Look what's been eating the cat food........
[attachment=1]
I always thought hedgehogs would be shy little things but this one isn't. He isn't even frightened of Penny
[attachment=2]
and she was as good as gold with him
[attachment=3]
I have a question about the cats.
How?
We're having major problems with things eating out stuff, birds getting under nets, rabbits everywhere, someone chased a rat out of their polytunnel last night, bloke next to me had a mice nest in his potato ridge. My peas, beans, carrots, sunflowers, sweat peas, leaks, onions, turnips, swedes, even the garlic have been nibbled to almost nothing at various times.
I'm getting fed up with having to cover everything in smaller and smaller netting. The plot doesn't look as good, and it is awkward working under the nets.
My brother's wife won't let me have any of their cats so how did you go about getting started with your feline security service?
There have always been feral cats on our site but in the past nobody used to feed them, they were not neutered and they were all frightened of people.
About three years ago I noticed some cats seemed to be always around my plot and because I am soft, I decided I would put food down for them. Then I put little shelters, and left a greenhouse door always slightly open so they would have somewhere dry to go.
I had had some contact with Cats Protection who rehomed one of our feral kittens so they asked if Felix, an 'outdoor' cat could come and live with us. He came two years ago and gets on fine with the other cats. All our cats are neutered (thank you Cats Protection :)) but if the numbers get low Cats Protection have many cats who would love an outdoor home on allotments. If you contact your local branch I'm sure they would help you.
It will need someone who will give their time every day to feed the cats, not a problem for me as I live quite near. I feed them in the morning and someone else feeds them in the afternoon.
We rarely have to buy food for them because C.P. have food donated to them and they pass it on to us.
Of course, you may get a few people who don't like cats but I can honestly say that since they have been with us the rodent population has definitely decreased.
Here's a photo of Psycho with her latest snack
[attachment=1]
The licking of her lips says it all. ;D