WHAT JOBS ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY - 2017

My wee terror is currently outside somewhere beating up other local cats. He has a cat flap and uses it 24/7. I always worry about him getting hit by a car, but let him out. I've never heard of caged gardens or cat aviaries. It's an intriguing thought, but I would never make him stay confined. The six weeks he spent kept indoors after he broke a vertebra in his back were very unhappy for him, and even by the end of the confinement he was continually sitting by the window and yowling to get out. My previous cat, by contrast, spent the first two years of her life in our flat, and was a contented house cat. The remaining 18 years of her life were spent in a house with a garden and cat flap, but she was never really bothered about going out.

Alana, your garden is stunning. I would love to come and wander round it :spring:

 

My take on confining cats is that it wholey depends on the cat in question - a cat who has never sought outside access isn't going to want or miss it, and I've met many happy house/garden cats. But we do also get cats coming into work with a variety of stress/behavioural problems due to a lack of outside stimulation (my own included - and so although I'm still not really over losing her on the road earlier this year I can't ever regret the 2.5 years of freedom she had).

Basically, as with all things in life it's never a case of one size fits all! I'm glad we have a tradition (and the option) of free roaming in this country, and I'm especially glad the trend of declawing never caught on here like it has abroad (though dying out again now thankfully).

Anyway. I will stop derailing the thread and return to my quiet lurking

(Did nothing in the garden today as had a long shift at work. But tomorrow our landlady is visiting for the first time since we moved in, so a bit nervous about what her reaction will be to all the work I've done - she knew about it in principle but seeing it first hand is a different matter!)

 

I'm sorry you lost your cat, but sure you're right that it was better she have her freedom. My cats fit well into the different categories you describe. The one we have now has wanted out from almost as soon as we got him, and was always trying to get out when he was too small.

I hope you get on well with your landlady tomorrow. I'm sure she will be thrilled with what you have done. It's a big transformation and is sure to have increased the value of the place.

 

Back from the beach.....well, there a couple of hours ago!
Sunny and beautiful.....weather is good too
Just a few tomatoes left now to pick. All ripened and had a supply for several weeks now. Onions drying in the sun.....smaller this year (planted closer together) but excellent.
Cuttings of agastaches, salvias and others taken in the summer are now growing away well; will take more today.
Despite the sunshine, signs of autumn around

 

Shiney, my cat uses the greenhouse more than I do!

Today I have been planting the last of my bulbs and making custom fitted mesh squirrel deterrents for them. Later I will cut the grass and talk to all my young lettuces. Signs of autumn are here: the leaves on my apple tree are yellowing and starting to fall. I will gather some up with the blower/vacuum which shreds them and pop them in bags to start making leaf mould. Mornings and evenings are quite a lot chillier now (about 10 degrees) but if the sun comes out through the day it is lovely and warm.

 

Ah, the indoor/outdoor/confined cat question

Indeed there are!
Ragdolls are regarded as "house" cats and are a little like puppies They like to follow you around, come to call and understand basic commands. They do not like to be alone, much preferring company and are not territorial or aggressive in nature. Hence, why I chose to have Ragdoll cats! I've had a variety of cats as my family has grown and, very sadly, most came to a "sticky" end:
Malachi - of unknown heritage: adorable boy; very affectionate; tolerated being pushed and pulled around by a toddler. Loved to go outside! Dragged himself home one day, unable to use his hind quarters, reeking of petrol. Had to be PTS due to shattered pelvis.
Sago - Malachi's heir: just like his father a wonderful temperament and also loved to roam. Arrived home one day with his front legs totally stripped of fur and flesh (snare damage?). Too far gone to save.
Domino - Sago's heir: wasn't much for going outside really, but would venture out for a roam. He was poisoned and died in my arms.
All of that occurred within a 6 year period!
That was the point I said no more cats!! It was too heart breaking
It was also the time I learned there had been a spate of incidents in the local area of cat related crimes.
But, my boys missed their furry friends.
I stumbled on the Ragdoll breed. Took some saving up for, because now we were talking pure breeds, not pet shop/friend of a friend etc. The breed fit our criteria and, when funds allowed, I bought two.
Moxie died a few years ago, but Echo is still with us; he's still a house cat - but does sneak out to sit in the sun, on the patio, during the summer months If we go indoors, he is sure to follow because he hates being alone.

I do think it is unfortunate when some owners insist on calling their cat a "house cat" when, according to breed, it is not in their nature. Nonetheless, I empathise with their need to protect.

Yes, I agree, but very much more depending on the breed/heritage of the cat in question. Although, the argument that it also depends on what they are used to does have a strong basis.

As for gardening:

• Watching the developing "seed pods" on my sweet peas and beans. Harvest hasn't been great for beans this year, but I put that down to putting them into pots which were too small for their needs! So, I'm letting them go to seed for harvesting, ready for next years crop. Ditto the sweet peas. Lessons learned
• Direct sown some poppy seeds, antirrhinums, cornflower and nigella
• Potted on three bamboo plants I bought yesterday. Looked very sorry for themselves and may not make it through, but were worth the punt. I'll give them some TLC and hope for the best
• Tidied up the Cobaea ... well, pushed some of the growing bits into directions I would prefer them to be

That was enough for today.

 

Yup! Learning Curve 101

 

M, what a traumatic time that must have been for you. No wonder you have gone for ragdolls. Our tearaway is a common or garden moggie, and was desperate to get outside from way before he was old enough. I continually worry about him on the roads, though, as I know he roams quite far despite being neutered. He also fights with other cats, a lot, and is currently sporting a large bite on his rib cage, one on the top of his head and two on his neck. However, it would be cruel to keep him indoors, so I just have to hope for the best

 

Spent all day wheel-barrowing 4- tons of 20mm stones to make 4" depth gravel path up the garden ; prior to this laid a brick edging to retain the stones . Began @5.45am ; finished roughly @6.00pm ; not bad for a 60 year old ! Enjoying a couple of pints now of craft-beer , probably followed by a few seriously generous vodkas ! Will sleep well tonight