Tuesday, August 18, 2020

The Nice and the Noisy

There hasn’t been much to report from the Cosy Apartment lately, except that it is far from cosy. We are experiencing a heat-wave in our part of the world, and humans and cats are trying to keep cool. I am looking forward to autumn; at least its early part, with the crisp mornings, warm days and slightly chilly nights.

But there is activity, at least at Café Cosy. Jessel comes by almost every day. I know that he also visits another apartment, and gets hand-outs from a third now and then, so he isn’t starving. I can now touch him, very lightly, on the ears or the whiskers, and he nervously allows me. He also talks to me, which he has not before; at least, I think it is talking. His language so far consists of high-pitched fearful little cries. I believe it is talking because he makes these sounds while I am not doing anything, so it isn’t in reaction to a movement or to my proximity (and if he were afraid of the latter, he would move away.)


Though he is slender, he isn’t gaunt. His coat is a bit rough but in good shape, except where it has been gouged on his right front shoulder, probably some time ago. He trusts me enough to come down into the ditch to eat his food, and is living sufficiently well to leave some portions when he is full, and to turn his nose up at those servings he doesn’t like. I hope to get to know him better in the days and weeks to come. I will be putting straw back into the virtually unused tubular cat-house come the chilly weather, so he will have a place to stay, if he has no other.


And then we had a return customer at the café a couple of nights ago. You can probably just make out his stripes. I don’t know if he is the same skunk who visited a long time ago; I don’t recall him coming to eat last year. I was glad to see him, and hope he had his fill.


Horace - as I call all my skunk patrons - is neither as noisy nor as messy as the raccoons. On the weekend, the raccoon youngsters came for a midnight supper; they were so clamorous, I had to chase them off - for the first time - just to get some sleep. And all they were doing was eating. They were crunching the hard cat-food thirty feet away outside, and it was still keeping me awake. Their mother, who now comes separately (probably happy for the solitude after her trio of trouble-makers) is less a problem.

As I’ve written before, all are welcome at Café Cosy. I just wish I had more of the polite crowd among my clientele.

19 comments:

  1. just don't chase off the raccoons without a quick check of the perimeter; or from a relatively safe distance away; if horace is startled.....wellllllllll

    :) ♥♥

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    1. Chasing them off didn’t involve any pursuit on my part, fortunately. I have a stick that makes sure the sliding glass door to the outside doesn’t open too far (for intruders), and I banged that on the concrete of the ditch. That startled them away. I doubt that their mother would be scared of such a tactic.

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  2. I'm glad Jessel and the other critters are getting their tummies filled at your Café. I can't say I've ever heard young raccoons chewing! They need to learn some table manners, apparently.

    BTW, Derry's mouth doesn't appear to have any lesions, I had Googled yesterday and read about eosinophilic granuloma. I hope the tissue does remain normal, but if the swelling doesn't subside within another day or so, I'll make an appointment and take him in.

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    1. The best of luck to Derry. I know you'll do the best for him.

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  3. Business at Cafe Cosy seems to be picking up. Soon your guests will need to have a reservation or maybe even a timeshare.

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    1. I'll be happy if they just pay their darn bills.

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    2. Katie just summoned me in to see this! Glad she did. Gave me a good smile. I take it there are no tips from the clientele for the services provided them. Perhaps a posted notice on their table telling the tips suggested in percentages?

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    3. I don't know if you'd appreciate the payment the skunk would leave...

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  4. Your guests sure are special and they thank you lots!

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  5. You haven't mentioned Jessel in a while; I was wondering if he was still coming by. Even if he's homeless, it's good to know that at least he has reliable food sources.

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    1. That’s why I never begrudge an animal a spot at the café.

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  6. Jessel is a good looking fellow and we are glad he comes to the Cafe and has repast while discussing his day. Our Miss Fitz makes a kind of squeek, which can be almost a scream if she is feeling dramatic, but also has a soft meow. Looks like there is a good business going and we are glad there are takers. It shows a somewhat safe environment

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  7. Jessel is handsome. It looks like he has much better manners than the young raccoons.

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  8. I'm glad Jessel is feeling less fearful around you. I assume he was a cat that someone tossed out at some point and not entirely feral.

    On the other hand I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be happy to see a Horace at the door!

    Take care, stay well, and keep hydrated!

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  9. It all sounds really nice John..
    On reflection, if l lived near you,
    l think l'd pop over one evening for
    a feed and a little chat with all the
    visitors and the raccoons..! :).
    I'd bring my own dish..promise! :o).

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  10. Jessel is a handsome cat and fortunate to find a friendly cafe dish
    out. My skunks are all named Petunia, for obvious reasons. Love them
    though. Two years ago I had one who had been hit by a car and had
    broken shoulder and hip. So sad, I bought beef suet and meal worms
    and it ate here for months. In that summer I saw it one time. The
    shoulder did not work, but the hip did. I hope I helped save it.
    Animals are fantastic survivors. Bet your cats love the raccoon
    noise at night!

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    1. It was kind of you to help the injured skunk. If he could get around, I'll bet he survived; no skunk is going to outrun or out-climb a predator, anyway, so he needs to get around just for food and water. For defence, he has something better than speed.

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  11. Cats have sounds that mean something to them. And partly in response to we humans. I think it is different for every cat-to-human.

    I think that Jessel is "talking" to you is important. Cats don't try to talk to people they dont like.

    I read once that it is important to not just repeat sounds that cats make. Instead, make unique sounds of you.

    I am tying to get Laz (Lapis Lazuli) used to the sound of my voice. His previous experience in a home was bad (2 pit bulls and 2 grabby children) and his foster after that was a nice women with a high-itched voice. So he is not used to a lower male voice that suggests calm and peace.

    It will take a while. May Jessel come to accept you as a safe place...

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