BWO Thank you IMHS (see their 10/29/18 update)

UPDATE: Gray Cat (see photo below) taken to IMHS. This is a nice cat but wouldn't stay in neighbor's house so was taken to IMHS. JMiller commented that nicked ear indicates a sterilized feral. Also: that it could survive up here if provided water, food, and some shelter. Perhaps someone could rescue this feral from IMHS. I'm concerned it won't adapt to adoption. It is used to being on its own and even had made friends with a fox.

The black and white with chain collar hasn't been seen. Probably staying at home.


Pretty gray cat with a nick on one ear here frequently for more than a month. (ear nick might be since it was on its own). It is now spending ~5 out of 7 nights under my neighbor's porch in a double box that she insulated. It appears people friendly (but not easy to catch).
Pretty black and white cat with a neckchain shows up early some mornings.
Hope to find owners.
Coyotes and other dangers to cats outside.

Ear tipping is used to demarcate a spayed/neutered vaccinated feral cat. After a feral is trapped and put under for surgery the left ear is tipped before release so the cat isn't repeatedly put through the stress of capture.

Thanks for the info about ear-tipping. I'm surprised a cat would be released to be feral in this area. My neighbor thought it seemed used to people so we thought it was lost.

You're so smart Jo!

Sometimes people take in cats that have been part of the TnR programs and move up here. Usually the ear tip is more noticeable

Some cats may be born outside and though not completely feral, don’t do well as house cats. Some barn cats may also have an ear tipped. Some feral cats can become acclimated to people enough to be petted but still not adapt to an indoor lifestyle.

Years ago I rehomed a colony of ferals that were abandoned by their caretaker. They were born on the property, not released there. Ferals establish territories and typically don’t go far from them. Trapping to spay/ neuter and vaccinate keeps the population in control and limits inbreeding. They can be relocated but must be confined with food and water safely fir a period of time before being released.
This gray cat may be one such individual. The black and white seems more a pet allowed outside.

Shhhhh, don’t tell anyone.

We don't want her to think she's too smart to hang around with us. But it was a very interesting comment.

Did one look like this cat

Update: Black and white cat not seen recently. Probably staying at home.
Neighbor was concerned about 7 degrees predicted temperature so took feral? cat to IMHS. Can they survive our winters? We see coyotes occasionally.

If provided water food and shelter they do very well.

Thanks JMiller for the update on feral cats surviving here.