Category: Cats

Throwback Thursday: Sophie

On By CarynIn Cats, throwback

I found the first trail cam photo of Sophie the dilute calico from January, 2018. We had just moved into the house and I set up the trail cam (a gift from my folks) to watch the wood pile past the back fence. This was before she adopted us and we took over her medical care.

Photo description: trail cam photo from January 18, 2018 with a large pile of cut post oak debris on the left and the front half of a dilute calico on the right, looking at the camera

Eight years later, and Sophie spends her nights indoors (and most of the day), and that log pile is almost completely decayed away.

Doorbell

On By CarynIn Cats, repair

I purchased a Wyze door bell camera because it gets a camera at the front door, the old door bell doesn’t work, and I already have other Wyze systems.

Photo description: Wyze camera door bell installed in place of the old door bell

I’m pleased with the installation, for I was able to hard wire it with the old door bell wires, following the instructions. The hardest part was finding which breaker turned off the electricity to the doorbell. With it hardwired, and an SD card installed, I have continuous footage without a subscription, so I can see which neighborhood critter keeps marking the front door. I can also check and see if the sound I just heard is Sophie the cat wanting to come back inside (she is not the one marking).

Photo description: the real reason for having a camera, to check on Sophie the cat

The doorbell now makes a doorbell sound, which has been absent at our house for a number of years. The best part is that I did not buy an inside chime, so the noise is just for visitors to feel like they’ve accomplished something. Yes, I’m that kind of introvert. The dog tells us there is someone at the door, and I don’t answer the door unless I know who is there and I knew they were coming over.

Harvest

On By CarynIn Cats, eggs, Garden

I’m glad I found the harvest apron when I went out to the cucumber patch and coop. I hadn’t been out in a couple days and I found 5 cucumbers and three eggs!

Photo description: looking down into a handmade harvest apron loaded with three eggs and five cucumbers, muck boots just visible past the apron

Gate keepers

On By CarynIn Cats
Photo description: gray tabby on the windowsill inside, calico on the shelf outside the window cat flap looking at the gray tabby

So who is gate keeping whom here? Does Izzy the cat want in? Or does Thor the cat want out? Probably both, and they are stubbornly sitting there, but the looks on their faces was worth the picture.

Odd couples

On By CarynIn Cats, Wildlife

I’ve had a few interesting interactions caught on the trail cam of unexpected pairs.

Photo description: night vision trail cam photo of a raccoon on a bench and a tabby cat walking on the nearby porch. The cat spotted the raccoon and slipped on by.
Photo description: night vision trail cam photo of two opossums, which is unusual because they are solitary. As soon as the one on the ground noticed the one on the bench, the moment was over and it left.
Photo description: night vision trail cam photo of an opossum on the coop porch and a raccoon on hind legs looking at it. The opossum actually held its ground, but the raccoon didn’t care. The raccoon got onto the porch, checked for snacks, then left, all while the opossum huddled against the door.
Photo description: night vision trail cam photo of an opossum on the ground, and a short haired black cat stepping down off the porch. The cat carefully navigated around the opossum.

I have my trail cam set to take photos every three seconds when there is movement, so the shots on either side of the ones I selected above told me the story. I chose the most representative photo to share.

From this set of data, it seems the raccoons are top, then opossums, and then the cats come in last, giving the others wide berth.