*Note: All cougar pics were pulled off the web but the rest are mine
My power animal and I are having a spat. If you read my first blog, you know who I am talking about: Pussyfoot, my Maha. Wild resident feline land guardian on large paws.
/So, fast-forward now about 5 years from that little scene in the manzanita grove. Many moments of connection have occurred. No it is not like "Here, kitty kitty." I'll fill in some gaps over time about how the relationship has developed but for now I want to concentrate on our current drama.
Well let me say this: After that first meeting, there was no sign of him for months - that I was aware of anyway - until about 7 months later when I saw the first footprint in the mud in my pond bed. I had been feeling glum about it, wondering if or how I would ever see any sign of him again. From that point on, many other signs and incidents of connection have occurred - NONE of which have required me to walk into the manzanita labyrinth.
Oh no, he now comes to me...
Which is the reason for our spat. We are now very much in each other's space. There are numerous ways and incidents where he has marked territory literally all around my house at pretty close range - like within a 50 foot radius. I see where he walks and what signs he leaves -- all well within what is supposed to be my fence. My fences are a total joke. It cracks me up sometimes that I so dutifully shut the front gate, when at the opposite end of the garden the fence is lying in total ruin in several spots. And even if it wasn't, NOTHING keeps a Maha out if they want in. They can jump vertically 18 feet. My fences are not a problem for him, they are utterly idiotic and silly. He doesn't even have to jump.
Same fence from both sides -- very silly
The reason for our spat has to do with territorial boundary violations. He's all mad at me because I fouled up several of his areas where he likes to walk, scratch and scrape, with fumes from my new chain saw.
First day out with the new chain saw. Kick Butt!!
I can just see some of you out there now rolling your eyes and thinking: 'Sure Kristine. The mountain lion is mad at you for running a chain saw.' YES. It left fossil fuel stench all over his areas. He didn't like it, and being a cat, he behaved just like they do when they are mad at you for something, and acted up.
This is what happened. It is winter in the Sierras, and I go out to cut firewood in the late afternoon most days. The sun is going down so I usually try to find wood nearby. In my driveway there was a big dead buckbrush right next to a favorite manzanita bush where he likes to scratch. They do this for territorial marking. So not only did I change the landscape by cutting up the buckbrush, I also stunk up the area with fossil fumes.
Left: Maha's favorite scratching post in the center; dead buckbrush to the right of it.
Right: 2 kittehs in front of it
Then down at the funky little trailer on the property where I know he walks -- because I've seen many scrapes there -- I also probably have unnerved him by photographing the chainsaw bar oil and stinky wood-cutting gloves right next to a particularly magnificent fresh scrape of his. It had to leave residue odor, those fumes just cling to everything. I had been cutting wood down there also, right on a major animal highway.
Large scrape, sullied by my woodcutting accessories
So I messed with his scratching post, fouled up his scrape, and disturbed a major animal pathway, leaving a tell-tail trail of fossil fuel stench. Probably the last straw was when I left the chain saw and gas down IN the funky trailer one night - so that I wouldn't have to haul it down there again the next day. All these gross violations of turf happened within a couple days of each other.
Well apparently that was just too much for the Maha. I was awakened at twilight one morning this week by the cats behaving in a most agitated and disturbed manner from something outside. When I got up to feed them, hardly any of them were around, and the ones that were around were completely spooked. And I knew. There is only one reason they act like that. Something quite a bit bigger than they are had disturbed them.
So now it is a few days later and I am still missing one cat. I am not happy about it. It is not too likely she will return, although I still have a little hope. She has either been scared off out of her wits, or eaten. When I realized what happened, later that day I stormed out of my garden fence into the pond area and let loose a most ferocious tirade in his direction. I called upon the spirits of Nature to carry my message directly and in no uncertain terms to the Maha. I told him that if he was going to terrorize my little ones, our relationship was over. O-V-E-R. I even threatened to get a dog. I hope his ears were burning, the brat.
Bitsy
Also later that day I happened to take a look at his manzanita bush out front . Here's where I got the clue that the issue was territory: On one of the limbs where there are many old scratch marks, I found a most prominent fresh scratch made by claws on 2 large paws. The energy of it totally asserted his presence. And then I knew, he's mad at me. He feels his territory has been messed with.
Big ol' scratches made by claws on 2 large paws
What to do?? Of course I am not going to get a dog. But I am wondering what to do now. I am not about to give up my chain saw. It can't be helped that I have to cut wood where I do. He's got territorial markings and scratches and poops and scrapes all over where I also claim space. Just tonight as I was out cutting wood and pondering what to do, I looked down on the ground under the branch I was cutting - only to see FRESH LION POOP on what obviously was an animal trail. And this is in my orchard.
