There’s a new cat outside
I noticed the cat tonight when I went to feed the horses. He is definitely a feral cat, I suspect a tomcat, as he is quite beat up. His tail has a hook in it, and he is pure black. I am calling him Pan. I put out some Fancy Feast on the feral feeders and after hiding in the woodpile and growling at me if I ventured close, the cat came out and gobbled up the food. I put some dry food out for him as well and also gave him fresh water. He is or he was hiding under the wood pile. I am reasonably certain he is a tomcat. He sprayed his welcome on the tarp covering the woodpile, before diving for cover. I am sure my barn cat Bailey is going to be a bit upset when he catches this scent in His yard!
I don’t have my traps right now. They are on loan to a friend. When I get them back, I will scrub them out (they are being used to trap raccoons and skunks) and they I will put the trap out and see if I can catch him. Once he is trapped, I will take him to the veterinarian and let Ben neuter him and vaccinate him. If I can’t find a home for him, he will at least be able to roam the property and not add to the cat population any longer.
The cats inside the enclosure caught a glimpse of Pan tonight and there was a lot of posturing and growling going on until Pan dove down into the woodpile. My guess is he is under the barn right now, which is good because snow is predicted for late tonight, so he should be warm. He has arrived at a good place, and I will be sure to trap him quickly so that he does not come to harm in the world anymore.