Feline Woes

"Every new day brings with it new challenges. The latest is a cat which has positioned itself outside our house and refuses to budge. The security guy who tried to take her downstairs got bitten by her.
Refuses to accept that I am not interested in adopting her."



This was what I wrote a few days ago. Here is the heroine of the piece.

A short while after that the security came back with reinforcements armed with a sack. Much as I hated doing this to any animal, she left me with no option. Had she listened to my civilized requests, it would not have come to this. They took her away in the sack and then ..... the bright sparks released her downstairs. So it was that she came right back. When she came there were some carpenters working in my balcony. She left and did not turn up again for 2-3 days and I thought it was the end of that.

But I thought too soon. Last couple of days she has been visiting my balcony in the night and telling me exactly what she thinks of me by leaving behind stinky messages for me in my balcony. Or is she trying to leave quality compost for the plants she sees there in the hope that i might feed her in return for more. A barter system, you know? Even the domestic help have been complaining bitterly. What can I do?

Last night I heard strange sounds from the front room at an unusual hour. At this age, it is concerning if one hears such sounds in the middle of the night. The BH was sitting in the living room doing something on his laptop. I went up and asked if all was well. He said he barked at the cat. Though that was exactly what I thought I had heard - a bark - I looked at him bemused. The cat had come outside the door, looked at him and meowed loudly at him past midnight! For fear of having to deal with a jugalbandi of meowing and barking through the night, I thought it called for strong measures like me stepping in. I went out and stamped my foot. She went out of the gate and into the grill door of the front house. She sat there staring at me. I turned to go get a bunch of keys - my nephew who has 2 cats tells me they are scared of the sound of jangling keys. The moment I turned my back, she tried to sneak back in. I can't figure out why she insists on dirtying only my balcony. Why can't she me more democratic and fair? Spread the goods all around, if you get my drift. So I jangled the keys at her and she ran like all the lions of Africa were after her. But not too far. She stayed lurking outside various flats on the same floor. The jangling of the keys surely drove her up the grill ..... the neighbour's grill. I don't know why she kept climbing up the grill and looking at the ceiling and meowing. Eventually after about half an hour, it became evident, that unless I stood there and jangled the keys at her all night and kept chasing her around the floor, there was no way she would leave. It was at that point the BH came out to ask if we had some vinegar. Apparently he read somewhere that that would keep her away. So vinegar was poured in the balcony and she stayed away.

Today a new recipe was formulated for her - orange peels + lemon juice + garlic + onion + vinegar in a bucket of water poured into both the balconies. Being of scientific temper, shall wait and observe the results of the experiment and do hope it will be successful.

All we as senior citizens need now is to have to run around the floor jangling keys and barking at a cat at 1 am.

 

Sigh! I am only hoping that the stench in the balcony keeps her away. Feline experts in the colony tell me that grown cats cannot digest milk, they are not vegetarian ..... In that case she does not have much hope with me. As for the dog, well, either doggie and I or the BH will have to live out in the park. No way the BH will accept a dog.

 

Just checked. Available only on Amazon and the customer reviews are not good. Will ask my gardener tomorrow if he can source it from somewhere. Thanks so much for the suggestion!

 

Sadly enough mission failed yet again. :-(

 

Would be so wonderful to be able to do so - primarily for my plants rather than for the cat, but it is not close to a pipeline.

Have started ppouring generous doses of Vanish (bleach) and vinegar in the balcony.

 

I would love to have adopted this one. She looked pretty clean, well-kept and healthy. But am in no state to train her. Besides have been told that they cannot digest milk, they are not to be given high fibre foods like chappati or rice etc. I refuse to bring any nonveg food (even cat food) into the house. I just don't have the bandwidth to take care of an animal or take it to the vet etc. Besides the BH is absolutely allergic to animals of any kind. Otherwise I quite love playing with dogs as well as cats. They do need bigger houses, however. It is difficult keeping them cooped in a small flat. If they are not, they become a nuisance for other residents.