Our oldest will be 14 soon. It’s remarkable he and his grandmother managed to last outside as long as they did, but the grandma was a VERY smart cat. She sustained a broken leg when those dogs attacked at night while they slept hidden inside a large box on our front porch. It took me a few days to find them both, as they took refuge in woods behind our house (she must’ve run interference for the grandson to run away, as he was uninjured).
The vet told us that we either keep her inside, or she wouldn’t survive the next attack. She’d have turned 17 this year, but died from oral cancer 3 years ago, but enjoyed her time (4 years) inside the house right up to the end.
Since then, I tamed and rescued two other feral cats hanging around our yard, and they’re safe and healthy inside.
There’s something very satisfying about providing a good home to pets. Whenever I look around on a lazy afternoon and see the cats laying and sleeping deeply instead of the light sleep cats are famous for I know I have succeeded at one of my life goals, I have created a home that is relaxing and comfortable, a place of peace. I mean I know that on an intellectual level, but the cats supply that visual evidence the human brain likes so much.