Keeping The Peace At Casa Claire

I really try not to interfere with Mother Nature. Feral animals will prey upon each other. I don’t like or condone it, but I have to accept it. There will be acts of dominance. Submission. Life and death.

What I try to do as caretaker of Casa Claire to prevent that from happening on my property, is to provide enough for all who come so that there is no need to devolve to the law of the jungle.

Yesterday, that Mourning Dove was sitting in the bird bath on Gnome Island – where the wild birds find sanctuary – staring intently in the direction of The Old Man,

and when I looked over there I spotted the reason. Smokey the Cat was having a drink at Blue the Dog’s water trough.

When Blue is hanging out front I like to offer her the same amenities as her cousin mules receive. So she has a smaller trough also under The Old Man’s musical canopy. It appears the cats make good use of it as well. Luckily, Blue is not selfish by nature. Nor can she clear the fences like the cats.

Now, while Smokey was the first feral cat to regularly claim Casa Claire as her own, and remains the first among equals,

we have had some others – more transient – like a very cool red fox, who have been welcomed for a meal or two here. One of the feral felines , Mittens (a/k/a Mike), not only has become a regular, like Smokey,

but has claimed possession of the bunker under Jack the Spruce, which Smokey abandoned last summer. Smokey and Mittens have barns they must belong to, but in true McCaffrey open door policy, first taught me in Da Bronx at the family home on Mosholu Avenue, feral creatures, like feral friends, always have a place to crash here. Their presence and energy adds to the magic of Casa Claire.

But in the beginning, Mittens had a desperation brought on by hunger and exposure, which made him very competitive for Smokey’s resources and amenities. So I had to often sit outside while the cats dined because Mittens would try to eat Smokey’s food as well. Mittens always kept his distance from humans. Smokey stayed directly underfoot.

Well, over time, Mittens came to realize that there was plenty of food for everyone at the 24 Hour Casa Claire Truck Stop and has gotten so comfortable that he will come right up to my feet while I serve the cats meals right beside each other. He’ll even rub his face on my feet or the back of my hand while I am serving. Baby steps.

And, you all know how I started placing Jeter’s old beds outside to give Smokey an alternative place to rest – now that Mittens has claimed the Bunker – when she feels the urge to stay around between meals.

Well, what I did was take another of Jeter’s larger beds and by flipping the smaller one into a top cover, it became a warm little cave for Smokey to stay in on days when she wants hang around longer, even overnight, but, like yesterday, it stayed a bit colder. It’s in the teens right now.

And while it’s hard to make out Smokey’s grey face in the shadows, she spent the evening and night wrapped in this warm pocket cave.

I’m certain Jeter is pleased,

and it is only fair he be posthumously generous given how many of Smokey’s meals Jeter pilfered from the porch these last few years while surfing this energy plain.

Now it takes a lot of trial and error, vigilance and personal resources to try and keep this microcosm of society running peacefully.

Even the birds and bunnies out back, and the mice in the barn, get a piece of the Casa Claire pie. Peanuts, fruits, veggies and hay make their way throughout the feral ecosystem. Nothing goes to waste.

And Claire keeps the property large predator free.

But the return on investment – the creativity that this system’s energy feeds – makes it all worth the effort. Anytime I look out a window or walk the property, I feel inspired. So, I am in the plus column.

Well, it’s another Hump Day, which is fine.

I’m having my second cuppa while I type this.

Kitty cuddles and rounds are on deck.

I suggest you fine, five readers get your skates on and attack the hill.

The initial incline often sucks but the far side decent is equally joyous.

And tomorrow offers a special addition to our calendar, Sadie Hawkins Day.

But, no matter what lies before you, make sure you wave at Friday from the hump’s peak, just to let it know how much you look forward to its magical arrival.

It will be here before you know it.

And, no matter what we get up to, let us remember to make today a great one.