Wicket's BIG Adventure!

[WashingtonBay]

Well, Wicket's really been wanting to go outside, and at this point she thinks it will be easier to get forgiveness than it is to get permission! :rolleyes:

As a short history, Wicket is the kitten we decided to keep from my first feral litter this summer. She's littermate to Sedona's larger kitten Binx. Also black like Binx, but longer haired. When she was little she had a real flat face and I thought she looked like an Ewok from Star Wars. One of the Ewok's names is Wicket.

I haven't let her outside on her own yet, I think she's still too little and too dumb. Though we are on seven acres, we do live next to a store, and she's so naive and people oriented, I fear her heading out there, moreso than I've feared it with the other cats. She's just different than most cats. No interest in running away really, but a fearless eagerness to explore that might get her in trouble. I've taken her out on her leash, but haven't had time for that lately. "No Wicket! I have to work on this forum!"

Well, she's taken to just making a mad dash for it when I come and go out the door. And she's quick, the little bugger! And she is so THRILLED when she breaks out that she just runs! FREEEEEEE! WOOOO HOOO! :p

Yesterday she got out and it took about four trips around the house, me chasing helplessly after her, before she let herself be caught. :mad: She's not afraid at all, she's chirping and having a grand old time getting away. "Weeeeeee!"

Today, she busted out again, and I grabbed the camera before engaging in the game.

It wasn't hard to find her...

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m270/WashingtonBay/Feral%20kittens/10-17-08013.jpg

Tweek comes when she sees me calling. Wicket thinks "not yet... I just got out here!"

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m270/WashingtonBay/Feral%20kittens/10-17-08016.jpg

She runs around the back of the house.:p

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m270/WashingtonBay/Feral%20kittens/10-17-08019.jpg

Wicket finds Pippin out back! He's not much fun to play with though. Pippin grumbles at finding this annoyance even during his outside time.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m270/WashingtonBay/Feral%20kittens/10-17-08006.jpg

Wicket slips through the back fence which actually does make me nervous, because I didn't have my gate key with me and I can't go get her out there. She doesn't go far though, and Tweek actually seems to beckon her to come back. No no Wicket... this is our yard. Out there, there be dragons!

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m270/WashingtonBay/Feral%20kittens/10-17-08008.jpg

And come back she does...

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m270/WashingtonBay/Feral%20kittens/10-17-08009.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m270/WashingtonBay/Feral%20kittens/10-17-08010.jpg

But she's not ready for this adventure to be over yet, she high-tails it back out front.:p

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m270/WashingtonBay/Feral%20kittens/10-17-08012.jpg

Hmmmm.... what else can we do?

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m270/WashingtonBay/Feral%20kittens/10-17-08014.jpg

After about four more trips around the house (It's FUN to be chased!:p)

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m270/WashingtonBay/Feral%20kittens/10-17-08021.jpg

I decide to try the 'curiosity killed the cat' tactic and started dragging her bell on a leash toy.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m270/WashingtonBay/Feral%20kittens/10-17-08018.jpg

Which worked. Foiled! Caught! Back in the house! Coubling Jack (He's either her cousin or her sibling, we're not sure!) checks her out... "So what was it like out there, was it cool?"

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m270/WashingtonBay/Feral%20kittens/10-17-08023.jpg

Wicket says "Oh yes, it was very cool. There's grass and bushes and things to climb on, and it's really super c..." "Oh Hi mom! I'm sorry! I really am! See my halo?" :innocent:.

[FrogInABlender]

LOL! Well, I'm glad you caught her, but I'm sure you felt like wringing her neck when you did. Bear, my bob-tailed house cat that I got from Cav, got away from me like that and ran off in the bushes and stayed gone for 10 or 15 minutes a while back. I was worried sick because he's NEVER been outside except for when he's made a mad dash like that. I called and called and heard nothing. I finally just went in the house, hoping he'd see that I was gone and come looking for me, and that's what he did. I was torn between wringing his neck and hugging it! I keep the broom by the door at all times now, just to keep his little butt from sneaking out between my legs! :nono:

[WashingtonBay]

She's started making a habit of this, and truthfully, she could probably be out, I just worry about her. I don't consider her grown up enough... she's just a little kitten!

I've been more worried about Jack or Peanut getting out. I mean, they'll probably end up as barn cats, but not yet, and if they got out I'd never catch them.

We hate to transition Jack and Peanut to the barn with winter coming, and they're not much trouble in the house, so we've just let them be.... maybe by spring they'll have decided if they want to be pets or be barn kitties.

We're still making progress on that (attached)

[Vibe]

Awwww! how cute!!

[FrogInABlender]

...she could probably be out, I just worry about her. I don't consider her grown up enough... she's just a little kitten!...

LOL! You're such a Mother Hen! ;)

Cute pic of the little monsters! Looks like they've taken to domestication rather well.

[WashingtonBay]

Well, that's often as close as I can get. Sometimes I can pet them, sometimes they run away. I can't pick them up.

