Hammie The Bobtail Cat - Feral Cat Photo of the Day

Hammie has been seen in this blog here and there, from kitten-hood on. He's even been the subject of a cartoon with his cute little natural bob tail. Just out of the frame below is another cat that Hammie is trying to intimdate with his growl. Of course, we all know Hammie is really a sweet boy but he has to keep his status by seeming tough.

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Gadget The Cat, Orange-Ginger Feral Cat Photo of the Day

Gadget is the litter-mate of Copper-top, the fear-free feral cat posted a few photos back... they look so similar that I often get them confused: Gadget has just a little less white around her mouth than Coppertop. Like her sister, Gadget seems to be low on the fear quotient, although perhaps a bit more jumpy. But not much. She'll still wander into a car when the door is left open. She'll sit on the seat and ride, too. Odd for a feral cat. Or almost any cat, actually.

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Wild Thing Punk Tom - Feral Cat Photo Of The Day

Once again, I managed to capture the wild-looking feral tom cat I call Punk. He looks so tough! Yet he's scared of just about everything. I probably shouldn't say that, though, as it kind of spoils the illusion he wants to create as a tough feral tom cat. He looks like a little tiger.

We've seen punk before (original photo which is featured the 2010 photo calendar and the giant fine art print edition, plus posts here and here) - he's just a little harder to photograph than your average feral cat because if he sees anyone looking at him, he's gone. But I find him so fascinating and unusual that I can't resist hunting for him - no doubt aggravating Punk further.

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Kittens From Different Litters - Feral Cat Photo of the Day

Feral kittens from different litters huddling together. Most of them are not feeling very well lately. Here we see them with "colds" but still in decent enough shape to run away if approached. But this photo was taken a few days ago. Since then, the middle kitten - a siamese-like baby - became so ill that it gave up eating. It had to be rescued.

This is the kitty I mentioned in the previous post that is now on antibiotics. If all goes well, I will post the results.

Little Silver Tabby is Curious - Feral Kitten Photo Of the Day

This is a very pretty feral kitten... we've seen her/him before, in the duo 'best friends' two feral kittens - I just thought she looked very cute here. Several of the kittens are sick as is common with ferals but this one has escaped illness so far.

I have very mixed feelings regarding images of sick kittens. It's reality but it isn't fun. This is one of those things about which I go back and forth; on the one hand I want to depict feral cats as they are - their real lives. On the other hand, there is more than enough sadness in the world. I know when there is finally a book about these cats, I will have to show the reality of their lives. Here on the blog about the project, I'm much more ambivalent.

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Kittens Playing In the Forest - Feral Cat Photo of the Day

Two feral kittens, all that is left of their litter, play together in the forest. Little friends, happy to be alive, can still enjoy a game. Even though danger lurks around every bush... sometimes it's better to just enjoy life and not to think about the bad stuff too much. At least, that is how I feel.

There are a thousand things to be afraid of, to be sad about, to cry over ...maybe the kittens have a lesson for us; to let go of all those things over which we have no control - and enjoy life, naturally....

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Copper-Top Ginger - Feral Cat Photo Of The Day

This portrait of a copper-top kitty looks almost noble to me. It's the calmness, perhaps. She is an interesting case because although she was born feral she has little fear of people. I guess she has little fear of anything, really. She was one of the early trapped/and spayed cats in the colony, so that means she's several years old now. I use the term "trapped" loosely because I really just picked her up and put her in a carrier even though she was a feral cat. And yes, I am very sure she was born feral: I saw her grow up from a tiny kitten as part of a litter hidden in a barn.

This is an interesting thing I've seen with one or two other ferals: Even though they are born wild, they simply lack the fear gene, I guess. They don't run away from anything. If I leave my car door open, they will climb inside to investigate. And even go for a ride if I let them.

It happen in humans too, although rare. But it seems to be rare in cats, too. Whatever it is that makes us scared of things - not everyone has it.

Lack of the fear gene creates humans who take ridiculous risks. In the case of cats, it is also dangerous because there are many things out there that can really hurt them.


Nevertheless, that's just how Copper-Top is; you can pet her, hold her, carry her around until she gets tired of it. Whatever. To Copper Top, it's all good.