So once again -- without trying -- I'm violating his area and he's probably going to feel he has to now assert his presence. As I look to where these droppings lie, I see it is on a major animal artery through the middle of my 1/4 acre fenced-in area. It cuts across the lane where I walk to my lower garden. He can stay in the shelter of the trees yet monitor my house quite visibly from this trail. It also passes right by a leaky faucet where I left a basin out all summer for the animals to drink from once the pond dried up. And from there it's an easy dash across an open space, over a silly gate and they are out of my inner fence and onto the pasture, whose fences are even sillier in spots than my garden fence.
Faucet with animal watering bowl, looking in 2 directions: Towards the pasture, and towards the garden. Lion poop found near faucet
Well I can't lose any more cats over this, THAT much is clear. And anyone who says 'keep your cats in at night' - no, not possible. My cats have grown up being indoor-outdoor at will. There is no going back with any of it. Kitties love to come and go and hunt at night and be real cats. Maha is very entrenched in my world. Territorial markings mean "This is where I walk. I claim this as my space".
Possible scrape outside my windows; his pathway cuts through the trees so he can monitor the house; fresh scrape found recently on the lane driving in.So cats went missing for a couple days. Four were gone at first -- including Amon Ra -- then gradually 3 out of 4 came back within 24 hours. I have learned to go out and call to them if they are hiding, and in the process of doing so I saw something chilling: Down at the garden shed where I have a large walk-in cooler being used as a seed vault, I found it's heavy door pried wide open. I NEVER do that. It is off it's hinge on the bottom so there is always a little space, maybe just wide enough for a cat to crawl in. I leave it shut to keep the elements away from the seeds. And yes we did have this strange awful wind during that time. However, no wind has ever blown it like that. I don't imagine it would have been too difficult for strong feline paws and shoulders to pry it open chasing after a cat. I saw no signs of blood or struggle inside, so that boded well .
Walk-In Cooler seed vault; Boobs hangs out down there, on watch
And I've only actually seen him that once. Goddess only knows how often he really is around. Judging by all the poop and scrapes and scratches and footprints and 'Arrrrggghfs' I've heard in the night -- he's around. Not all the time, because they are out patrolling their territory hunting. But I think he lives in the manzanita grove or nearby. And my territory and his now overlap quite significantly so we have to get along or something will have to change.
So as I was writing this last night, suddenly Bitsy the missing cat came boiling in. She's all wired up like a big tangled bunch of lit blinking Christmas tree lights. Nervous as heck, even this morning. The rest of them have settled down, but I notice they are a little reluctant to go out too far right now. Except for Boobs, my beautiful Egyptian calico. 'Nubia'. She's my mom cat. She popped out 2 litters of the most beautiful babies. I kept them all as several of my other older cats were passing at the time, and am I ever glad. They are the most gorgeous, loving, beautiful and splendid family of 9 cats. Bitsy is the only oddball and not blood related, so there are some socialization issues even though she is eldress now. Oh, and Maha... cat #10... I do consider him one of my cats, and here is why:
Aren't they just gorgeous
He likes me. I don't have livestock, so there is no question of ulterior motive. This has been going on for 5+ years now. I won't say no cats have disappeared in that time - at his hand - but those are stories and circumstances in their own right. What I am trying to say is - he really isn't bothering us. If he was truly intent on going after my kittehs, they would be long gone by now. Mahas don't fool around. He isn't bothering me either. He's never bothered me personally, and has had plenty of opportunity to do so, I walk in the forest quite boldly alone. Not at night...
No, it was really clear to me that I've violated his boundaries and sensibilities. My cat came back alive. I now feel I must make some gesture to amend the situation as I do love my Maha. Well, one thing I've learned during the course of 17+ years out here in the wild country dealing with Nature -- you have to tell them what you want in a way they will understand, and set boundaries. Sometimes this means complete enclosure with fencing and a fierce dog. Sometimes it means you get out your pruning shears and hack it back. Sometimes it means you ask very politely, or just state clearly what it is you want.
In this case, what I am going to try is making an offering mix and spreading it where I have behaved offensively. He's actually used to encountering flowers occasionally sprinkled in his spots and hopefully won't find it suspicious and weird. It's got to be a quantum leap over chain saw fumes!
You know, a special feline mix: catnip, lavender, valerian, white sage. Let's see if the Lavender Love Witch can't smooth this over and work it out.
"Peaches"
I'll let you know!!!
12:12 Blessings!!
No comments:
Post a Comment