Tag Archives: Moose

Photo: Moose — A Photo Essay

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The first known siting of the cat who became Moose. January 24, 2013.  I thought he belonged to someone and was mooching from the feeder (hence his original Mooch nickname)

Moose

 

 

 

Moose Moose

 

 

 

 

I caught images of him since then (May 13, 2013):

Moose

 

 

 

 

 

 

And more (June 15, 2013) See the rough area under his right ear? That was an open sore when I caught him yesterday.  I think he was sick even a year ago:

Moose Moose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 22, 2014:2014-01-22-10.17.52

January 24, 2014:

Moose Moose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 1, 2014:Moose

 

March 21, 2014:Moose

March 30, 2014:Moose

April 7, 2014:Moose

April 12, 2014:Sneaky and Moose

April 18, 2014:

Moose Moose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 18, 2014:Moose

Mr. L asked me how I could miss a cat I couldn’t even touch, but he grew on me. He seemed to feel comfortable here. I liked seeing him sleeping on the front porch, in the side yard, and other places around the property.  He and Sneaky seemed companionable.  Was he infected with FIV when he first showed up here? If I could have trapped him sooner, would he have been safe?  I’ll never know.  He was always a little unkept, so it’s likely he’d been ill from when I first saw him.

We’ve seen two or three other cats in the yard from time to time. Not regularly enough to know if they belong to someone or not. I expect at least one will be here more regularly soon now that there’s a “vacancy.” That’s the value of a stable feral population.  They can do beneficial things cats do without the over-population of an unstable colony.

Cats: RIP Mr. Moose

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Mr. MooseWith a heavy heart, I report that Mr. Moose is no longer with us. It’s with a heavier heart that I must report it was my decision.  Mr. L and I both agreed he was looking quite ill, and I needed to trap him as soon as possible to get him to Dr. Valeri.  I did that this morning.  I’d like to think I’d earned his trust enough, but I think he was just too sick.  I was able to walk by him on the porch this morning and set the trap up and bait it right in front of him.  He walked around it with kitten chow, but when I put Fancy Feast in, he walked in and trapped himself.  I took him to Dr. Valeri, and the plan became to sedate him, treat him, and neuter him right then.  Of course, while he was sedated, they tested him for FIV, and he came back positive.

He was always going to be a sick kitty, and I didn’t have a loving home for him to be sheltered in and sequestered from other cats — he would always be infectious to other cats. The only real option we had to offer dear Mr. Moose was euthanasia.  I was afraid that was going to be the case.  Who knows how many other cats in the neighborhood he’s infected during fights.  He doesn’t appear to have gotten into any fights with Sneaky — I check her regularly for bites and scratches, and she seems to have been able to steer clear of altercations.  I don’t think he went looking for fights, but fights clearly found him.  I’ll miss seeing the dear fellow on the porch, but we couldn’t heal him, and he was a threat to other kitties’ health.

Game camera results so far indicate Daphne and Tarzan get on the counter after we do anything in the kitchen to investigate what they missed.  Last night, Rossie came down the stairs and stopped to sniff the game camera on her way by.  This morning, somebody was investigating the camera — I have it strapped to the back stairs bannister, and somebody was curious about it. I think (but cannot confirm, because the imagery is too blurry) this morning’s inquisitor was Tarzan.  Why?  Because shortly after the camera was obscured by cat, Tarzan popped upon the counter.

Twice in two days, someone has wrestled the water tower to a spilled state.  One of those times, I had the tower cover on, and it didn’t matter.  I’d have to move the camera to monitor that position, but I’m willing to bet it was Pretty Boy Floyd or Tarzan.  Those are the only two cats large enough and strong enough (I think) to tip over a full one-gallon water tower or the water tower with the litter pan cover over it.  Both have demonstrated a propensity to do so in the past.  Lady is another possible culprit, but she was in the crate last night during the hours when it could have been tipped over, and I don’t think they’ve learned to open the door and re-close the door yet.

Never a dull moment.

Photo: Innocence and Moose

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Not necessarily the same thing. Here is innocence (at least it looks like it):

innocence

Here is Moose getting his breakfast (with Sneaky making sure she doesn’t get left out):

moose

There’s no leaving Sneaky out when Fancy Feast is involved.

Cats: Going with Moose.

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A few weeks ago, I posted a pondering about what to call Orange Creamsicle/Mooch.  We decided to go with Mooch, but that’s a pretty unflattering name for a kitty who clearly doesn’t have a home and is just trying to survive, so this week, Mr. L came up with the idea of calling him Moose, and I like it.  We could even go with Mr. Moose.  (I called him Mooch when he first started hanging out here when I thought he had a home and was just mooching off my feeder — that was clearly erroneous.)

Moose is motivated by Fancy Feast.  When I bring out the Fancy Feast, he stops moving away from me, sits, and waits for me to prepare his feast.  Last time we did this, I was able to put the bowl at arm’s reach, and he came and ate from it while I stood nearby giving Sneaky a little Fancy Feast of her own.  I crumble the L-Lysine treats into his bowl to get him to eat it in hope it will help him improve his obviously negatively impacted health until I’m able to get him to veterinary care.  I was able to touch him on top of the head while he was eating this week — which resulted in him immediately bolting away and disappearing for two days, but he’s back on the porch this morning.

Sneaky made her annual trip to the vet this week, got a clean bill of health and shots.

The cultures came back from the boys, and nothing grew.  This was a good sign, but I verified that Pretty Boy Floyd is our inappropriately urinating culprit (he did it in front of me).  We’re continuing the amoxicillin for a full three weeks.  I gave him half a baby aspirin for three days, and I’m picking up a medication for him on Monday.  Dr. Valeri thinks he may have a chronic cystitis, which could be tricky.  She’s looking for ways that will help him.

Lady is very cooperative about taking her Reconcile in the morning and with getting in the cage at night.  I give her a treat right after the Reconcile, and I lead her to the cage with a treat at night. In fact, last night she was sleeping on a box beside Mr. L while we worked on a puzzle in the kitchen.  Around 8:45 pm (about the time I like to tuck her in for the night), I noticed she was sitting up and watching toward the counter (where the treats are stored).  I took that opportunity to get her treat and put her to bed.  She went willingly.  I feel better about putting her in the cage at night when she goes willingly.  She only goes in the cage, because Mr. L doesn’t like his sleep interrupted by fighting cats, and that’s the best way to minimize that from happening. Although, Rossie seems to have developed a dislike for Floyd as well.  There’s a discussion once or twice a week between Lady and Rossie, but Rossie doesn’t appear to be significantly bothered by them, so I’m less worried about their relationship than I was.

I have to go to San Antonio this week (watering), so I’ll be taking Lady, Natasha, Floyd, Tarzan, and Delta with me.  Mr. L will keep Rossie, Ajax, Daphne, and Ruby here with him.  Sneaky, of course remains here.  Moose will do as he pleases.

Cats: Mooch Update

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I haven’t written about Mooch lately.  I wanted to complete our vacation and see where he stood when we got back.  I didn’t see him for the first week or two after we got back from vacation, but over the last two weeks, I’ve started to see more of him.  … Continue reading →