MetaChat - odd furry creature showing up on tazbalcony.

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10 January 2007

odd furry creature showing up on tazbalcony. White fur with large caramel spots. Four legs, whiskers, pink nose. Two hands tall, toes to ears; five hands long, tip to tail. WHAT TO DO? →[More:]

Apparently, this is a cat. I'd like to be more sure, but having no cats show up on any of my property in 10 years makes me unsure.

So... yeah, this is kinda weird, I know, but we never see cats on our balcony, or any of our balconies since we've lived in this city. Kittything has now been spotted on our balcony several times in the last coupld of weeks, and here's my question: In cold weather I often keep covered pots of soup (or whatever - foodstuff in covered pots that need to be kept cold), and my vegetables in plastic bags out on the balcony because my fridge is too small. Do I need to stop doing this? Is strange kitty going to poop in my plants and pee on my plastic bags of veggies? Knock the top off my soup pot and eat my chickpea stew? :) Is there any reason to do anything at all about this (ie: discourage the cat)? I don't really mind bothering with securing the foodstuff, but I also am thinking a little bit about fleas in summer... (don't hate me! If it were my own cat, I could be sure about at least the flea part. Maybe.)

This may all sound ridiculous, but it's actually quite an unusual event. She's now been spotted several times, so it's not a one-time thing. She's gotta be someone's pet (looking very healthy and confident, etc.), so I'm not worried about "rescuing" her, btw. Still, if she's so totally free to roam, the flea worry might be quite reasonable. Or should I just unclench?

post by: taz at: 07:57 | 11 comments

Keep an eye on her. If the cat hasn't done anything destructive, it probably won't. Cats are quite fussy where they like to go, and generally it isn't close to people. (Carnivore instinct to cover their tracks.) She has likely claimed your balcony as a part of 'her' terroritory, and now needs to check up on it to make sure no other cats come 'round. Unless, the cat starts digging and pooping in your garde, she's just looking around. As for foodstuffs, when you put them out, are they already somewhat protected from critters? A well-fed cat won't be too interested in getting into the soup, unless maybe it is chicken. But then again, some cats are nosy as all hell and might 'investigate' the smell. Hard to say. Just keep an eye on her. Likely she won't do any harm.

posted by typewriter 10 January | 08:27

Oh... man! Another thing I totally forgot about. In spring and summer (and a lot of autumn) we usually have our balcony doors open - all outside windows and doors open, because of the heat (and we really just like them open, anyway). We only close them at night (and the few days that it is just so hot that we actually close everything totally up and use the A.C.). Hm. Hm.

posted by taz 10 January | 09:31

oh, I didn't answer your question, typewriter... No, we don't have any kind of closed thing that I put the foodstuff in. We have a wooden coffee table out there that I just usually set the stuff on. Oh, well. I can't really see me sitting at the window spying for her then running out with a waterspray gun, so I'll just be more careful about putting food out and deal with other problems as they come up (or don't, crossfingers).

posted by taz 10 January | 09:43

If you do decide to discourage the cat, there are non-poisonous repellants that work pretty well. You can get them at teh hardware or garden-supply store, and sprinkle them around the perimeter of the balcony. they are sometimes kinda stinky for a couple of days, the the smell fades quickly, and there's usually enough residual odor to be effective for quite a while.

posted by mrmoonpie 10 January | 09:54

Another way of disouraging kitty, should you decide to go that route: place strips of double-sided tape on the floor of the balcony at intervals that would make the cat step on them. It probably won't come back.

But I also say just leave it be for a while. It might get tired of you and sit on someone else's balcony. Cats are fickle.

posted by mudpuppie 10 January | 12:34

Orange and White cats are the friendliest, best cats in the world.

posted by sciurus 10 January | 12:45

You have me wondering how she got there, taz. From what I remember of what you've said, you're in a little house on the top of a building.

And yeah, if she doesn't disturb anything I'd let her be. Me being me, though, I'd probably start feeding her. I'm bad that way.

posted by deborah 10 January | 13:07

On lack of preview: if it's orange and white, it's probably male. It's a genetical thing.

posted by deborah 10 January | 13:08

Ah... might be male, then. Yep, I'm in, like, a little cottage at the top of a 8-story building, but the roof of the rest of the building is adjacent to us, and that connects to the roof of the next building. We are also connected to a rooftop on the other side, so actually lots and lots of run and roam room for any cat from one of the highest balconied apartments below us.

I won't feed him (?) because he looks very well fed... and if he belongs to somebody (he must!) maybe they feed him something particular. If it were a hungry cat, yeah I'm sure I would feed him.

posted by taz 10 January | 13:15

I would scratch behind his ears and see if he has a nice purr.

posted by bigblueroom 10 January | 14:11

Before I saw the [More] I thought it was a real alien creature with four legs, toes where its ears should be and seven hands.

Phew! It's just a puddy. And yes, a boy.

posted by essexjan 10 January | 14:47

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