November arrived and the cats instinctively knew that it was time to start storing up energy and putting on some weight for the winter months; a good layer of fat under their skin would help keep them warm and give them something in reserve in case a prolonged spell of bad weather meant they couldn’t get to a food bowl for a while.
Appetites were hearty and food consumption increased noticeably. Free-feeding was available 24/7 from the wet and dry food bowls in the garden, drive and front path, and the cats certainly took advantage of this.
Today, here are some photos of cats eating in the garden during the first few days of November in different years.
Firstly, The Cat’s son, Greyfur, tucking in to a bowl of food on the feeding station. Greyfur and his sister Whitefur had opted to live in the fields on the other side of the road, so they did not come to every feeding. Greyfur had a big appetite and would make sure to eat as much as he could on each visit, often cleaning up a left-over bowl from the last feeding on his way out.
Visitor Cat clearing some bowls on the feeding station to help the humans with washing up. Visitor came from another garden across the fields where it seems she was also fed, and she certainly made the most of having two places to eat.
Linnet enjoying a bowl of munchie-crunchies mixed with jelly pouch. Linnet was Dawn’s daughter, littermate of Raven and big sister of Sherpa. She was partially sighted and spent most of her time in and around the garden.
Thundercat eating on the feeding station. For an up-and-coming alpha-male, Thundercat fitted in with the garden feeding sessions remarkably well and was well-tolerated by the Garden Family cats. He was also partially sighted but had never let it hold him back.
A busy feeding time. On the feeding station, Sherpa, Raven and She-ba with Checkers sitting on the step-stool at the end. On the ground (back to front) are Pascha, Dandy Grey, BBC and Swift, with Satsuma on the green crate.
BBC helping clear some bowls on the plastic crates under the olive tree while Dandy Grey waits for his second breakfast.
The header photo shows L-R Thundercat, Linnet, Satsuma, Dawn and Checkers with Dandy Grey at the front.
