour named Jalan Kucing (meaning Cat Road) has more smaller strays. A few of my neighbours are kind and feed the cats too. The bigger cats do find their own way and food.

I do not know if feeding strays is right or wrong. Are we adding on to the populace of the strays by feeding them? But can you walk away if you see a thin hungry frail kitten?

Some of these strays love our garden. We have a big mango tree which they love to climb and hang out. They also love to go up to the roof to sleep. Sometimes we hear them walk on the roof in the night. Other times we can hear some chase and run up on the roof when they help us to eradicate the rats.

Lately, i've moved their plate of food from the backlane to this spot in the back of our garden. Here they have their own space to eat peacefully and properly. Its a guarantee meal each evening when i am around. Though they don't quite like to eat kiblets, if there's nothing to eat out there, they will always come by to eat the kibs.

These are the regulars which i feed. There's mommy cat who is always wary of strangers. The smaller kitty who is terrified of people. The other two who are eating are more trusting.

Cats have a different personality compared to a dog when it comes to trust. Their survival instincts makes them less easy to trust which should be respected. I think trying to smother affection to a stray cat will just result in frightened and probably aggressive cats.

when the two trusting ones were little...

I've never owned any cats in my entire lifetime. We always have dogs.

Dom is very protective of his garden. When he sees a cat, he'll chase them up the tree. On some days, he is quite open to the cats being there and wouldn't bug them at all. But when he's feeling like having some fun, he'll chase them up and down and out. Sometimes he chases the birds in the garden too. Well... his brother Piper is not around. There's no other furry fella to play chase with.

With time, i am sure i'll have names for these four cats :) In the meantime, one of them is ever so willing to pose for me. She actually loves the camera. Compared to dogs, they make very good photography subjects. They love to pose and they can sit still :) Hope you enjoyed our new furfriends.

I can pose and sit still too... if there are treats involved here