But they seem content with life. They use the litterbox outhouse well, we've taken their cage apart and given it back to Barkley, They're not hard to have around. Jack watches us all the time, like he's very curious about us and what we're about, but he's still holding back from making a step forward. The little Peanut is just sweet, but sooooo timid. Unless I have cheese. She's crazy about shredded cheese.

[Equine_Woman]

Lol, what a little stinker!!!! I have one that does the mad dash for the door but it's to get inside. . .lol. OF course once he's in he only wants to stay for like 5 minutes. .. then he meows LOUDLY to be let back outside!!

[Mandzanita]

So how many cats occupy your home and land in all?

She's a cute little thing, such personality. I love each animals individuality :)

[FrogInABlender]

...They're not hard to have around. Jack watches us all the time, like he's very curious about us and what we're about, but he's still holding back from making a step forward. The little Peanut is just sweet, but sooooo timid...

Well, about all you can do is take it at their own pace and enjoy them as they are. They'll eventually warm up to you, especially if they stay in the house with you and Bruce all winter.

[cyb]

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/16/16_1_25.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZRxdm429NTUS) Very cute! The adventures of Wicket!





http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb114&pp=ZRxdm429NTUS (http://smiley.smileycentral.com/download/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb114_ZRxdm429NTUS&utm_id=7922)

[WashingtonBay]

So how many cats occupy your home and land in all?

Heh.... Well that's a hard question to answer after the summer we've had! It took a twenty page thread on horse.com ;)

We have Pippin and Tweek, who are the only ones currently here that we actually looked for. :) They're littermates. They're indoor/outdoor house cats.

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=59&pictureid=408

We have Wicket... whom you've met. She was part of litter number 1 that was discovered in my barn.

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=59&pictureid=2055

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=59&pictureid=2061

They came from this momma, one of two sisters, both torties, who I'd been feeding in the barn since they showed up as long kittens, but who are quite wild. (Picture taken after I trapped her and had her spayed)

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=59&pictureid=2058

This is the second momma (she was also trapped and spayed)

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=59&pictureid=2059

This is the first half of Momma 2's litter we caught early...

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=59&pictureid=2060

One from that litter was killed by our beagle. It was an accident, really, he's the one who discovered where they were. Two escaped, they ran off, and were not caught until much later, and are much more feral. Peanut, and Jack:

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=59&pictureid=410

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=59&pictureid=411

I found homes for three from the first litter and three from the second litter. Sedona has one from each.

So I guess the answer to your question is 5 that are house cats, and the two feral mommas who do still live in my barn. And there is a big black tom around, who we assume is the daddy of all these kittens.

That's the story so far. :)

[Arrow]

I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed following these kittens this summer!

[SedonaThunder]

I LOVE THE KITTIES!!! Wicket is so cute... I showed Binx the pictures of her sister - she looked at the screen for a moment and then looked back at me like I'd lost my mind!:) I sure do like that little Jack too!

[WashingtonBay]

They've been a whole LOT of fun for me too.

I love that little Jack too. He's cool. Everything he does is a pose. :)

[Gypsy Rose]

Yay! The kitty stories are back! I bet Wicket's aleady plotting her next escape, he,he! She looks like she enjoys playing games with you just as much as she likes being outside.

Nice seeing cute kitty pics from both you and Sedona again.

[vicklynn]

Oh my, thats the Halloween cat hu? She sure has grown.
I love that pic of her butt in the air during her landing..lol

[JackieB]

Awww, cute. Sweet little Wicket!

[JetLagaside]

They are so cute! Love her expression WOO HOO catch me if you can game.

[mandisue]

You have your hands full! They are all cute though!

[oursarge]

Wicket's Great Adventure that's so cute! The pictures are great, I enjoyed them. She's a cutie, all of your cats are. I'm sure Molly would want to be friends with all of them!

That picture of Tweek & Pippin is so beautiful. Seeing all of your kittens and hearing their stories made me have to go find one of my own so you are responsible for Molly being here! She's a little older kitten but she needed a home and from the second I saw her picture I bonded with her. I hope that Jack and Bo will bond with her! Tweek & Pippin seem good with the kittens, I have my fingers crossed with these guys!

[WashingtonBay]

Tweek and Pippin are pretty good with the kittens, but Pippin grumbles at them still... "Get away from me kid"

[jeezitsjacki]

wow I have completely missed this thread. My brothers cat will try to escape outside too, but all our cats are indoors cause we live near a road that is just too busy. A couple months ago we were getting our windows repainted and I look outside the kitchen window and see a grey thing darting across the yard... "was that kitty?" uhh yup there he goes! We searched the house and found that the painter left one of the downstairs windows open and he escaped through that. He came back though, luckily. that was his fun adventure haha

[mtnmollie]

Great cat stories Bay!

I had a wild kitty killed by my cat chase-ing dog once too. Phooey.