Not the post I was going to make...

If you are new to my second blog...Walter's World...I currently have 16 cats both domestic and feral but they are all OUTDOOR cats. Due to this, I make homemade cat shelters that I refer to as "cuchas" in Spanish to house them during the winter and/or during inclement weather.

When Grayson had her five kittens eight months ago, I went to great lengths to make sure I actively interacted with them so they would not become feral and I believe I have succeeded. I did the same with Luna's only surviving kitten Bianca and the Siamese kitten...Suzy...that someone dumped at the house. The seven of them, now six with Karen's passing get along very well much to the chagrin of the other cats.

Bianca (it is hard to see her since she is so dark) and Mikey...

Darla...

On the back porch...

In the mudroom Mónica, Bianca, Suzy, and Mikey...

On another occasion also on the back porch...

Since it has been so cold this winter I decided to house the six of them in the mudroom where they are safe and place water and a litter box so I would not have to keep the door partly open to facilitate their coming and going when they wished.

Unfortunately, we have also seen unseasonably warm temperatures for this time of the year but felt bad kicking them out so I let them continue to sleep in the said mudroom. I heard them fighting last week but I was so sleepy I decided to let them resolve whatever the issue was on their own.

Later that morning, I found many of my shoes on the floor. I have old bookshelves in the mudroom where I keep my tennis shoes as well as miscellaneous items. I picked them up and did not give it another thought...that is until this morning...I felt there was someone or something in the mudroom.

I figured it was probably one of the feral cats who had gotten in and was hiding. Then I saw a big turd that definitively did not belong to a cat or a dog. Some of the spare cardboard boxes looked like they had been peed on and I found some more poop in the back of the other shelves and I began to get worried.

This morning it was cold and gray, we had a brief shower and the darn free-range chickens had pooped all over the yard.  My plan was to lay out a tarp and empty the content of the mudroom in order to clean it out. I placed the soiled cardboard boxes in garbage bags and when I reached for another I found it to be heavy...moved some of my plastic containers out of the way to reach it and when I did...there was a WHITE POSSUM inside showing me his or her teeth!!! 

I let out an ear-piercing scream that scared the cats and I ran back into the kitchen. This is not the first time it has happened to me...the last time was back in 2019...I also documented it on this blog at the time. The darn possum ruined my day!  I went online to see how I could get rid of it but after reading my own blog I recalled all the methods I had since forgotten but they will have to wait for another day.

Thank you for visiting Walter's World.

Alternatives for cat or dog beds

Like I mentioned on my other blog Terlingua Dreams https://terlinguadreams.blogspot.com/
yesterday I went to Walmart to pick up a couple of items.  As soon as I walked through the door I spotted the perfect cardboard boxes to make a "cucha" for my boys.

They were empty boxes that previously held "On The Border" potato chips.  Grabbed two medium and two large ones would have grabbed more but there was not enough room in my car.

I arrived home when it was already dark so I did not set it out for them until this morning.  I only put them up temporarily since I have to find the old pillows and winter clothing to go in them.

What was my surprise when I came out later to find them making use of them.

The one I was most concerned with having a little cucha was Nico since Paquito will not allow him to share the dog bed I bought for them last Christmas...only HE can use it!

I was delighted that Nico took advantage of it right away and fell into a deep slumber.

During the day the temperatures have been in the low 70's but at night in the 40's a little cool for Nico because Paquito goes into the back bathroom/shed/junk-room and sleeps in his cozy bed.


Thank you for visiting Walter's World.