We've noticed over recent weeks/months, that Billy's large sack of (very expensive) dry food has been 'interfered with'.
We keep his food in the studio. It's in a 10 kg bag, which we've occasionally found knocked over, clawed at, and generally mauled. It's been obvious that some creature has been helping itself.
This morning I found it dragged about a foot away from where I'd left it, claw marks all over it, and a good handful of 'croquettes' over the floor. I eliminated all previous possible culprits, and turned my attention to the cat flap, and one renowned local wild cat.
I've now locked the cat flap, and also secured it from both inside and outside with metal grills and a heavy flower pot. If the devil can get past all that, then good luck to him.
Good luck. Lovely flower pot - pity about the damage.
ReplyDeleteThey are classic local pots, unfortunately the past 40 years haven't been kind to them.
DeleteI'm surprised that it has taken you so long to do something about the cat flap if there have been signs of interference for so long.
ReplyDeleteWe originally suspected that it was Billy himself, or one of his friends, who had been helping themselves. It was only recently that it became obvious that it wasn't them. Action has now been taken.
DeleteOur wild cats can take the top off the rubbish bin, hop in, rip the rubbish to shreds and then hop out and replace the lid. I now weigh it down with a heavy roof tile.
ReplyDeleteYears of living on their wits make them very canny.
Bet the days/nights of stealing Billy's food are over. We are cannier than them!
This was a full 10 kilo bag that had been pulled about a foot away from when I'd left it, knocked over, opened, and entered. He must be one very tough cat.
DeleteHungry cats will always find a way to get food in their area. I feed three of these in the yard and since then the rats and mice have disappeared.
ReplyDeleteCats certainly do have their purpose. I miss having one here. There were never Mice around when Freddie was stalking the grounds.
DeleteMy wooden nut box was half eaten through, I thought mega rats, no Mr fox is the culprit. Plants dug up in the garden. I blamed the squirrels then saw the neighbours cat. Going to put some sprigs of of Holly down to deter it.
ReplyDelete.
We did also wonder if a Fox might have been responsible, one could certainly squeeze through the cat flap; but I think it was a Cat.
DeleteAre you sure it is not a giant, mutant rat?
ReplyDeleteOr a hungry alien perhaps.
DeleteIf you were wild, living in the woods and starving I suspect that you would also break into people's houses at night and purloin whatever food items you could get your hands on.
ReplyDeleteI certainly would, but it wouldn't be dog food.
DeleteSurprised I seem to be the first to comment with the phrase "cat burglar".
ReplyDeleteI was going to use it as my title, but I left it for someone else.
DeleteCats are mighty clever you know. Time willtell.
ReplyDeleteIt was the moving of a 10 kilo bag that had me baffled. One strong cat.
DeleteMy daughter had that problem, solved it by having a sensor on the catflap that only responded to the chip on her cat's collar. Luckily no problem now they have moved and Madame Cat is now the neighborhood boss!
ReplyDeleteAs we no longer have a cat, I've locked it. No chance of anything getting through it now.
DeleteA 10 kilo bag seems a bit heavy for a cat to move, I would suggest that maybe it's badgers, do you have those around there? What you need is one of those night vision camera traps so you can see exactly who it is doing this. They're an interesting thing to have anyway, just to see what wildlife is roaming through your garden.
ReplyDeleteWe do have Badgers here, but I'm not sure if one would fit through the cat flap; they're quite big animals.
DeleteWe found a mouse once in the dog's dry food sack. After that I bought a heavy plastic bin with a lid to keep it safe from intruders.
ReplyDeleteI think I might do the same. It would be easier to feed him too.
DeleteOh, don't you feel the teeniest sorry for a poor feral cat who is hungry?
ReplyDeleteThis is the sort of thinking that makes my husband irritable.
Many years ago someone dumped a sack-load of Siamese kittens in the woods not far from us. We used to see some of them as we passed by the spot, and continued to see a few for many years later. They seemed to survive extremely well.
DeleteWe have raccoons. If there is food or garbage anywhere, they will find it. They are on my deck at night eating the food the cats didn’t finish and they often stare in the window at me, daring me to chase them. I don’t, because I know they are hungry, but my Retired Man gets mad and chases them back in the woods. They always return.
ReplyDeleteI've seen people who keep Raccoons as pets; maybe you should adopt the friendliest looking one, and teach him to chase the others away.
DeleteThe cold brings animals inside to seek food. I bought large plastic containers with lids and now store dog food, rice and pasta in containers. This seems to work well.
ReplyDeleteI shall buy a large lidded dustbin for the sack as well; but for now the access is blocked.
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