Our now mostly indoor, but sometimes outdoor cat Sophie has figured out how to let herself in and out from the catio.
Trail cam picture showing Sophie slipping in through a gap in the back of the catio
We discovered how she let herself in using the trail cam, but couldn’t capture how she was escaping. So I borrowed one of the video monitors from the chicken coop and set it up in the catio. We thought she was getting out at the far end, but it turns out the exit was nearer, through a gap we didn’t even think it was possible to get to! Here is the video. Now it is time to rework that corner so my city-girl indoor cat Izzy doesn’t figure out the same escape and get caught out with the local country cats. She talks a good talk, but she is not a scrapper. I’m going to leave the return slot, though, so Sophie has a bolt hole to safety.
Video still of Sophie climbing the supports to squeeze out of the catio, opposite to where she gets in
Old thermometer, barometer, hygrometer (left), goes well with the circular calendar and botanical sketches in the kitchen
I found an old thermometer, barometer, and hygrometer at a neat local upcycle shop. It reminded me of something my grandparents would have had, and I thought it was in the style that my husband would like. The owner said she wasn’t sure it worked, but I assured her it was OK, if it didn’t, I would take it apart and see what I can do, (especially for only $6.) At home I cleaned it up and found the adjustment screw on the back of the barometer. We looked up the local pressure and set the dial hand to that number. The next day, the barometer hand had moved and still matched the internet reading! Hurray! The thermometer had settled in and seemed to be working, but the hygrometer didn’t have an adjustment screw and the reading was way too high.
Hygrometer mechanism
I took the hygrometer apart. The case was plastic, so the piece isn’t that old, but the tabs were in good condition so I was able to pop it open with little fuss. The mechanism of the hygrometer is fascinating. It is just a strip of metal (I’m guessing brass because of the color) with paper on one side (it could be hide, but I think I can detect fibers), wound into a coil. As the humidity in the room rises, the organic material absorbs more water and swells, which forces the coil open slightly, which moves the dial hand. I did give the coil a slight tightening, then removed the clear cover and set the dial according to my eldest’s snake hygrometer.
Testing the mechanical hygrometer with two digital hygrometers
After observing for a couple days, the hygrometer on my found piece seemed to work! I had also brought in the chicken thermometer from the coop, and we determined that it wasn’t giving a good reading anymore. I ordered a new outdoor thermometer/hygrometer for the coop, and hung the decorative one in the kitchen. I’m not planning on making scientific measurements with it, but it is interesting to see the changes In barometric pressure and humidity. I’m hoping my weather obsessed youngest takes some interest!
My hibiscus, which was blooming so beautifully, stopped blooming. The buds would form, but would not open fully, just crack a bit, then turn brown. Internet detective time. What I suspect is that little critters called thrips are to blame. These are tiny, tiny insects that apparently can cause quite the havoc both in the garden and at home. There are 6,000 varieties and can they reproduce asexually. (This is Wikipedia knowledge, so take it as you will.)
Probable thrip damaged hibiscus bud
As recommended, I removed all the damaged buds before they could fall to the ground to start a new generation, and sprayed the plant with a mixture of Neem oil, Peppermint oil, and Castile soap (3% Neem, 2% Castille, and 2% peppermint in water mixed in a spray bottle) because I don’t want to use heavy pesticides. I added the peppermint because Neem oil has an unpleasant odor. I sprayed at dusk to reduce impact on pollinating insects. A week later, we had a bloom!
One of the good things that came from the gecko running behind the coat hooks and the coat hooks coming out from the wall as the cat, dog, and I scrambled for the critter, is that it prompted me to find a better way to secure the horse shoe hooks to the wall. I love these hooks that my husband’s cousins made when they were learning to weld. I have four of them and they work great on solid wood. I tried having two on the wall by the back door, and tried to get the tiny nails that would fit in the nail holes to reach far enough into a stud, but they consistently came loose. So now I had to do something sturdier. I combed the garage and found a nice length of 1×4” trim, already painted. But it was shorter than the horse shoes. Hmm. If I set the horse shoes up above the rail, then I would be able to use the tops as hooks as well, increasing the number of usable hooks from two to six. And if I added the other horse shoe I had sitting on the counter, then I would have eight hooks!
Horse shoe coat rack mounted on a painted board
I attached the board to the wall, centering it on the studs, checking level, and running two screws into the studs. Then I took finish nails that had heads large enough to not go all the way through the horse shoe holes and set the metal lined up with the bottom of the board. I used a nail set to tap the nails down into the shoe to keep it firmly attached.
Horse shoe coat rack with an egg apron on a hook, a coat on the top of a horse shoe, and my snake grabber resting on the wood
Now we have a sturdy coat rack! The best part? I only had one trip to the garage. I was able to anticipate everything I would need, gather it, and use it all. It is unusual for me not to have to make a few trips back and forth for forgotten items. (Yes, I did put everything away as soon as I was done!)
Remember when I mentioned ebbs and flows? Well this morning had a surge of geckos. It started with Izzy the cat pointing out the large house gecko on the wall in the house.
Izzy spots the first gecko
Izzy (cat), Missy (dog), and I (human) chased the gecko all over the wall, behind a coat rack, which chose that moment to come loose from the wall (I’ll address the fixing of that tomorrow), then down on the floor. Izzy would trap it, then I would push her back and try and scoop up the poor gecko, the gecko would leap from my hand and we would repeat the actions. Missy just wanted in on the action. After the poor gecko was tired out, I was finally able to get him in my hand and take him outside. Good news, his tail was still intact!
The moment before freeing the house gecko outside
The next gecko, a tiny little thing on the window going to the catio was not so lucky. Izzy caught and ate him. The third gecko my eldest found at the front door was able to escape cat and human clutches and remain free in the outdoors. The previous week held no gecko chasing frenzies. Ebbs and flows.
