Morning Feedings

26June17 Monday AM

Orange, the big well-fed house cat that has found an escape route through the window to the garden is becoming a problem. He is a big bully and picking on little Fluffy.

Fluffy and Bag were lying on the grass enjoying the day, waiting for me to come down with breakfast. Clomp, clomp, clomp go my flip-flops on the stairs so they know I’m coming and greet me with wide open eyes. There’s always a question in them, like, “Are you really going to feed us again today? Can we rely on you for a steady food source?”

I brought down enough food to feed five cats because sometimes there are five cats hanging around wanting a meal. But today there was only Fluffy, Bag, and Orange the guy who constantly rebuffs the food I give him. At any rate, before I can even set the food down, Orange immediately goes after Fluffy. Fluff fights back this time. They ignore me when I tell them to cut it out. I hurry upstairs and return with a spray bottle. It is set to mist and I spray at Orange only to have the mist blown in my direction. I reset the bottle to stream and give Orange a good squirt. He backs off. I feed the cats under the tree.

Bag runs off, but Fluffy stays to eat. Orange is ready to attack, and I squirt again. I stand between Orange and Fluffy so she can eat in peace. Bag returns and his bowl is too close to Fluffy’s and even though they are lovers he won’t eat until I place his bowl further away. Even then they both stop eating until I move away. 

Orange makes nice with me, like he’s good, innocent kitty. I pet him for second and when he lies down and I’m certain he’s no longer interested in attack, go back upstairs.