2012 Annual FR Christmas Pet Photo Thread

It’s really hard to photogrpah her staying still because she rarely does.

LOL! That's why we only have photos of "baby" Belle when she was asleep. She's 7 now, but still a nut and very difficult to photograph.

See post 58..you notice that she looks a bit "out of it?" Well, I woke her from a slumber on the sofa, put the little jingle bell collar on her, made her sit, and SLID her across the wood floor into position..like a piece of furniture. She was still groggy...the look on her face when I was sliding her little butt across the floor was priceless...it bought me about 30 seconds to snap a photo.

When I was trying to get a cat to trust me, I would put the food out on the porch, and then sit on the porch railing and “watch his back” when he ate. He got to where he quite expected it, and even after he came in the house he liked to have some one watch his back while he ate.

We were outside once when a huge raccoon came strolling up the sidewalk aiming for the food, I grabbed the cat, yelled for my husband, and rushed inside all at the same time. He knew we were okay after that incident. Jeez, I loved that cat!

One of my cats, Patch, is a domesticated feral. She was already living on our property when we moved into our house a few years ago. I began putting food out for her after she had a litter of kittens in our back yard (actually in hopes of getting the kittens so we could find them homes). Gradually, she got used to us. I realized she was beginning to trust us when I was on the back porch firing up the grill and instead of running away she walked up to within a few feet of me and sat under the table watching me set the grill up.

Eventually she started letting us pet her, and would occasionally come into the house to eat Apple's food. My wife would usually leave the door open when Apple wanted to go outside, which is how Patch would get in. Being a feral cat, she would typically eat every last crumb in the dish! Finally, one day my wife came home and found Patch on our bed.

She's now grown used to being a house cat, and at least with the two of us she is very affectionate. She's still a little skittish around other people though.

All of your stories give me hope. :)

Maybe someday she will make the move to become an indoor kittie. Truthfully, I can well understand why she would want to be outside. Lots more to do and see.

Being a dog person, I am having a hard time understanding that she doesn’t want my protection...at this time. But I’m learning catese thru her for the last few years. Her babies didn’t make it as outside kitties. So I worry about her. Of course, they were much more tame. Good hunters, but not as cagey as she is.

OK, following your advice, here's my first attempt in posting a photo from my file.......

Wow, looks like it worked, thanks! BTW, this is Squeek........

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