Never another cat

This cat never became a lap cat because the group I was living with ended up with five cats. One from Barbara who couldn't take her north. The other four I have no idea but they were not feral. 

When I started building the house I was living alone and five was too many. Gave a couple away to locals and a couple in Chapala wanted two. Unknown to me the couple in Chapala had two large dogs. The dogs were curious and the wife was holding a cat near her face. One scratch on her check was enough to not want the cats. Luckily it was Tianguis day in Ajijic and the local animal lady was there. She willingly accepted the cats but I gave her 500 pesos for food. Now I have two cats.

Barbara's cat was once a street cat and never really became tame. She would hide in my 5th wheel next to the house construction. After 6-8 months I advertised the 5th wheel and someone in La Manzanilla knew someone.  Turns out it was a circus group and they had a truck to haul it. I went through it cleaning out all my stuff but "Molly" had a hiding place I did not know about. Needless to say, Molly joined the circus.

Now for my one cat, Tomas, His food is now outside because I got tired letting him in every 15 minutes. The problem with that is neighborhood cats are over in minutes and Tomas sits there watching them eat his food. I chased the other cats off today and my dog is there in minutes. Coyota likes Whiskers more than dog food. Now the cat food goes up on a shelf quickly.

The last part of the story is Tomas catches way too many birds though he does eat most of them. He also catches lizards and usually eats a little and vomits. He will even try to kill small Iguanas. 

I don't know how long cats live but Tomas is at least 10 years old. His passing is the only option to get some release. Never another cat, Dogs are great and can really become a buddy.

My pain in the cat

He looks so peaceful

But he is anything but peaceful. I've never met a more demanding animal. Every time I open the front door he comes running wanting in. Three minutes later he wants out. Food in his plate is not enough, he wants it refreshed. I used to feed him outside but the neighbors cats would get it, And he can't shut up.

He catches and eats part of a lizard and then vomits. Sometimes he vomits after eating his Whiskers, I have no idea why. Iguanas like to sun themselves on my back wall so lies in wait. A few weeks ago he brought one into the yard that was about half as big as he is. I was able to separate them and Tomas lost his play thing.

My pain in the cat ....

A Lizard in the wall

My --kill everything that moves-- cat was checking out a cable drop outlet in the bedroom and making a fuss. I put the cat outside and shortly after heard a noise in that area and saw little feet and a face peeking thru the plastic cover on the cable outlet. I have 3 cable drops on the roof with tubes to pull wire but this one and another are not being used.

Not sure what I would find or how to handle it ... I eventually used a plastic strainer (like mosquito screen), placed it over the outlet and popped off the cover with a screwdriver. Out fell this lizard and I had him pinned up against the wall with the strainer. All I could do at that point was to yell for my neighbors who were in my yard to bring a bucket. In the bucket he goes and gets deposited in the vacant lot next door.

So now 2 of the cable drop boxes on the roof have tape over the holes and the third one still lacks a cover and I never remember to buy one. It will get done this week.

Similar lizard to the one in the wall

Taped cable drop box

Box that requires a cover

A lizard's life

We had a birthday party here yesterday with about 15 people and all day I saw this guy hanging on the wall just outside my front door. Of course all the people left him alone, the dog can't see that well and the cats were hiding from the crowd.

This morning he was still there so I went to check if he was just nailed to the wall or what. I touched his tail and he didn't move - what more can you do. About an hour later one of the cats noticed him and just could not resist. On the 5th try and a good jump the cat got a paw on him and they both came down knocking over a bucket and a broom - distracting the cat and off went the lizard.

Very few iguanas up here is the lake Chapala area and lots of lizards. Sad to say the cats have killed a few and try to bring them in to show me.

Jocotepec Lizard on my wall

Link to Birthday Party fotos and story